Reflections on Humility and Daily Chores

Humility is a hard thing to come by. We live in such a competitive society, that even in elementary school we are taught that we must be able to "sell" ourselves, verbally and non-verbally to employers, organizations, and even to potential spouses! What does it mean to be truly humble? Webster's dictionary defines it as 1. not proud or haughty 2. not pretentious, UNASSUMING 3. ranking low in a hierarchy or scale. So being humble is not doing something for the glory of self, or self recognition, or to be the best; but to do something for the benefit of someone else, and for the glory of God. St. Francis taught his brothers to look on everyone as if they were Jesus. With this in mind, they are servants to Jesus, in the lowest of jobs; the mundane, ordinary chores of life. as your folding laundry or packing a child's lunch, look on it as folding Jesus' laundry, and packing Jesus' lunch. Wouldn't you put a little more care and love into it?

A few thoughts that I had as I worked yesterday:

Reflections from the sink:

• A slow and steady stream in the middle temp range is best. You allow water to pool and soak the gunk for easier removal, and there is no splashing, and you are using less water overall. Giving us the lesson of the turtle "Slow and steady wins the race"  
• It is easier to remove a blob of ketchup off a plate 20 minutes after its use, then 10 hours after it's use, meaning, don't leave things for tomorrow, that could be done easier now.
• It is unwise to dump the greasy skillet into a sink full of glasses. Keep our priorities in order of importance, and do them in order!

 Reflections from laundry:

• Do not wash a new blue blazer with a pale pink dress, you end up with a mess. Do not say one thing, and do another.
• Doing 1-2 loads daily, is a lot easier than 12 in one day. Putting away each load as it comes out of the dryer, makes shorter work overall; less resorting in their destination, and lighter loads to carry up stairs. Do things as they come along, and you will have more free time in the end. 

Reflections from cleaning the kids rooms:

• Kids work harder when there are helping hands. Many hands make light work.
• Kids are less attached to their items, and are more charitable then we presume. Materialism and love of things and money, are learned, not inherent.

So I have learned that doing a little work everyday, in a slower and steadier state of mind makes less work overall, and more time for things I want to do. So I must slow down and not try to do everything, everyday, and for everyone. To do things in priority order and the important things will get done, making me calmer and a more comfortable and loving home.
My Priorities: God, husband, kids, home, work.

Today's meditations shall be on how to arrange my days to reflect my priorities in their proper place. Holly Pierot used Mother's Teresa's schedule for her order to help her make her Rule. Let's also look at Mother's and see what we can learn from it.

Daily Schedule for the Missionaries of Charity
4:30-5:00 Rise and get cleaned up
5:00-6:30 Prayers and Mass
6:30-8:00 Breakfast and cleanup
8:00-12:30 Work for the poor
12:30-2:30 Lunch and rest
2:30-3:00 Spiritual reading and meditation
3:00-3:15 Tea break
3:15-4:30 Adoration
4:30-7:30 Work for the poor
7:30-9:00 Dinner and clean up
9:00-9:45 Night prayers
9:45 Bedtime