Thursday

Resent to Represent:What's laundry got to do with it?: Five Minute Friday

I know that it is almost Thursday and here I am writing a post for Five Minute Friday! I am a bit behind on…well everything!

The prompt for this week was LAUNDRY.  I've been doing laundry since I was knee-hi to a grass hopper! I think I was barely tall enough to reach the lid when I learned to do my first load of laundry.

So here is my (cough, cough) Five Minute contribution. Seriously, we all know by now that I couldn't do an actual Five Minute Post if my life depended on it. If you aren't familiar with FMF, just scroll down to the bottom of the post for the rules…and join us!

Laundry...

I call my laundry room, or rather laundry closet, Mount Never-rest! #MountNeverRest!  It seems to be the reminder that a mom's work is never 'done'. Just as you close the washer lid another pile seems to be magically  forming...on the floor right next to the laundry hamper. Why is it so hard to lift that lid?

You wash, dry, fold, or put those clothes on the hangers and they find their way back to the beginning…wash, dry, fold...on and on in endless monotony.  And then there's the occasional shirt that needs ironing!  Yes...I do still iron.  I used to HATE doing the laundry for the very reason that it is an endless task.

I said I used to hate it because I don't really hate it now...I don't really like it either, truth be told. However, I have found a purpose in doing the laundry.  Any task done just for the sake of 'getting it done', has a tendency to become boring, meaningless, and sometimes even painful.  When you attach a meaningful purpose to an otherwise laborious task it takes on a new 'life'. What once was something dreaded or procrastinated over now has purpose and meaning. So even though it still may not be the funnest thing on your to-do list…it can be approached with a new energy and maybe even a lighter heart.

So, instead of resenting that never ending mound of laundry overflowing out of baskets in more than one room in the house, I have learned to find purpose in seeing what those mounds of clothes and linens represent.

 Resent To Representa new way to look at your laundry!


Your laundry represents:

An opportunity for prayer.  

Back in the day when people actually used an iron and ironing board on a fairly regular basis, I realized that instead of being mad that I was the one stuck with the iron in my hand that I could take that time to pray for my son, daughter, or husband. As I ironed an item of clothing that belonged to my daughter I prayed for her…and the same with the rest of my family.  It really does put you in a more joyful state of mind to pray as you are ironing.

The many blessings in your life. 

Yes I said blessings! My husband has worked hard to provide the bulk of the income for our family for our 30 years of marriage. He generates lots of laundry to be washed, dried, and sometimes ironed. But the blessing of having a godly husband and loving father far outweighs all that laundry!  Our two children, who are grown now, have been known to generate so much laundry I have wondered if I would ever get caught up. Sometimes just to get them washed, dried and in a basket was enough. If they needed anything, they could pull it out of the basket! But they had clothes. We all had clothes. Maybe not as much as some but most definitely more than enough for our own needs. Children are a blessing from the Lord. Being able to provide for said children is a double blessing.

Life! 

Families who really know how to live life generate a lot of laundry!! There are those grungy softball, and t-ball uniforms, Tutu's and leotards from the dance recital, Polo shirts and khakis from that golf tournament, Sunday's best dresses and dress shirts and pants, the ice cream stain that doesn't want to come out as a result of the family outing to the local ice cream shop, mounds of sheets with popcorn butter stains from building that fort in the living room on family movie night and on and on it goes. The more that life is lived…really lived, the more dirty clothes will find their way to the laundry room.

Thank you Lord for the reminder that when the laundry baskets are full our homes are full!
Full of love, life, and your bountiful blessings! Baskets of blessing!(Click to tweet)

What about you? Do you think of the laundry as a blessing and or a curse?







There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. (yep! even the laundry) Ecclesiastes 3:1

Now it's your turn!

1. Write for 5 minutes flat - no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments
Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community...

6 comments:

  1. Totally awesome post, and a great new way to look at laundry. Well done!

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    1. Thanks! You are such an encourager! Have a blessed day!

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  2. Beautiful perspective of what the gift of laundry does represent. I don't resent laundry because I've learned life is short, and so I'm grateful to have a husband and children, and my own clothes, to fold and pray for as I do. However, when I get overwhelmed with too much laundry, I simply donate a bunch of it :) Once I donated our entire ironing pile...I figured if it had been in there for 2 years, clearly we didn't need it :)

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    1. Adrienne,
      It's a good thing to realize the blessings in this short life isn't it? Sounds like to great decision to donate them. I have a handful of items in my closet that I haven't worn in well over a year now. Time for me to make a donation too!
      Thanks for stopping by!!
      blessings,
      Gay

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  3. Ah! Loved this post. Laundry is the chore I dread the most and it takes me forever to get through a few loads from start to finish. I've gone as long as 2 weeks before a load made it back in the closet. I often feel like all I do is cook and do laundry. I love this perspective that lots of laundry means life is being lived. Also love the suggestion to pray. I often feel like I don't pray enough or spend enough one on one time with God, forgetting that I can pray at any time even when doing mundane things. Thank you! Pinning :) Visiting from Everything Stay At Home Mom.

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    1. Thanks so much for dropping by, Marisela! Brother Lawrence prayed from a soup kitchen and taught us all to practice the presence of God (acknowledging His presence in the mundane everyday and just talking to Him as we go). I remember realizing years ago just what praying any time, all the time was and it was so freeing in my relationship with God and others. Thanks for pinning!! I'll have to check out your blog!

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Join the discussion! I'd love to hear your thoughts!

blessings,
Gay