Messy With Purpose

Tinker Toys here, little cars there.  Mega-bloks strewn half-way down the hall.  Candy Land cards scattered everywhere.  Random toys covering the carpet as if a tornado had hit the toy box.  Pots “cooking” coasters under the table.  Dried-up peas making polka-dots on my kitchen rug.  And one shoe wedged between the wall and the refrigerator.  This is how you would usually find my house.

I have two toddlers.  Life is messy.  Play-dough gets ground into socks, mac-n-cheese gets smooshed into hair.  I have to do multiple laundry loads, multiple times a week.  That’s just the way it is.

I like Proverbs 14:4.  It says, “Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, but much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.”  Sure farming is messy (and smelly!).  But the farmer would never want a sparkling clean barn.  That would mean that his farm was not bringing in any money.  The purpose of the farm is to raise crops or animals – and to fulfill that purpose the barn (and the farmer) would have to get a little messy.

The mommy-version of the proverb might say, “Where no little ones are, the house is clean, but much joy comes by the laughter of the children.”  Or something like that.

One purpose of my home is to raise children who know that they are loved by God and loved by their parents.  We show our love by playing and tickling and wrestling and reading and coloring and disciplining and splashing and flippping and…well, lots more.  We love on each other by being together, by sharing together, by speaking kindly and purposefully to one another.  I want my kids to know the love of God by what they hear and see and do in our home.  And it may get a little messy in the process.

Another purpose of my home is to raise children who know how to love and serve others.  We enjoy having friends in our home to play with often.  How will my children learn how to share their toys if no one comes over to share with?  How will they learn to turn the other cheek if no one comes over and pushes them?  (Not that we like pushing, but everything can be a teachable moment) How will they learn how to speak respectfully to others if no one comes over to speak to?  I think that it’s important for my pre-schoolers to learn about how to behave around others right here in our home.  And we sure do have fun with our friends too!  But it does get a little messy in the process.

I understand the farmer in Proverbs 14:4.  I understand that sometimes there is purpose in messiness.  And right now I am willing to give up a sparkling clean house.  My purpose is to raise two boys who know God, love God, know others and love others – and to fulfill that purpose the house (and the mommy) are gonna have to get a little messy.

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