Monday, December 10, 2007

Of Motes And Beams

Matt. 7: 3-5

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

Just the other day, I was about to reach over and give a tug to someone's mote when I remembered this scripture. I gave a little chuckle and thought, "Oops, better look for my beam." When I found my beam I was shocked, SHOCKED. It is the kind of shock one feels when they realize that they have gone all day with their zipper down, baby puke down their back, spinach in their teeth, and their skirt stuck in their pantyhose. Why on earth didn't someone tell me my beam was so freakin' huge??? I had to laugh because it wasn't just a beam but an elaborate domino effect. My home is in shambles, and it happened all too quick. My counters are covered in crumbs... several days worth. I have piles of trash in the corners of my kitchen and dining room. My children are all grumpy, I'm never dressed, I am not feeding anyone, and nothing else is getting done either. How did this happen? I'm not sure where, when, or even how it started but I do know that it must stop. Lets start with the morning domino (even though I know it isn't the domino that started it all). I have completely stopped doing my awesome SMART Habit Saturdays so I am not jumping out of bed. The bed isn't getting made so the room isn't getting cleaned, so the laundry isn't getting in the hamper and the laundry room, so I'm out of pants and underwear, so I don't shower, so I feel down and decide to blog before starting my usual morning routines, so the kids aren't doing their chores, so the kitchen is still dirty when it is time to make lunch, so I don't make lunch, so the kids feed themselves and make a bigger mess, so I half heartedly ask them to do chores, but I'm so behind in my own chores that I don't have time to help them finish their chores, so we never finish and therefore never start our school work, so when Cookie comes home we are nowhere near ready to start our after-school chores, so by the time DSSH gets home the house is still trashed and I haven't even thought about dinner, so dinner is lame and very late, so i don't have time to read scriptures with the boys, so the kids go to bed late, so I go to bed late, so I wake up too tired to jump out of bed. There are also a gazillion other things that aren't getting done because of all of this. Quite the beam, wouldn't ya say? So this morning I jumped out of bed. the laundry is going like crazy, the dishes are washing, I know what we are having for dinner tonight, and I unplugged the TV (again) until the chores and school work are done. I know I am always blogging about my start-overs and new goals and new plans. I need all these start overs because I'm just not one of those people that is good at consistency. I guess you could say that I could build my big dream house out of all the beams I've collected through the years. The important part is that I keep trying again, right? So, here is to another beautiful day of laundry, routines, and blissful order in the home. And as for the person with the mote, I've learned that other people's motes never look as bad once my beam is removed so they can just keep 'em.

14 comments:

Jennifer @ Fruit of My Hands said...

It's so true, isn't it? This is a great reminder to me for sure. I think if I keep myself busy enough with keeping my own stuff "together" I'll have less time to be so picky about others. :D

Have a blessed day!

Family Adventure said...

So true...everything you said. A good reminder!

Thanks, Heidi

LaughterThoughts said...

i have been in that got-myself-together slump. it's easy to blame on cold weather, sickness, etc. if i'm honest, i know it's just 'cause i'm being lazy. now you've got me motivated to get myself moving!:)

Montserrat said...

This is a constant battle for me as well. I have to remember that if I can get the 'necessary unpleasantries ' done first there really will be time later on in the day for the 'fun' stuff and my home will be in a better state.

Cellista said...

I'm at this point right now. For me, I need to quit doing so much at night, hoping I'll do better when I get up to a cleaner house, and inevitably staying up too late, and just go to bed. Everything works out better when I get enough sleep regardless of what else happens during the day. That is the key for me but I have not been able to get to bed on time lately.

Anonymous said...

Wow--this is the Monday wakeup call I needed! Thank you SO much for sharing these insights.

Now time for ME to get to work! :)

Lisa Merkley said...

AAAhhh yes...more of you "stay up late"ers. I'm the worst at that. And I'm finding that as I get older, it's just not working for me like it used to. Good wake up call!

An Ordinary Mom said...

You definitely aren't the only one fighting the battle of constantly rebeginning the same habits over and over again. I have several beams myself I am trying to work on. Thanks for the reminder to take care of my own issues first before passing judgment on someone else.

Enjoy your getting back into order day ... and don't be too hard on yourself, you are busy growing a baby :) !!

Sonja said...

Shakespear said: "Everything that grows holds in perfection but a little moment". We are all starting over all the time and you are right, the important, most important thing is that we do begin again. Holy cow! Don't even get me started on my stack of beams. Once again, I truly appreciate your honesty and once again I'll say that I am so glad I found your blog and am thankful for you!
Ordinary Mom is right too, you've got a lot going on, don't be too hard on yourself. :D

Misty said...

You'll get it done, you'll get it right. And realize "done" and "right" are different for each of us, so create your world just as you'd like it to be. AND, for HEAVENS sakes, take it at least a TINY easy on yourself, you ARE creating a child in there after all.

Megan said...

I just recently realized that I KNOW this blogger that blogs on My Ice Cream Diary. Forgive me, my brain is mush.
Congrats on the pregnancy. I'm sorry you are having morning sickness- that is NOT fair when you have 4 other little ones to take care of.
Good luck with your restarts. Keep it in perspective. You are a kind, giving, loving person raising four great kids, growing a baby, loving your husband. . . Try to remember that your beams are just little tiny sticks in the big picture. Don't beat yourself up.

Now I am off to try to take my own advise!

Sea Star said...

"Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again". This is my theme song. I too don't have the energy to get it all done as consistantly as I should. And I am not pregnant. You are doing an amazing job!

Lisa said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

I have a problem with enforcing my kids chores, but not my own. But I feel so much better when all the chores get done! So with your nice gentle reminder, I'm off to do laundry!

Unknown said...

Sometimes you write post and I think "that is SO me". This would be one of those posts!

Kim @ TheBitterBall


p.s.
i am commenting on a ton of your posts today bcuz i haven't had the chance to read blogs for about a week now