yeah. so. remember when I told you I was a pig? you probably thought I was a regular pig. the kind that sometimes doesn't clean the toilet very well, or skips a day making the bed.
no. i am the real kind of pig.
The kind of pig that can't currently walk through her bedroom because there are ten, TEN baskets of miscellaneous clothing scattered about. Some (2) are from the girl's closet clean out that was last YEAR and I have yet to move them. Some (2!!!) are socks that need to be matched and put away (there are a lot of feet in my house. don't judge yet... you're sure to be repulsed soon enough, don't want to wear yourself out). Some (2) are of sheets from the last time I washed all the bedding in my home and never put the second set back in the linen closet... IN DECEMBER. Some (3) are of clothes that were at one time clean and on my couch ready to be folded when company dropped by unexpectedly. I don't know when that was. There are clothes in there we forgot we had.
The last basket is full of empty hangers, waiting for all the clean clothes stacked on my sink to be hung back up. I have a nasty habit of going, "not this" and then putting my discards in a pile on the sink at least 2 times a day when I get dressed for the day. yah. piles up fast. I also have 8 inches of dust collected on top of my piled up books scattered near my bedside, six cups of water that I've never taken upstairs, a dressing table that is so messy, I can't find my favorite lipstick under the rubble, and a bin with the Christmas project I never finished is on my bookshelf. That's not all. I've just reached the point when vanity refuses to let me unveil anymore slovenliness.
Now, to my credit... this all started snowballing way back in the days of the great garage clean out. Remember that? when I vowed to never be that big of a pig again? Well, that was an unfair vow because I forgot I was still a pig inside the house. Where was I? oh yes... I am a pig.
So, tonight I was sitting in my bed, blogsurfing away, doing nothing productive, and I looked around my bedroom. Ugh. I almost started doing what I usually do and ignore it because it's just too big of a project to even start, when I realized that I am still not taking care of what God has blessed me with. I have a bedroom floor, chair, sink, and closet full of clothes and I complain I have nothing to wear. disgusting. I can't even put away clothes anymore because there is no room in my closet and my prayer is for a house with bigger closets? outrageous.
So, I said a prayer, walked across the piles of clothes like a woman with a mission. I went through the shirt side of my closet bars with a vengeance. Time to get rid of what I do not use and give it to someone who needs it. All those clothes that I MIGHT fit in someday? out. That blouse that makes me look mannish? gone. The novelty T's from past church themes? buh-bye. Camp shirts, flower shirts, ones that I never could find the right pants for? ta-tah.
At the end of my purge, I have now a pile of 44 shirts and jackets to give to people who are not as spoiled rotten as I. FORTY FOUR SHIRTS, people. I am ashamed. Why do I hang on to things for so long? Do I not believe that He will give me clothes to wear? Do I not trust Him to provide for me? What is my major malfunction?????
I still have much much more work to do to clean this dumb pigsty of mine, but this I vow, internet... that by my 36th birthday (April 18th), I will have this home so that you can walk in any room any time of the day. You can even come over unannounced and I will offer you a seat without making you go drive around the block for awhile. I might even make you some tea, provided you're not a scary stalker person. Just you fun bloggerchicks.
The time has come, my friends- and you are going to keep me accountable. I can't live like this anymore. Today is the day of a fresh start. 'Cause you know what? I believe that in this moment, just because I trust in the power of the Holy Spirit, that I am no longer allowed to excuse my behavior by saying, "I'm just a bad housekeeper."
Truth is, I do not have to be bound to the name of Filthy Pig. I have a God who wants desperately to free me from all things that bind me. He wants me to not hold on to earthly treasures. He calls me by name. I need only to answer, and let Him give the strength necessary to complete this change. I know this is true, beyond a shadow of a doubt. I am so confident that He will provide that I can say this without reservation:
My name is HisGirl.
I used to be a pig.
But not anymore.
Was bound but
now I'm free.
I used to be a pig.
But not anymore.
Was bound but
now I'm free.
What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!
2 Corinthians 5:17
2 Corinthians 5:17
21 comments:
Yay for you! Just take small steps. Give it 20 minutes a day, and don't overwhelm yourself. The best thing I can suggest is to get the stuff you plan to give away out of your house as soon as possible to prevent it from becoming yet another pile. But you sorta know this from your garage make-over, so if you think I'm being bossy, please forgive me!
I'm proud of you, and totally believe you can do this.
Hey...have you ever checked out flylady.net? She has some good tips for de-cluttering.
Good luck!!!! You're on your way to great freedom.
Ouch. Harsh. I am blown away by your vow to allow people in to any room at any time of day. I think you may have gone over the edge. Perhaps if you make it a game, it will seem more inviting and less like something that takes you away from stuff you REALLY want to do. I wish you would have had this tantrum when I was in town so I could go buy bins with you! (btw - I am a terrible get-it-out-decide-not-to-use-it-but-don't-put-it-awayer too. And I have been chastising myself to do better with that as well. My poor husband really does want a place to sleep when he returns to a real bed. OH! I KNOW WHAT TO DO! MAKE A LIST! MAKE A LIST!
You know how you have said that you have to leave the words alone and just let God use them? Well today is the day He used them to REALLY speak to me.
As you know we are birds of a feather in this area. Mer mentioned fly lady - I had a friend tell me about this site three weeks ago. I just looked at it, (thanks Mer for the reminder) there is a section called baby steps. Maybe we can challenge each other to start there?
I will pray that you meet your April deadline!
Girl, I am so there with you! Even though I got a lot done last week, I still have much to do (my side of the closet included). I'm going to work some more this weekend. Let's keep each other accountable!
I agree with Mer...get the stuff out of the house as soon as you can. I made myself do that last week, and the weight lifted off my shoulders as I dropped those boxes off...amazing!
I need to do the same thing! I have clothes folded on top of the dresser and in the floor just not really in the dresser lol.
If you ladies are giving that stuff away you may want to see if you have a freecycle.org group there. That is a great sight to find a new home for your stuff and you can be sure that it is going somewhere that it can be used.
I can be REALLY good at holding people accountable. Remember that God is a God of order, and he hates disorder.
Throw Fly Lady OUT THE WINDOW! Twenty minutes a day DOES NOT CUT IT. Twenty minutes at a time DOES NOT CUT IT.
Think of what you are teaching your children. God has given us a Biblical mandate to be keepers of our homes.
I pray for your success. You can do it. Out on some music or a sermon tape and get busy!
http://7rewards.blogspot.com/2008/02/as-lord-commanded.html
HG, you are so preaching to my choir. I'm proud of you for taking this step. Also, I'm a Flylady fan, and if you do one thing, I urge you to purchase an egg timer and set it for 15 minutes. Think of me doing the 15 minute thang up here in the great northwest. I totally agree with Mer's advice with getting it out of the house as soon as you've made a to-go pile. I suffer from an affluence of to-go piles. Time to simply git er done.
xxxooogretchen
I have to respectfully disagree with Tracy about the 15 minute thing. Sometimes, when I'm so overwhelmed, 15 minutes is a worthy and doable goal. Of course her house is probably cleaner than mine, I would bet. ;)
I can relate. It seems my bedroom is ALWAYS the last to be cleaned. And when I'm straightening the rest of the house, everything I don't know what to do with ends up in my bedroom. So much for a peaceful, restful sanctuary, huh?
BTW, flylady has great tips, but don't sign up for their emails unless you want your inbox as cluttered as your bedroom...they send several each day....more than I could keep up with!
I don't know who this "fly lady" is, but I can tell you she's a hater! haha!! I go through the same cycles you describe, and I have simply had to come to embrace it. It's how I am; God just made me that way. Wish that could be a great excuse for getting away with it, but it's not. I just have to do as much as I can as I go and occasionally have the big, blowout cleaning session, such as the one you described. I can't even want to be guilty about it anymore!
You can do it...baby steps! I'm proud of you for taking that first step.
I'm a pig too! Seriously, my in-laws are coming TOMORROW to stay with us for several days. You can't imagine how much work I have to do...sometimes I wonder if I NEED to procrastinate to get a fire lit under me! I lack motivation. but you know what? Today I played a game with Ethan and had all kinds of cuddle time with Emily, so I don't mind :)
But I totally hear you, laundry is my worst. I have baskets of clothes that need to be folded and put away too. God has given me this house and I'm not taking as good of care of it as I could.
It is nice to know that there are other "pigs" out there! I have sisters in clutter!! I wish you the best of luck. And if all else fails, watch one of those shows on TLC about hoarders. It'll make you feel much better (usually works for me!)
Hey, I am a pig, too. And I don't care!! I do try sometimes. Admitting you have a problem is the first step, right??
Go for it! You will feel so much better when you are done! I did a major purge recently with our closet and I LOVE it.
Sometimes I make deals with my husband just so he'll help me pick my stuff off the floor!!
Youch! My toes will never be the same, much to my everlasting shame. I keep thinking I need to clean out my closet because there are people who would actually benefit from the clothes I never wear. But have I gotten to it? Nope.
As much as I don't like to have the truth thrust upon me like this, thank you for opening my eyes and my heart!
You are awesome!!!
You are an inspiration! My piggyness is still clinging. I also have piles of jewelry everywhere. (I wear bling like I'm from South Florida (apologies to floridians) -- but I'm past 50, I'm allowed!!) But I take it off whenever it starts to bother me. A collection on the computer desk, a collection by the tv, a collection on my nightstand (No a mountainous PILE on my nightstand) Some day I shall be free!!
I think that is super! I am so about the organization. I am not perfect, but I do have little baskets here and there to keep me from becoming a basketcase. Now, my office? That's the worst offender, but it's all in one pile. One pile? I can live with that. But even that is going away. You can do it! Proud of you. And hey, don't call yourself a pig. You are so not that, okay? Clutter bug is much cuter and perkier.
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