Refuse Idleness

As a mother and wife there are so many things that I need to accomplish in a day.  Some evenings I look back and think 'today was a good day.  I got a lot accomplished and my husband & children are pleased.'  Other evenings I feel frustrated because 'I didn't get even accomplish half of what I had planned to!'  

I began to realize that idleness was the cause of my frustrating & unproductive days.  The Bible clearly warns us against idleness...

If a man is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle, the house leaks.
-Ecclesiastes 10:18

Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you know not which will succeed, whether this or that or whether both will do equally well.
-Ecclesiastes 11:6

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.
-2 Thessalonians 3:16

&

We hear that some among you are idle.  They are not busy; they are busybodies.
-2 Thessalonians 3:11

(to young widows but I believe this is a true warning to us all!)
Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house.  And not only do they become idlers, but  also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.  So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.
-1 Timothy 5:13-14

To me, this last scripture indicates that getting married and having children should guard us from becoming idle.  You should be so immersed in ministering to your family, keeping your home, training your children, practicing hospitality, etc that you don't have time for anything else. 

Even so, I'm going to tell you that it's very easy for me to become idle.  Movies, books and the internet are a big distraction for me.  I could spend all day on the web checking email & facebook, reading blogs and researching herbs.  The days I allow myself to do this are the days that I don't get anything accomplished.

Trust me, there are times when I would rather sit in my pj's and read a book all day rather than wash dishes for the millionth time.  Some days I don't have the energy or joy that I truly need to train my children, cook the meals or clean the house.  It's easy on those days to become idle.

Ladies we must guard ourselves against idleness!!!  

Getting up before my kids in the morning so I can read and pray has been helpful for me.  So has making plans for each day in regards to cleaning, cooking and teaching my children.  It's hard to become idle when you've got a goal that you're working towards each day.  Here's my plan...

1. Since we have 5 rooms in our house I have broken household cleaning down into a daily cleaning schedule.  Each day I clean a different room (Mon - the kids room, Tues - our room, Wed - kitchen.  You get the idea) from top to bottom.  Then I move onto the every day tasks of vacuuming and washing dishes.
2. Hannah hasn't officially started homeschooling yet but I have already started working with her.  Mon- I read to Hannah  Tues- math  Wed - Science  Thurs -Hannah reads to me  Fri - Hannah writes a letter to someone.  We spend maybe thirty minutes a day on these subjects but I have an idea of what I want to do each day.  I also take about 30 minutes to read with Samuel and work on his letters.
3. I've started limiting my time on the internet.  This has meant narrowing down the blogs I follow and setting a timer so I don't dally while I'm on the web.
4. There are some days that we can't get outside and get fresh air/exercise.  It's so easy to just pop in a movie and sit around all day doing nothing.  Lately I've been finding alternatives that the kids and I can do together.  Play-doh, noodle crafts, painting, and just today we made home made chocolate chip cookies together. 

Throw in breakfast, lunch, supper, folding laundry and spending time with family & friends and you don't have much time left for idleness.  My ultimate goal is to make our home a pleasant retreat for my husband as well as our friends.  I have a desire to train my children to be obedient and cheerful as well as to teach them myself.  Plus I want to be a good example to my children so they will also learn to be cheerful and productive each day.   When I keep these goals and desires in mind it becomes easier for me to get everything done each day.  And I do it cheerfully because I know that it pleases my husband, my children and my heavenly Father. 

I encourage you look up all scriptures that warn against idleness (there are many more that I didn't mention!) and becoming a sluggard.  Look up scriptures that encourage you in your duties as a wife & mother.   Especially read Proverbs 31 and make sure you're not "eating the bread of idleness."
The opposite of idleness is diligence.  Make sure you're being diligent in maintaining your home and training  your children.  Make sure you're diligent in avoiding idleness.