Mid-Life Philosophy--14

Being Excellent

When my children were very, very small, I felt like my life consisted of laundry and dishes. Dishes and laundry. All the time. I decided that if laundry and dishes were going to be the defining activities of that period of life, I would be excellent at laundry and dishes. I took care to load the dishwasher in patterns. Everything can be beautiful. I've always enjoyed folding clothes, so it was easy and fun to take extra care to make the folded clothes beautiful.

When I say I decided to be excellent at it, it doesn't mean that I always get it done in a timely fashion or that I never fall behind. What I mean is that as I do these menial chores, I make them beautiful. I feel that in some ways, these kinds of chores represent a very pure form of service. You only really notice the dishes or laundry if they haven't been done, not if they have. In that way, both jobs are pretty thankless. Especially when my children were very small, I would often do these chores alone, in the quiet evenings after they were in bed. It was unnoticed.

I need to point out that because of Chris, these jobs are never thankless here. Chris thanks me every single week when I wash the clothes.

I need to be perfectly honest even if it sounds cheesy. I have had some remarkably spiritual experiences as I have performed these services for my children and husband. The Lord has testified to me that my work, no matter how small, is important, is acceptable to Him, and is a reflection of the love I have for my family. I love to serve my family.

I am so grateful that the Lord taught me to be excellent behind the scenes and recognize service in all its forms. I was called to serve as ward librarian several years ago. Ward librarian is a calling that is unnoticed and in a lot of ways, thankless. The only time people pay attention is when the copy machine is broken. I took the lessons I had learned from my laundry and applied it to my calling. As I served quietly, behind the scenes, the Lord blessed me with a deepened understanding of service in His kingdom.

Service is a wonderful part of life. No matter how seemingly insignificant, if I do my best work, with my heart right before God, I can grow closer to Him. Excellence, not perfection, helps me make my menial chores meaningful.