By Celeste Figueroa

          As our mentor and guide, Martha  Stewart (as well as others) has led us into the ever intriguing realm of needing newer, better, and just more.  Busyness has become a way of life for many of us.  But, as King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes, "(Martha Stewart) is nothing new under the sun" (I added Ms. Stewart's name for emphasis; I doubt Solomon knew her personally, though he possibly knew someone like her). 
In Luke 10:40, we see Martha (the original, sister to Mary and Lazarus) busily distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.  (She was undoubtedly preparing the "perfect" gourmet meal, a newly woven table cloth, and a fresh cut flower arrangement.)  She missed out on the intimate fellowship  with Jesus that her sister Mary was having while sitting at His feet.
We also miss out on intimate fellowship with Christ when we allow ourselves to become entangled with the cares of this world (which is sin, Hebrews 12:1).  Entanglements or distractions come into our lives wearing many different faces.  To make it easy, I've narrowed them down to the five H's hounding home schooling housewives...House, Husband, Hobbies, Habits, and Head to Toe.
#1. House:  Let me start by posing this question:  How are our houses not distractions?  Don't know?  Me either.  For me, just walking in the front door with my eyes open is a distraction.  I am constantly seeing that cluttered bookshelf, dirty dishes, fingerprints on the wall, toothpaste spattered on the bathroom mirror, faded curtains, dusty silk flower arrangements, piles of unread, partially read, and never-will-read magazines, newspapers and junk-mail (gasp, pant, pant!!). 
What is typically the first thing that comes out of our mouths when someone comes over unexpectedly?  "I'm so sorry!  Please excuse the mess…(then we launch into our reasons why it is a "mess")."  Why do we do that?  When someone greets me in this way it makes me feel uncomfortable and a little guilty for stopping by.  Like you, when I stop by, it's to fellowship with my friends, not to judge their housekeeping.  Of course we all appreciate a neat house, but when we fret over this thing or that we lose the joy that comes from serving others.  If we have our hearts set on serving, then we won't spend so much time slaving over our house.
My house should not be my "all consuming fire."  My household, however, is what God has given me responsibility over (see Proverbs 31:10-31 and Titus 2:3-5 for examples).  If we as godly women choose to manage our households in a God honoring manner rather than to merely improve our houses (which is often to build up our own pride or vanity), then we will not be so easily entangled in those things that would rob us of  our time serving the Lord.  We can exchange chaos for orderliness, anxiety for security, stress for peace, filth for cleanliness, and clutter for order.  Cleaning, improving, and primping around the house doesn't need to be a distraction.  We need to check our motives against God's word.  "All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but the Lord weighs the motives" (Proverbs 16:2).

Quick Tip #1:  De-junk, deep-clean, or improve one major area at a time.  Set aside a half an hour or so a day to work only on that area.  Get the kids involved in this area or an area of their own.  Do not let it all become overwhelming (easier said than done), instead take a big house (or a not so big house) and break it down into small chunks.  This will help you to not get so overwhelmed or let your house rob you of precious time.  Stay focused on what is essential during the day like schooling, cooking, normal maintenance housework, and of course, Bible study and prayer. 

Quick Tip #2:  Make constant maintenance a habit.  After a meal, quickly wipe off everything (counter, stove, table, and chairs if necessary), wash all dishes, and sweep and vacuum if necessary.  Have a house rule:  If you take it out, put right back when you are done with it.  Well known speaker and author, Elizabeth Elliot, has been known to share this peace yielding solution: a place for everything and everything in its place.  Have a schedule for cleaning different rooms during the week and, by all means, have the children help!  Don't let things pile up to the point of embarrassment or being overwhelming. 
This whole article is about lessons I have been learning and am now just passing on to you.  I hope you are all encouraged to press on to better living, less stress and more time with your family and with your God.

      Next issue:                         
#2.  Husbands. 
Do you have some practical, Biblical advice to share on this topic (or any of the 5 H's)?  Please drop me a note c/o Apples of Gold.  JOSE-CELESTE@centurytel.net