Congratulations! We’ve made it to Day 15 of our Clutter-Free Challenge.
As we end this series, I have a few more thoughts to share with you. Mainly because I know how defeated you might get in this area. Keeping a home de-cluttered and organized is an ongoing challenge. Life keeps changing. What worked last month, might not work this month. And just when you think you’ve got this de-cluttering thing conquered, something will happen to you (or me) to make us feel like giving up and accepting clutter. What we’ll need in that moment is perspective. Imagine this …
You’ve just cleaned up the kitchen and family room and sat back with a Diet Coke to relax for a minute, when along comes a high school wrestler who will dump his stinky shoes and sweaty shirt on the counter. Not long after that, backpacks will get dropped in a line from the door to where you are sitting. Papers will be tossed on the dining room table. Later, a tall day-worn man walks in, kicks off his shoes, drops a briefcase on the floor, and sets a notebook and travel mug next to the wrestler’s dirty shoes. And five people will ask you what’s for dinner within a 15-minute time span. Four will come back to ask if they can have a snack.
And you will look at the mess, and sigh. And it’s right here, right at this point, you have a choice.
Do you blow your stack? It would be easy to do. Don’t these people appreciate how hard I work???
Or do you huff and sigh and pick up the shoes and drop them with a little too much force on the ground? And then pick up the coffee mug and place it in the dishwasher just a bit too hard, rattling the other glasses? Saying nothing but speaking volumes.
I’ve reacted both ways before.
But I’ve also lost some people I loved much too soon. And there’s nothing like that type of loss to give me perspective.
Maybe it might give you some perspective too.
And hopefully … just maybe … with God’s strength and wisdom … you will pause before attempting to make everyone feel guilty for unloading all their stuff and messing up your hard work.
Could you pause with me just a few seconds?
And in that pause, before unkind thoughts can take root, or angry words can be spoken, God’s Spirit will give you a “hug” and remind you that life is messy. Really. Messy. And people are more important than clean counters. And this won’t last forever. And LOTS of people would give just about anything to have someone they love walk in the door and drop their stuff.
Then, after you’ve thanked God for stopping your gut reaction and giving you perspective, you will get up and hug that wrestler and tell him you are SO HAPPY he is home. You will kiss those little backpack-wearers on the forehead. You will cut up an apple and wash some grapes. You will kiss your husband and put his travel mug in the dishwasher gently. And realize that this is much more important than having a perfect home.
Oh how perspective has saved me from doing and saying so many regrettable things. You see, our highest calling is to love God and love others. Yes managing our homes and schedules is important. Obviously I believe that strongly. But maintaining a heart of love should always supersede our desire for a clutter-free home. So when the interruptions come (and they will) … and when someone messes with your plans (and they will) … remember to keep perspective. Keep first things first. And Jesus’ commands always come first.
Let’s say you keep perspective, and you avoid a meltdown, but in the quiet of your heart you feel like a failure in managing your time and home. And maybe you signed up for this challenge thinking, I’m really going to get it together now. But three weeks have gone by and you haven’t made one change. If the truth were told, you are actually further behind because now you’ve spent way too much time reading those long blog post by that wordy Whitwer.
If that’s you, and you are even more discouraged than before, please take those thoughts captive, and hear what I have to say. God is accomplishing HIS purposes for you through this challenge. God’s ways are not our ways. You might have signed up with the intent of de-cluttering, and God had another purpose altogether. I learned long ago that I can sign up for one “class” but God had already scheduled me for another. Be open to what God wanted to do during your time on this challenge. If God did something completely crazy like heal a relationship or light a creative spark inside you that’s going to mean even more crafty clutter, please let me know.
Just one more thing. Really. And then I’ll end. I hope you’ll consider staying on as a subscriber to my blog. I will continue to write one or two times a week about my passions: home, family, organization, time management and productivity. I occasionally write about general faith topics, usually when I have a devotion running on Proverbs 31.
But if you decide to unsubscribe, I understand. I’m always trying to manage my email inbox. So, if this ends our time together, I want to thank you for joining me for this study. Your time is valuable and your trust is precious to me.
That’s it. I’m done. At least for today. I’ll look forward to sharing more with you in the future.
Grace & Peace,
Glynnis
Heavenly Father, I worship You for Your goodness and faithfulness. Even though my life feels out of control at times, You never are. As I continue to bring order to my life, I know I’m going to need Your help. I get so easily discouraged and want to quit. Help me to persevere. But I also need to know when to let things go and just rest and enjoy my messy life. Please help me know the difference, and have the courage to do the right thing. I love You, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.
Although I didn’t follow through, and felt like a complete failure, I know these past 10 days (I started late) were a huge success. I was drowning in depression, and getting nothing done. Absolutely nothing. I now have a clean house (not clutter free) and a budget made. I went through stacks of papers that were not only bogging me down but my husband as well. I dealt with our over due taxes that I was avoiding. This has helped create such desperately needed unity between us! I have gotten off my bum and gone walking, and I’ve cooked a dinner each night. If I look at my failures I’m discouraged. Thanks for encouraging me to look at where I’ve succeeded.
To me, you are an inspiration! Can you imagine if we each changed our lives to the better as much as you did during the last 10 days! Keep going! You are amazing!
Thank you Shelly! You just made my day (:
I am so happy for you! Keep up the good work and my God Bless You and Yours!
Thank you for this beautiful writing today Glynnis. I live in CT, where just a few weeks ago we endured the most horrific catastrophe at an elementary school just a short drive from our home. You are so right! I know that any one of those suffering moms would, with absolute joy in their heart, pick up and clean up for the rest of their life, if only that sweet child she lost was still alive. Perspective.
I did get things done these past 2 weeks. My closet office looks amazing! I still have one pile of papers to sort and file, but the new file boxes and hanging folders are due to get delivered today!
More importantly Glynnis, you have encouraged me. Not just in the decluttering of some of my stuff, but in the decluttering of my thoughts and actions. You have helped me to toss some negative stuff that was cluttering up my attitude not just my office.
Thank you.
I’ve loved this series and I appreciate all the work you put in to it. I didn’t get everything done but that’s OK because like you say it’s an ongoing process. I especially like your idea of a brain dump. That helped me most of all – to get all the little things floating around my head down on paper so I could make a plan to take care of it all. I’ve already marked several things off the list that were causing me stress. Thank you!
The major change I’ve made is the planner notebook. I can see a difference in my days! It is sooo much easier to have everything together. I’ve got my prayers and projects, shopping and menus. Well, it really is changing my life. With my prayers altogether, I find I’m praying MORE. So grateful. Do I have all my closets cleared and decluttered? NO WAY. But I have hope, your book, and a plan. Thank you so much, Glynnis. God bless you and your ministry.
Hello friend, I’ve enjoyed each day of this and have accomplished so many tasks that have been needing my attention! Thank you for the encouragement! I truly love this last post when you speak about the priorities of God’s commands. To savor the hugs and even making the snacks
Thank you!
Thankyou so much for sharing this message today. It couldn’t have come at a better time. I worked all week “cleaning” house. I had cleaned the kitchen/breakfast area yesterday and when my daughter came home from school, she decided to make Valentine decorations with glitter of all things. And of course glitter was from one end of the room to the other when she finished. Then I get up this morning and find little messes all over the Living Room. Which includes someone’s fingernails on the arm on the couch! Eeew!! I could get offended that my family didn’t notice my hard work or I can shrug it off, clean it up and thank God I have people in my home that I love and want to take care of. A new perspective can change lives!!! Thankyou!
Your thoughtful words are heartwarming…even with the challenges you offer. It’s easy to see God’s work in your heart and life…thanks for being a living testimony of His grace.
Amen to that!
Hi Glynnis,
In order to really “get” this challenge, I have copied each day and have them ready for me to take, step by step.
Since there is no “perfect” time…I get to do this slowly! And your order is exactly what I need and admire.
THANK YOU for your gifted ness in this area! As well as your ability to share it!!!
Say, are you anywhere near Goodyear, AZ?
When you mentioned the “killer frost” we had and mentioned Phoenix…I thought-wow maybe I could “do” coffee with this sweet lady!!!
Looking out at all brown trees and bushes…and sending prayers of gratitude, Terry
Hi Terry – I’m in Glendale! We are neighbors.
Dear Glynnis,
I love this series! When you mentioned putting it in a computer file in case I couldn’t keep up, I tried that. Then lost it. Then remembered I had printed it out -last year- and found that physical file: Yay me! Anyway, just doing a wee bit each day has helped me make dents in all the “piles” here, there and everywhere. Thank you so much for re-visiting this series. I am already signed up for your weekly blog, and love that, too. Hope everyone has a great week-end. God Bless! xoxo
Thank you so very much, Glynnis! I am staying on…your words are always a blessing, so encouraging. The Lord bless you & your dear family! <3
True confessions… I am a clutter keeper and I have really good intentions to clean up and remain disciplined in little things and doing the 15 day challenge seemed like a great way to start.. I finally opened up your email from today and found myself hypercritical as it was the first day I had actually opened up the email and read it.. The more I read, the more critical of myeslf I became, because I am single with no one but myself to blame for the cake container in the sink since the superbowl party, the pile of books, clothes, papers that clutter my house.the car that is my house on wheels and the list goes on and on.
Then I saw your advice to PAUSE and get perspective. Pause allowed me to consider Jesus’s command to love my neighbor AS myself and to take captive those thoughts that “clutter” my life, telling me otherwise which consequently put me on a path of wanting to hit the mental self destruct button.
I found myself,in that pause, giving thanks for the people that have called and interrupted my intentions to clean, the health I have to do the things I love.. the ability to have things to enjoy and a house to clean and a car to take me to the acitivities I love… and the list mounted as I realized those things that were once cluttering my life were blessings in disguise.
Then I paused once more to put things in perspective and give myself a break and realize that I am a work in progress and life is messy and I am messy. I needed to remember that His ways are not always my ways and and He is the master planner of all things that are good. And that He gives me all things I need to fulfill His perfect purposes in us.
I know I’m preaching to the choir, but in conclusion just want to thank you for your thoughts and wisdom and encouragement to keep on keeping on and pressing to the goal of a higher calling through Christ Jesus our Lord…Thanks for your pause to consider the importance of perspective:)
Your sis in Christ who make us so..
Laurel b.
I LOVE this! Laurel, thank you for sharing.
I thank the Lord that he brought me to my computer right now! He pleaded for me to come through my 10 year old daughter’s request for help with printing a valentine card! I begrudgingly came! You see I had just been calling on Him to tell me again that I am beautiful b/c I feel anything but that today; well for the last couple weeks. When I came to my computer I checked my emails and saw your devotional title, Glynnis, it was a bold answering of my prayer only a half hour ago! Then to find this segment on de cluttering. It is a battle that rages in me every day….me choosing to put a guilt trip on my precious kids for toys, trash, crumbs, bags, coats, socks, shoes, etc. left here, there and everywhere, instead of enjoying them and loving on them! Thank you for the encouragement, the conviction and reminder that the change needs to be in my perspective not in my circumstances! Bless you for speaking His words!
Amy R.
I believe it takes courage to admit the struggles you face with putting a “guilt trip on your precious kids” and I am glad you have the courage. I just want to say I feel your pain and I am glad God spoke to you via Glynnis and gave you a refreshed perspective!
Take care and God Bless You and Your Kids!
I’m thanking God He uses us mommies to speak His words of encouragement to each other. Only another mom (and God) can understand how hard it is to try and try each day to keep things clean only feel defeated in no time flat. We all need to remind each other of what’s most important on those hard days.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and insight as you offer guidance while sharing of yourself. I didn’t accomplish each day’s goals, but I did some of them and am more organized and less cluttered than when you did the last challenge. Thank you for helping me in my journey to less clutter and more peace
Crystal – every little bit makes some difference. I’m celebrating what you got done! And what God did too.
I must say that God has impeccable timing. I tried to do this 15 day challenge in 2012 and only made it through day 4 or 5. I worked extremely hard at the beginning of it this year, with trepidation about the end of the first week. It turned out that the writing of the giant to-do list was actually the easy part, for me, this year. Then I had to face the paper mountain! Aye ye ye! I had to pat myself on the back though, because since the day you introduced sorting the papers, I have worked on it three times. That is a miracle!
Well anyway, back to God’s timing. I have been having problems with work lately. Not only have I been having focusing issues, but they also cut my hours. Well, they just happened to cut my hours way down at the same time you began doing this challenge with us this year.
On another note, my husband and I were not getting along very well, because I had been dealing with focusing issues at home, as well. After starting this challenge, I was struggling with managing my time. I had to read these emails, write lists, still maintain the usual chores and still try to be a good wife and mother. But because of the temporary time frame of only 15 days, I really did try to focus hard on only doing my usual chores and what not.
I have not really made time to play around, or even rest, for that matter. Then Saturday, the third, I was so tired, that I did nothing all day and I even took a nap. My husband, who paid attention to how hard I had been working, did not say one negative thing to me, about my lack of usefulness, and even decided to take us out to dinner that night. Woohoo!
I have been struggling with maintaining our home for quite some time. It had been a source of frustration between my husband and I. This led him to bring it up at church sometimes. Embarrasing. (He was not super mean about it, though.) At least once, however,I think he called me a pain in his butt.
Shortly before you reintroduced this challenge, I had made it my New Year’s Resolution to improve on the maintenance of my home . I did not tell anyone, for fear of failure and letting people down. The same time I became lax on this resolution, you started the 15 days. God’s impeccable timing!
Then something wonderful happened at church. My husband proclaimed how he felt so much love for me, that he could not explain, and he apologized for being a pain in my butt!
My house still isn’t perfect, but the level in which it gets messed up, before I take action to fix it, has changed. I am taking action faster and more often. I am delegating responsibility a little more. I am saying no a little more. I am actually making time to read the magazines I get every month.
I read a Veggie Tales story to my two year old before putting him to bed, and the story motivated me to work on the house, some more, before I went to bed.
Some items that did not have homes now have them. I put a set of shelves (well they are more like baskets) up next to our front door. The top shelf has something in it that needs to go to my parent’s house. The second shelf has something in it that I need to return to the store, and the third one has my 5 year old’s hat and scarf on it for when she get’s ready to take the bus to school in the morning. I will also use this for outgoing mail.
Not only has all this developed, but things have improved between my ex-husband and I, also. He has had problems with being late. I have had problems with being late. When it came time for me to either pick up my 13 year old or drop her off, I would usually be running late, and most of the time he would be later, so he did not know I was late, unless our daughter told him. Well, I do not know what has got him doing better, but the last few times we have done pick ups and drop offs, he has been early and I have been early, too.
Lack of proper communication, regarding our daughter, has caused problems between us. Yesterday he called me and gave me a heads up on her recent health issues, apologized for not calling a day sooner, and informed me about the extra medication I would need to administer to her this weekend. Then today, I called and reminded him, because he tends to forget her stuff sometimes.
On top of all of that, I was just given a new job opportunity, within the same company I am with, and my hours will be improved. I get to work more days per week, during the time of day that means I will be able to be home with my five year old after school!
Our God is Awesome!!!
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this with me. I love how God works. I believe He is honoring your heart to be a good steward of your home. So even though you didn’t meet the original goals you set, you met God’s goals for you. And that’s really what matters. I’m celebrating with you!!!
Could some one tell me how I can find Glynnis’ devotional on”brain-dumping”? I”d like to read that one again! Thanks!
Lana
Hi Lana, it was Day 3. Here’s that link: http://glynniswhitwer.com/2013/01/clutter-free-day-3-dealing-with-mental-overload/
And on Day 6 I gave suggestions on how to create a project management note book to manage everything.
Thanks for asking.
Glynnis – you have been a wonderful inspiration. Thank you so much for this helpful series – it’s been the most helpful and encouraging one that I’ve read – decluttering the mind ideas are great. I’d definitely like to read more of your writings.
Thank you for the lessons God bless u, I’m lifted up! and I can see myself improving on managing clutter in my home and office. I like to share your teaching with my grownup daughter and she likes it.
Really great post, Glynnis!
And really great 15 day challenge – I loved reading the testimonies here.
Blessing upon each household represented in this challenge, including yours.
Hi,
I read the whole series you wrote on keeping clutter under control. I really liked all of your suggestions and inspiration. Thank you!
I have a question about boxes. You know, the ones you get that come with your computer, your son’s snowboard boots, snowboard bindings, the juicer, the all-in-one printer, etc. I have a tendency to hold on to them thinking I’ll need them again (for whatever reason…moving mainly). I would really like your advice on how to handle them – recycle them and plan to use something else when transporting them when I move? They are filling up one of my rooms and it is really an issue. I just need some constructive advice on why I should recycle them or why I should continue to hold on to them. In addition to thinking I’ll need them when I move to transport these things, I feel that if I need to return or have it repaired I will need the boxes.
I would love to purge them, but I need your advice on how best to handle this “accumulating” clutter issue and how I can put my mind at ease if I do recycle / get rid of them all.
Thank you! Looking forward to a cleaned out utility room once I receive your input.
So simple…I know, but I look forward to hearing your opinion. Thanks again for your inspiration, ideas about parenting, and supportive personality. Blessings!
Thank you for your support in sharing this helpful truth. I find myself in this same situation about a change that is taking place in my life now. My husband and I moved from the city(Lafayette,La) to a smaller town(ChurchPoint,La.), for 3 years. I felt so little and began like a no one. depress came into my life, all I wanted to do was work. I became down all the time and felt like my life was in a circle. Now we are stepping out on faith and will take the chance in moving back to the city. I am alittle afraid, but after reading your letter, Faith is all the way for me. I know God is in cotroll and have already turned some things around in my life for the good. I am trusting him and leaving all my worries behind.