As I stood looking at the heaping mound of clothing that lay In front of me waiting to be neatly folded and put in its proper place, i couldnt help but think how food droppings, dirty hand marks, and just plain dirt on these very clothes would meet me again in a day or so. Then, Steven Curtis Chapman's song "Do Everything" popped into my head. The chorus says something like this, "Do every little thing to the glory of the one who made you". So as I starred at the laundry I couldn't help but think, "Can I really do laundry to the glory of God?"
I prayed for God to right my wrong attitude and I told Him I wanted to do this trival little task for Him. Honestly though my real thoughts were, "Does God really care about laundry?" I picked up a pair of pants and shook them out and kept thinking. I realized, the absence of complaining does not equal bringing glory to God. I began a pile for my son by setting down the folded pair of pants. As I held up my daughters dress, something came over me and I began praying for her. I prayed for her tiny heart to be sensitive to the word of God and eager to follow him throughout her life. Then I picked up my husbands t-shirt and prayed that God would give him strength to stand firm with his values and beliefs in a corporate bag stabbing world that encourages anything but. I continued to pray over my family as I touched each piece of clothing. Soon I was scrapping the bottom of the laundry basket. I can't explain the emense amount of joy I felt when I was done. Somehow this mundane everyday task was suddenly joyful an rooted in deep purpose.
I'm going to do everything I can to make this a habit. I don't know about your house but laundry is kind of a given. Everyday we put on new clothes and take off old ones. What an amazing opprotunity I have to lift my family up in prayer.
I am convinced more than ever the answer is yes! God does care about laundry. And yes, you can bring glory to God while doing the mundane tasks of life. It's not just the presence of a good attitude either, it's taking a moment to praise Him, to ask of Him, to simply talk to Him.
Suddenly, there can be beauty everywhere!
So go ahead. Go fold your laundry, wipe the noses, mop the floor, prep for dinner......do it, and do it to the glory of God!
Here's Steven Curtis Chapman's song:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uVTeIMursb8
