Productive Hands

"The wise woman builds her house,
but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down." Proverbs 14:1

I have a busy week in front of me. I have a house that just cannot seem to stay clean, I have a garden to finish cleaning up and harvesting, and I have a mountain of apples that really need something done to them. Add to that the regular chores of laundry, grocery shopping, escorting children to and from school and activities, and then a conference that will completely consume the end of the week, and it's looking pretty daunting to me. In fact, when that alarm clock went off this morning, I really didn't want to get out of bed. I just knew that when I did that, it would mean the beginning of busy-ness. A part of me though also thought about my mental checklist of things to accomplish this week, and I thought of what I could put off for another day so that I could spend part of today relaxing, maybe doing some reading or some sewing.

Thank God for His Word.

For I do not want to be the foolish woman who tears her home down with her very hands, which is what I would be doing if I put off to tomorrow what needs to be done today. In the example of the garden, I have some things to harvest and put by for the winter to come, and if I don't my household could suffer from a lack come Andy's lay-off time. What if tonight is the night for that killing frost? By the time tomorrow came I would have lost all that is left. In the case of the housework, I have areas of my home that really need to be cleaned to halt the spread of any germs that may be lurking about, we simply don't have time to deal with sickness. I need to plan some menus so that my grocery shopping is efficient and so that I'm conscious of how much I'm spending, and keeping it within my budget.

"She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks. " Proverbs 31:17

May the Holy Spirit keep me mindful this week of my idle hands. May he help me keep my hands on task and keep them productive so that I may keep my household running smoothly, even amidst the seeming chaos. And may He give me the energy I need to get just one more thing done when I think I am completely spent. I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me.