Over the years, I have read a lot of books, short stories, poems and essays. I love to read, as most of my friends already know.
Over the years, I have been learning to cultivate the duties of a homemaker. Folding laundry, vacuuming floors, caring for children, washing dishes… Washing dishes. Who likes to wash dishes? Not many people that I have ever heard of. I’ve heard of some who hate it, some who are pretty indifferent to it but no one usually likes it. After all, cleaning up the kitchen is a mundane, never-ending task, which really has no benefits or joy in it whatsoever.
You’re probably wondering, about now, what reading has to do with dishes, right? In many of the books that I have read, especially the old ones, young girls are shown, working in kitchens full of dirty dishes, for one reason or another. Either in their own family or in the family of someone else, they are shown washing and cleaning. Generally too, the same story continued – they weren’t enjoying the work. Granted, most of them tried to do the work cheerfully, and often either sang or tried to think of something else while they worked. (And I’m not saying that’s a bad thing either. It was all about cultivating a cheerful heart – a good and biblical principle!) Out of all those many character those, (and I can’t even count them all!) there was one character that stood out to me – one character.
She was an unmarried young woman, living with her mother, brother, and sister. While talking to a girl, younger than herself, she mentioned that she enjoyed washing the dishes. It was her duty in the house and she enjoyed it. Now, in my 13-year-old mind, I immediately decided that she was a bit crazy! I liked doing dishes when I was a very little girl but had pretty much grown to despise them, and then, when Mom told me that I shouldn’t hate something I would probably be doing for the rest of my life, I simply grew indifferent to them. But enjoy them? Crazy though I thought she was, I didn’t forget her.
Today, I am almost twenty-one years old. For years now, the many hours I have spent in the kitchen have mostly been filled with daydreaming about what I wished I were really doing or what I wanted to do when I was finished. Hardly ever was I focused on the job at hand. Oh! I was paying enough attention to make sure that I didn’t break the plates I was washing – but that’s about it. Cleaning up the kitchen was not much better than punishment to me.
About six months ago, or maybe a little more, I was trying to clean up the kitchen at our old house, and I prayed that, if it were possible, that I would learn to love housework, cleaning the kitchen especially. I didn’t wake up the next morning, jumping for joy at the sight of a pile of dishes, I confess. I did, however, begin working on my attitude, with the help of the LORD.
~ I tried to start holding my tongue when I looked at the kitchen and wanted to groan and whine about the tornado that seemed to have flown in. “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.” Philippians 4:11
~ I tried to see the bright side of cleaning up the kitchen. I tried to discover and then focus on what could be so important about maintaining a clean kitchen or house. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14
~ I tried to sing and be cheerful while doing the work, no matter the circumstances. “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Proverbs 17:22
Slowly, over these last months, I have noticed a change in my thoughts. When your focus is on making a house, a comfortable home for the glory of the LORD , then you don’t see dishes as such a mundane task anymore. You can’t! What is done for the glory of our KING, simply can’t be mundane or worth complaining over. You find joy in it! You actually like to do it!
Now, lest you think that I have become perfect… I am still working on this. I still complain about doing the dishes at times – probably more than I would like to admit. I’m not always cheerful, nor do I always focus on the important part of my housework. When I do, however, I find that I can honestly say that I enjoy it and that is amazing. Focusing on our King and His glory, adds so much purpose, to otherwise meaningless activities!
“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
To the KING be all the glory!
Hmm, who was the character that liked doing dishes? And do you really use a quill? ;) lol
I can’t remember her name – and I can’t look her up, since I lent the book out! I just remember that she made an impression on me. :p
lol No, not usually… It just sounds really neat to say “From Rebekah’s Quill” instead of “From Rebekah’s Pen”! :p
I’d rather wash dishes than vacuum the floor! lol!
Good post!
Very true. I’ve never really enjoyed the dishes…one of the tricks I learned was to listen to music on my headphones while I did it; instead of standing in a silent kitchen thinking of how distastefully the job was. Even my Mom has encouraged me when I’m not very enthusiastic about it, to go find my MP3 player and listen to it. And it does help speed things along when one is listening to some good soundtracks! Come to think of it, I listened to ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ while doing the dishes and it was really rather fun!
~Jamie Joyce
^ lol! I tried listening to something several years ago on my mp3 player while doing the dishes… I think I got them wet cause they broke right after I was done. lol!
Great post, Rebekah. This is honestly very rich, good stuff.
(We listen to music too… :-D)
I enjoy listening to music too. “Prince of Egypt” and “How to Train Your Dragon” are among my favorites, Jamie. Singing hymns is also a great pastime while washing dishes. :)
Kayla, That’s funny. I usually wear the ipod in a purse slung over my shoulder to prevent it from getting wet.
Thanks Gabriel! :)
To the KING be all the glory!
Rebekah
I don’t like to do the dishes either, but I love to listen to audiobooks while doing it