Musing on Who Are You and What Have You Done With My Daughter?
“Little clean houses for you and me…” insert John Mellencamp voice and music.
My theme for the last few days.
Travelling and work this week (along with the needs of a family of five) have left our house in critical condition and in a slow state of recovery from holiday decorating.
As I lay awake at 3:30 this morning, I ruminated on two things.
1. My mother had a person help out with the house two days a week.
2. And a few years ago, as a new writer, I attended the Florida Christian Writer’s Conference. I sat in on a multi-day devotional workshop with long time Upper Room Editorial Director, Mary Lou Redding.
At lunch after one of the sessions, I asked her the universal writer’s lament: How do I find time to write?
Nice woman that she was, she listened to all my todos and to-don’ts.
And this is what I remembered in the middle of the night.
Talking a bite of an apple she said, “Find some help cleaning your house or let it go. There is no other way.”
DANG. That’s like hearing God talk.
Let it go.
* * *
7 p.m. a very tired Mr. Miles came through the door.
We jettisoned plans to go to gym, poured some adult beverages and sat.
“I sat there with Johnny. We sat there, we two. And how wonderful it was we had nothing to do.” Except talk and drink.
After a bit, we noticed the house was quiet. Too quiet.
Our daughter ran in breathless.
“I’ve got something to show you. You have to come together.”
We walked to our closed bedroom door.
Then it hit me. Just like it hit me the second before Johnny asked me to marry him.
She’s cleaned our bedroom.
The door opened and I had a Publishers-Clearing-House-knock-me-over moment.
And then this…
She organized my desk. <<< Scream. Stomp feet. Clap hands. >>>
Yesterday, I wrote a reply on Facebook that “Mommy’s only get paid in love.”
Well, seems as if love turns into action when you least expect it.
And when you need it most.
Impressive! “no one told me to do it but me”
LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. So sweet. Reminds me of the day last week, Mitch washes HIS OWN dish, with out me asking. Ot the rest, piled yp next to the sink. Not Quite the same.
My house is n the smae state of disarray. . Im on the couch, contemplating a nap. I think I have mastered the art of ketting it go. Its glorious… You should too!!!
I know, Barb. At least it blew me away.
Love that Mitch, Ginger…No we love them all….but what did the Mitch-es get that skipped the others?
How sweet, Jamie…
I love the “… no one told me to do it, but me” part. 🙂 What a sweetheart!
I’ll have to remember to call on my housekeeper when I get the kiddos. Boy, I miss her. I’m sure I’ll miss her more in the next several months. 🙂
Blessings,
Daphne
Yes, Daphne help around the house does help. Look forward to hearing of all the great changes to your family.
Oh my heart, I’m in love with this! Love!
{That sweet girl? Learned something right from YOU.}
super precious. girl after my own heart—she has yall’s best interest…and loves to see yall happy/smile. i can only guess-but i’m sure i’m right. that’s what i live for. happy cleanliness!
Such a wonderful act of service. And no one had to tell her to! I’m starting to wonder how I might be able to get mine to clean my room?
Also, can I have someone clean my house even if it’s not so that I have time to write?
Marina ~ for the last few years I had someone regularly help clean my house. That went bye-bye in effort to save money. If did much better if I have that one big clean/straight booster shot each week. I think it’s a wonderful thing and sanity saver for anyone with a busy household.
I know nothing about fish, but this guy sounds rather amazing. So how will you know when he actually does pass on?
That’s a good question Liz, especially considering his track record. I’m thinking if he starts floating…and remains lifeless and unattached to anything for a very, very long time we might be safe. (Not that I wish any harm to befall our Sucky.)