Good Housekeeping

In the book I mentioned the other day, my first "Mary Assignment" (as opposed to Martha) was to make a sort of mission statement for why I want a clean home.  I won't bore you with the whole enchilada, but I discovered something of interest during my soul and Scripture searching.

"Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach (2 Tim 5:14)." 

Now, it's not like this verse was new to me, but this time I saw more clearly how marriage, mommy-hood, and managing a home (how's that for alliteration?) are part of God's design to help me live a godly life and improve my witness to others.  Hold on though; what I think this verse is NOT saying is, "Cleanliness is next to godliness."  That is, I don't think it means that the cleaner my house is, the more spiritual I am.  I'll tell you why.  Let's back up a verse.

"And at the same time they (younger widows) also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention (2 Tim 5:13)."

Marriage, mommy-hood, and managing a home are good things to keep me occupied so I don't become:

•  idle (lazy)
• a gossip (tattler, babbler, foolish or silly talker) and/or
• a busybody (in other people's business while neglecting my own more important matters). 

Did you notice how they "learn to be idle"?  That's a good thing, because it means we can also learn to not be idle.  And how did they learn to be idle?  Exactly...as they went around from house to house, or (ahem) Facebook wall to wall, or blog to blog.  *sigh*  Now, don't get me wrong here.  It is possible to be on FB and visit others' blogs without being a lazy, gossipy busybody.  I We just need to check myself ourselves.  *cough-cough*

Having something constructive to do keeps me from being destructive--to my life, others' lives, and the very Word of God.  I never really thought that housekeeping could be a blessing in my spiritual life.  It's always seemed too mundane for that.  I was mistaken.  Keeping my focus on the nuturing-managing role God has designed for me will really keep me out of trouble, and will enable me to be more of a blessing in others' lives (by minding my own business, mostly).  I'll also keep the enemy's Reproach Bazookas ammo-free.  That's what I think this passage is all about.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some housekeeping to do.  ; )