Getting the "messy" out of Missy

"Messy Missy", I never liked that nickname. Who would? I was reminded of it a few weeks ago when asked my name at a local book store. I informed the gal that my full name was Melissa, but I go by Missy. She said, "Messy"? I said, "No! M-i-s-s-y". She replied that she thought that would be a strange name... Ya think?

I was just plain messy by nature. My poor sister and I shared a room for most of our growing up years. She was always tidy and I was not. I was "global". I liked all my stuff around me at once. I was also the queen of stuffing; you know when you were supposed to clean your room and instead you stuffed everything under the bed, in the drawers, and back behind clothes in the closet. Yep, that was me. And unlucky for me, my dad was a true clean freak. Can you say stress? I drove him crazy!

How does that translate into adulthood you might ask? Oh my! When Tim and I were first married we didn't have a washer or dryer in our apartment. We had to tote it all down to the laundry room. I say down because we lived on the third floor, have mercy. We used to store our dirty clothes in the hall closet (it was a small apartment). One day, the pile in the closet was taller than me! I remember Tim counted that there were 14 loads of laundry in all, for two people mind you! Sometimes, I just wouldn't notice things like the cereal bowl still on the table at 5:00 in the afternoon. I finally noticed when Tim would come home from work and firmly place it in the sink.

I really did desire to want to be organized and tidy. I also wanted to want to cook for our family. I would listen to my friends get all excited about a new recipe and wonder what in the world was wrong with me?!? A few years ago, I started praying about it and asked Tim to pray for me too. I didn't have to be the next Top Chef, I just wanted to give my family a nice meal. I also desired for our home to be a place of peace and refuge, not chaos. I asked the Lord to please change me heart and cause me to desire to cook and clean and I am not kidding around.

Tim and I were talking a few nights ago and we were discussing some recipe that I made. I stopped for a minute and could not believe what I was saying....number one, I followed a recipe (ha!) and number two I actually enjoyed it. I asked him if he remembered me asking him to pray for me that God would change my heart and cause me to desire to "tend" to my family in the way of good meals and an orderly home. He said yes he did and he had prayed for me. Lo and behold, our great God changed my heart! There is hope! Truly, I really didn't want to do those things before, I just knew that I needed to.

I have mentioned being in Titus in different posts because there is one verse in there that I am still chewing on 2-3 years later:
" Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home , to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands so no one will malign the word of God." Titus 2:4-5
It's the busy at home part that has really spoken to me over these few years and that has become my prayer, "Lord, please help me to be busy at home." One thing I've learned is that it's hard to be "busy at home" or a "homemaker" if you're not home a lot, but maybe that's for another post!

Now, let's get one thing straight. My home is not the picture of clean perfection! If you happened to stop by unannounced, you'd probably see shoes sitting out by the door, baby toys here and there in the living room, and currently a few boxes of my home school books in the dining room. If you took a stroll into our laundry room you'd see clean baskets of laundry and dirty baskets of laundry, but this time maybe only ten loads out! BUT, there is order and that's an improvement! Make no mistakes, I don't always desire to do the laundry or scrub a toilet. I am not a gourmet cook; my family will attest to that, but by His tender mercy, I now prepare a menu two weeks out.

I think I know why God has changed my heart (He is still working on me, it's a process). First, it's in accordance with His will. He desires for me to nurture my family, that's my role. Second, it brings glory to His name. Anyone who truly knows me, knows that this was not in my make up.

You might have your own house in order. If you do, please feel free to share a few tips with me....but please share them a little bit at a time lest I become overwhelmed! :)
Truly, you might be the queen of organization and a wonderful cook, but everyone has something. What is your something? There is hope. Ask God to change your heart to transform you to look more like Him for the praise of His glory.

Until next time,
Missy