Tidy-neat, orderly, or trim, as in appearance or dress: a tidy room; a tidy person; clearly organized and systematic: a tidy mind; a tidy way of working.
I tend to use this word tidy, alot. Tidy up-tidy up your bedroom- tidy up the living room please-tidy up the play area before you leave -are little reminders I give out daily to the children. I will often say, when asked where I am , I'm tidying up. It's a pleasant word, if you will. I don't feel like I am barking an order or lamenting yet another mundane cleaning task when I say it this way. Keep it positive!
What exactly is tidy? Well, the definition above is pretty spot on. I think clean and neat, organized, calm and peaceful are words I would associate with the word tidy.
I was pondering on how tidy can also relate to my spiritual walk. First and foremost I am a daughter of the King, then wife and mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. How are all these areas in my life? Are they tidy or are they chaotic, out of order, unorganized or clearly not working how the good Lord intended.
Life can get pretty untidy when our priorities are out of order. If I am constantly committing myself to activities outside the home then I cannot homeschool properly, and I know we are called by the Lord to homeschool. If I am not diligent in planning meals and shopping wisely we will overspend, eat out too often and cook unhealthy meals. If I don't take the time to keep my home clean and the laundry done, what kind of message am I sending to my husband, children, and any visitors who may pop by. Basically, not keeping my priorities in order sends God the message that I really don't care for the calling He has placed on my life. Life is certainly about more than cooking, cleaning, and laundry, don't miss the point. What I am trying to convey is that when we have an untidy spiritual life it spills over into our daily life making us ineffective witnesses for Christ.
Recently I was reorganizing our school cabinet. Some curriculum was just not working for my special needs child and I needed to switch out books and write new lesson plans. My kitchen dining table was a wreck! We do school in this room daily. I do have an extra room , but found it too difficult to have children too far removed from me when having to do little household tasks in between lessons. Well, the chaos in this room was distracting me and bothering me, alot. I did get it all organized and tidy, making me feel a whole lot better.
When our spiritual walk is untidy, dry, lacking in substance, how do you feel? Do you feel a lack of peace, a chaotic or unsettled mind? I know I do! Having an untidy walk will open you up to spiritual attack and you most certainly won't be ready to do battle if your in this kind of state. I have been so blessed by Teri Maxwell's book, A Sweet Journey. I would encourage any believer who needs a strong dose of encouragement in developing a daily time with the Lord to order this book. It's practical hands-on approach will help guide you to a fulfilling daily relationship experience with your King.
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah26:3 (NLT)
I do love how the NLT translates this verse above. We need to keep our thoughts fixed on our Saviour. When we do we get peace and order in our lives. Tidiness, if you will.
Keeping our priorities in order and our spiritual walk foremost in our lives will not only bring peace to our lives and homes , but make us effective witnesses for the gospel!
This is the kitchen dining area all tidied up. During the day it is filled with books and manipulatives and all sorts of learning games, etc. It is always tidied up mid- afternoon when we stop school and dinner prep is under way. If you came to visit in the middle of the day you would wonder when the tornado came through!
*Note: My plug for Teri's book is totally unsolicited and I am receiving no compensation. I feel it is a wonderful resource and just wanted to share.
I love this post! Such a sweet reminder of where tidying fits into all aspects of our lives and walk with the Lord. Thank you for this!
ReplyDeleteGod Bless, friend!
An excellent post Suzanne!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
~Nadine
Dear Suzanne,
ReplyDeleteTidy is a lovely word, isn't it? It seems so cozy, in a way. :)
I love the blue in your dining room; blue seems to be a tidy color, doesn't it?
Love,
Marqueta
So true, Suzanne! What a fine reminder!
ReplyDeleteI use that word a lot too Suzanne. Even my husband does when he mentions that a car is tidy meaning that it runs well, looks good to the eye and has no major damage. A few scratches perhaps but nothing that interferes with its operation or is highly visible to others. I guess the opposite of tidy is messy and although some are proud to proclaim that they are messy and don't mind a messy home I would much prefer a tidy home (not immaculate or perfect just tidy!) and like yourself feel so much better when the temporary and even necessary messes have been tidied up. I was quite saddened to read at a blog recently reams of confessions of moms who were messies. Although they were using humour many desired to be hospitable and wanted to be able to have people over to their home but felt they couldn't because of the state they had allowed it to get into. Underneath the jokes and excuses there was a real sense of shame about not having tidy homes. I'm glad you shared what you did Suzanne and you are right being 'tidy' brings real benefits to our lives.
ReplyDeleteI like tidy. Your room is lovely. A very nice post.
ReplyDeleteThis is a lovely, encouraging post Suzanne! Thank you for sharing your thoughts, ideas, and lovely dining room.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Kim
I use the same word "tidy." "We need to tidy up the place," I would often say to my girls. It does seems more gentler. Our pastor frequently uses the tidy phrase "in thought, word and deed," when referring to our priorities in honoring Christ with our lives. I needed the reminder this week on all three fronts when difficulties arose. Your post dovetailed with my thoughts. Thank-you.
ReplyDeleteYour tidy room is an attractive accomplishment. I noticed your Georgian blue trim months back. It closely matches our blue doors and staircase. I was interested in "soldier blue" by Old Village paint colors which is a beautiful deep blue but Dean recommended a medium shade. I'm glad I heeded.
Karen A.
Hello! i just came to your blog from the Take Peace group. i couldn't agree with you more! When my surroundings/my home are un-tidy i am unable to focus until i make things right again. The same with my spirit ~ when it is un-tidy, i am not living the way the Lord wants me to live, until i tidy it up again. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete