Monday, April 22, 2013

Perks of Nudism

  Weariness comes in many forms. Mine usually comes in the form of a laundry mountain. I then proceed to tell myself that after I climb Mt. Laundry, it'll be the last time. In my lofty views of the future I fill myself with Hope. " I'll accomplish this. Then I will do a load a day. If I just do one load a day surely this will never happen again! " <sigh> For the next week I do very well at one load a day. Then quite honestly I think I just get tired of doing laundry everyday. Then I skip one day.. then two... and before I know what happened I am standing in front of Mt Laundry again! 

      So I give up! I am now trying to find a Mt. Laundry solution. How do you avoid creating, what seems like, an endless pile of laundry to be washed, dried, and folded? Lets just forget ironing, cause come on... in my house ironing is a lost forgotten art! I think I have found the solution!

Perks of Nudism

1. Very little laundry. Maybe towels and sheets.

2.Jehovah's Witnesses only knock on your door once.

3.Your friends learn to never drop by unannounced.

4.The world starts to look modest in comparison.

5.You save massive time figuring out what you and the children will wear everyday.

6.You save money buying new clothes. ( cause... why?)

7. Your tan would always be even.

8. Your motivation to work out everyday would definitely increase.

9. Never scrub stains from clothes again!

10. Makes all other lifestyle choices seem "Normal".

    Surely there is a Conservative Christian nudist colony, that my children and I would fit right into. Then when people learn we're homeschoolers, it'll be much less of a shock than our nudity. Maybe well grow our own organic vegetables and keep chickens as well! 

      As my vision of a secluded, nudist ,homeschooling ,Christian community fade away... I guess I'll just lie to myself again, do a load of laundry a day, and climb Mt. Laundry again in a few weeks. 

      On a serious note. A few weeks ago I was relating to a friend the drudgery of carrying my laundry up and down the stairs endlessly, (as my washer and dryer are in a downstairs closet and all of our bedrooms are upstairs) my pastor's wife humbly said nothing until being prodded into conversation admitted their apartment did not have a laundry facility. Not only is there no laundry in the apartment itself, but you must actually load your clothes up and move them to a different location to launder them. 

     Shame. Conviction. Gratitude. Did I mention she has young children as well? And here I am complaining because I must carry my laundry up and down the stairs! This silly, deceitful heart of mine. How can laundry bring God glory? Well now when I feel tempted to complain ( even silently) while carrying the heavy baskets of laundry up and down, I catch myself and remember to be grateful. Grateful I have laundry in my house, grateful for my ancient loud washer, grateful I have clothes and linens in plenty, grateful its only one flight of stairs, grateful I am strong enough to bear the load. Praise Jesus! By the time I reach my washer with my piles of laundry I have a humble grateful heart. I pause to consider the women in the world who are washing their children's clothes in the river or lake, this is a reality for many women. 

       So the solution to Mt. Laundry isn't found in Nudism, or even in the self -discipline of a load of laundry a day. But the solution lies in my heart. When I can stand in front of a mound of laundry that represents two hours of folding and hanging and putting away... and SMILE.  Thankful for every blessing, grateful for all of His provision, humble and content with my work. This is God's will. To teach me through everyday circumstances, to refine me through life's monotony. So today I am abiding in Him and smiling as I conquer Mt. Laundry once again.


  Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 

Php 4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.