Cleaning in the Dark

I have discovered that I clean my house in the dark. Meaning, I clean my house and no one notices.

I started thinking about this as I was cleaning my boys’ bathroom the other day. My husband doesn’t notice when I clean. The vacuum lines (the biggest I CLEANED THE HOUSE sign) have long been trampled by little feet by the time he gets home from work.

At first I smiled at this revelation—that means I don’t let the house get such a mess that when it is clean it is noticeable.

Then I frowned—he doesn’t notice. I do a task over and over and over again without any recognition.

Is this my lot in life as a housewife and mother? Is this something to be depressed about? No!

“Character is what you do in the dark.” (Wish I could remember who said that.)

I clean in the dark, unnoticed, but with great joy in my heart. I delight in serving my family. I delight in taking care of them (although there isn’t too much delight that can be found in scrubbing toilets). I delight in cleaning my house. I don’t get gold stars when I do my “chores”, but I’m not taking care of my family for the praise…I’m taking care of my family because I love them.

My husband works so hard to provide for his family and provide in a way that allows me to stay home with our boys. I work hard to provide a home for those boys and my hard-working husband.

I’m thankful for perspective. Perspective says that there is no other place I’d rather be than taking care of my family (even on the days when there is poop on my clothes, laundry everywhere, crying children and a burnt dinner).

I’m glad I clean in the dark. I’m thankful for a season when I can manage my house well (I’m not naïve enough to think that this season will last forever, so I try and enjoy it now). I delight in taking care of my family, even when I’m scrubbing a toilet!