O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You . . . are intimately acquainted with all my ways. . . . For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb.

PSALM 139:1-3, 13

THE KIDS ARE OUT with my husband. I had asked him if I could have the house to myself for a little while to get my head clear and get a few things done. He obliged. Love that man.

I put on my favorite relaxing Pandora station, make some tea, light a candle, bring the laundry up from the laundry room, and begin to fold it slowly.

Listening to music and folding clothes is soothing to me. I like working slowly and rhythmically, enjoying the process, not rushing. I feel a sense of peace, a wonderful calm, and even delight.

My sister, on the other hand, is a cleaning firecracker. When she folds laundry or cleans the kitchen or does any other housework, it’s fast and efficient. She works hard and quick, and to her credit, her home is almost always clean. This “just get it done” spirit is her style. It’s great because it works for her.

And my style—my slow and melodic way—is great, too, because it works for me.

We all operate in different ways, and I don’t think one is better than the other. I do think we need to identify our style and go with it, because taking tips from others is helpful and good, but trying to be like others is damaging and demeaning. I have accepted that I am never going to be like Martha Stewart. That’s okay.

God formed our personalities, and He knows how we work and how we don’t. He knows where we struggle and where we excel. If you are not a naturally neat and organized type A personality, just accept it, and live out who you are. I used to beat myself up all the time thinking, If only I were like so-and-so, I would be such a better wife, homemaker, mother. We do have a responsibility to our families and the homes God gave us, but let’s not get trapped by perfection, comparisons, or any other distractions that steal away the truth that God loves us and we are works in progress!

I want you to think about your personality style and what works for you.

Maybe you love the idea of having a schedule and you are great at writing one out, but when it comes to actually following it, well, let’s just say, not so much! Perhaps for the time being, you need to not be scheduled, but instead focus on getting certain tasks accomplished by a certain time in the day. For example, set a goal to have your kitchen clean after breakfast. However, maybe for you, mornings are better spent hanging out with your kiddos and just gathering yourself for the day. So you might say, “I will have my kitchen cleaned by noon.” That’s a realistic goal that doesn’t put you in a box; there is freedom in flexibility. And maybe you don’t want a schedule at all, but would like some anchors in your days to create consistency. For example, you might set specific times for breakfast, reading, laundry, and dinner.

No matter what plan you choose, remember this: Don’t beat yourself up! I don’t care how many times you fail, don’t quit; press on, and know who you are in Jesus. Figure out your cleaning style and go with it, not trying to be anybody else. Work hard, get done what you need to, confess laziness, and accept God’s grace. Oh, and know you are not alone—I’m here encouraging you!

READ PSALM 139:13

How did God “weave” you together? How would you describe your personality?

Just for fun take the DISC personality test (http://www.quibblo.com/quiz/aw8npyx/DISC-Personality-Style) and get to know yourself better. You will find more about the DISC test, including descriptions of the different personality styles, at http://www.discinsights.com/cyber/scripts/disc.asp.

MARTHA CHALLENGE

TODAY, MY FRIENDS, WE MOVE INTO THE LIVING ROOM.

PICK UP

1. Begin by picking up anything that doesn’t belong in the living room and get it out of there. If the items belong to the kids, ask them to put these things away. Make sure nothing is on the floor that shouldn’t be on the floor.

2. Fluff up and put your pillows or throw blankets on your chairs and couches. Isn’t that pretty?

WORK ON ONE AREA AT A TIME

3. Perhaps you have a mantel or a piano or a space for toys. Pick one of those areas and remove everything from the surface and dust, sort items, rearrange, and organize. Be sure to clean and organize one area at a time; when you have completed an area, you can move on to the next one.

4. Do everything in the living room except the bookshelves (if they are located in the living room) and the floor (if you have wood floors). We’ll begin those chores tomorrow.