Keepers of the Home

I have been frantically cleaning for days - You really don't think your house is messy or dirty until you have to "put it on the market." I'm not the housewife who just loves to clean... I'm thinking that they are a dying breed because I only know a couple of gals who actually enjoy it. Anyways, this has been exhausting looking at every nook and cranny and trying to see it through someone elses' eyes - Try it - You'll see a whole new world of clutter you never noticed before! It is nice, however, living in a house that has an organized pantry, closets and laundry room - they look great! When I was cleaning out my side of the closet I had 4 trash bags FULL of clothes, 1 bag of shoes, 1 bag of old purses and Charles came up with a bag of clothes too! We brought them to Katy Christian Ministries and it felt so good to dump all of that stuff out of my house.. I'm kinda on a roll now and I'm wanting to get rid of lots of stuff - things at one point I HAD to have - now I'm just giving away.. makes me rethink impulsive purchases!! Also during my cleaning I came across this little card - it was given to me by another Fluor wife and it was attached to many recipes..
It says:

We, the Keepers of the Home,

have accepted God's life long challenge

with the guidance of our Heavenly Father, our Christ, and the Holy Spirit

"to love (our) husbands

to love (our) children,

to be self-controlled and pure,

to take care of (our) homes

to be kind,

and to be obedient to (our) husbands,

so that the word of God not be dishonored"

Titus 2:4-5 (from several translations)

This is what God expects of us as housewives and "keepers of the home." We are commanded to love our hubbies (even when we don't feel like it), love our kiddos (even when they are whining all day), to have self control (not to spend all their money or give in to many indulgences), to be pure (to know the grass ain't any greener with another hubby), to take care of our homes (literally to cook, clean & do laundry), to be kind (not to complain, gripe or snap at the hubby or kids - but to lift them up and encourage them), to be obedient to hubbies (follow their lead - don't be controlling)... It was encouraging to me to read this today and I hope it encourages all of you as well~ It is a pretty big statement for us to follow; It holds true 2,000 years ago and still holds true today - isn't God good?! :o)
Luv,
Christa