I recently purchased Sarah Mae’s e-book 31 Days to Clean Having a Martha House the Mary Way.
In the first chapter she asks the question, “Why do you want a clean home?” and follows with explaining that “if you do not own your reasons, you will be unmotivated and quite frankly, bored with the whole idea of persevering in cleaning.”
These statements really resonated with me.
I am not a good house-cleaner.
It is something that I have always struggled with.
It isn’t that I don’t want a clean home…I do.
But because I have not defined the reasons WHY I want my home to be clean, I am not always motivated to do it.
Sarah Mae issued a challenge to identify reasons you want to make your home a haven and complete a mission statement based on those reasons.
I came up with four clear reasons why I want to have and maintain a clean home.
To Create and Promote an Atmosphere of Peace and Order
There is no doubt in my mind that a cluttered home creates a cluttered mind and the atmosphere in the home is one of chaos. I’ve been there and experienced that and I don’t like it at all. When my home is cluttered I am overwhelmed and frazzled.
But, on the other hand, when my home is cleaned and organized, there is an atmosphere of peace and order. We can find things we are looking for the the stress level is so much lower. I can think and breathe so much easier.
I want my husband and children to enjoy the home that I create. I believe that they enjoy it so much more when there is an atmosphere of peace and order. One of the first steps to creating that kind of atmosphere comes with having a clean, uncluttered environment.
To Model an Example of Diligent Homemaking for My Daughters
The Bible is clear that it is the role of older women to teach younger women to be workers in their homes (Titus 2:4,5). The first younger women that I have influence over are my own daughters. It is my calling to be an example for them as I teach them these things.
If they see me enjoying my work in our home, they will in turn, enjoy it as well. They are watching all. the. time. I want them to see an example of contentedness and diligence in my homemaking.
To Create a Sense of Permanent Home as We Move Locations with the Army
There is a saying that “Home is Where the Army Sends Us”. Well, that is only true if I create a home where the Army sends us. If I make an effort to make every house that we live in, whether it be on-post housing, a rental home, or a house we buy, a true home by making it a haven, keeping it clean, and creating beauty within its walls, then we will have a place to call “home” no matter what location we are in.
To Experience Freedom to Do the Things I Really Enjoy
Can I make a confession?? I really don’t enjoy cleaning. I don’t get great delight out of scrubbing toilets and mopping floors (although I do love the end result).
I do enjoy being crafty, scrapbooking, sewing, and blogging. When I ignore the state of my home and do these things I don’t enjoy them as I feel because there is a sense of guilt hanging over my head. I want to experience freedom to do the things I really enjoy and a clean home will give me that freedom.
After some careful thought and prayer this is the mission statement I came up with for my home.
I purpose to faithfully and diligently maintain a clean home in order to create and promote an atmosphere of peace and order, to model an example of contentedness in diligent homemaking for my daughters, to create a sense of permanent home as we move locations with the Army, and to experience freedom to do the things I really enjoy.
I am going to be working on a print with this mission statement on it. I’m going to put it in a frame and hang it as a reminder of my “why’s” of keeping my house clean.
Do you have a clean home mission statement?
What are some reasons you desire to have a clean home?