The Me I Long To Be (Ironing Not Required)

photo credit: clotho98 via photopin cc

photo credit: clotho98 via photopin cc

 

I have a confession I would like to share with you today. I have a hard time with the domestic side of life my life. OK, I’ll just say it. I really Stink, with a capital S at the whole domestic side of life. I am convinced my mother has a gene that just did not get passed down to me. It’s the one that rejoices in ironing. I am not joking. The woman finds ironing therapeutic. Meanwhile my husband knows that asking me to iron would require us both to be in therapy. OK, that is a bit dramatic but you get the point.

Quite honestly this lack didn’t bother me… UNTIL I became a Christian.

More specifically,  it did not bother me until I became a Christian wife and mother.

I suddenly felt this strong desire to be a cross between June Cleaver and Carol Brady with a touch of Mother Theresa thrown in for good measure. In reality I was more Lucille Ball on I Love Lucy. In The Chocolate Factory. Or selling some kind of Vitametavegiman concoction. Or in all other sorts of trouble trying, in my own strength, to be the  domestic diva I believed all Christian women to be. That elusive Proverbs 31 woman worked her way into my imagination in a bad and twisted way.

Like Lucy I really wanted to be good. I tried hard to fit into my new roles in life. I wanted to do those things that seemed godly and good, based on standards I saw and heard about at church and from other “good and godly” Proverbs 31 women. But the fact is, I struggled. And on my best days, I felt like a failure. Until the day I had an epiphany. It came through His Word, and His grace.

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 1 Peter 1:3

The biggest undoing we can ever face is the undoing that God does to get us to the place of His doing.

It is in the letting go of the trying to gain, and the beginning of  trusting Him to attain for us all that we cannot.

‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty. Zechariah 4:6

 He has already completed that which He has started in us in His infinite perception.

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

The most important thing I can do to be the best wife, mom and woman I can be is by maintaining the vital relationship I have with my Savior and Living God. I can only grow in godliness and goodness, and be fruitful in my God-ordained roles as I myself am disciplined and discipled  by the one who makes disciples.

The The fact is, I have since grown in my roles as wife, mother and even as a domestic diva! Well, at least the first two roles. Two out of three isn’t bad, right? Better still, ironing is not required!

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18

 

 

15 Responses to The Me I Long To Be (Ironing Not Required)
  1. Lynn D. Morrissey
    September 28, 2014 | 12:36 pm

    Just love your true confessions, Dawn. You give me hope. My mother never showed me how to do anything around the house. She felt sorry for me, because I had so much homework! So I never learned how to do anything. Actually, when I was a teen, I did do ironing, and enjoyed it, because it gave me a chance to listen to all those wonderful LP’s I had of Broadway shows. I even ironed my hair, for goodness sake to straighten it. So I was adept w/ an iron But that’s about it. In fact, yesterday, I even sent Sheridan to a friend’s for cooking lessons. I figured she might not be as luck as I to marry a Renaissance man who cooks as well as he vacuums and does carpentry! While he doesn’t write, he even edits well. Honestly, there is nothing he can’t do, but sing! Anyway, you spur me on to try, and I thaknk you!!! Can’t wait for your planner post.
    Love
    Lynn

    • Dawn Paoletta (
      September 28, 2014 | 5:28 pm

      The thought of you ironing your hair just makes me giggle! I am fortunate that my hubby had a mom who raised her men to cook! He has taught me all I know in the kitchen. lol. Thanks for your words, Lynn!

  2. Susie Klein
    September 28, 2014 | 12:40 pm

    I so love this post, Dawn! Getting ourselves clean before God is number 1, then the other stuff will happen when it happens. Ha!

  3. Cecelia Lester
    September 28, 2014 | 12:42 pm

    Dawn: Due to some trouble with my back, I prefer not to iron. Hubby knows this and he is fine with it.

    • Dawn Paoletta (
      September 28, 2014 | 5:30 pm

      I hadn’t even thought of that- it can be torturous on the back…and feet. OY! Sorry for your back pain, Cecelia, it’s good your hubby understands and loves you just fine minus the ironing! Good man.

  4. Ann
    September 28, 2014 | 12:53 pm

    You really make me chuckle Dawn. I’m right along beside you on this one. How in the world did she do it all? Working full-time at one job & part-time at another & still our house was always clean & tidy. It took me a long time to come to the realization that Mom had an Amish girl come in once a week & clean for her (and she even did the ironing!).

    • Dawn Paoletta (
      September 28, 2014 | 5:31 pm

      Your mom sounds like a truly wise woman. Except for the ironing part. lol. Just kidding! Thanks for chiming in!

  5. Sandy
    September 28, 2014 | 1:07 pm

    Love your post, Dawn! I really enjoyed reading it! 🙂

    • Dawn Paoletta (
      September 28, 2014 | 5:33 pm

      And now you know the ugly truth, Sandy! My deep , dark secret…Nice seeing you here! Thanks for coming by the blog and 5MFF today, I appreciate seeing you here!

  6. Pam
    September 28, 2014 | 2:23 pm

    When we got married 45 years ago, thankfully permanent pressed clothes became available…and I conveniently got rid of all my husband’s shirts that did NOT say “permanent pressed” . I do NOT iron unless it is a matter of life or death…well, almost. And he became a preacher too! Suit coats do cover up a multitude of sins (wrinkles). Anyway, learning to be the me that I thought Jesus wanted me to be was not easy…still isn’t sometimes…but thankfully He has accepted me “just as I am without one plea”…and if Jesus loves me just as I am, then I guess everyone else will have to too.
    Love this post sweet friend. Now I know we are kindred spirits.

    • Dawn Paoletta (
      September 29, 2014 | 1:53 pm

      We are kindred spirits, for sure, Pam!

  7. Ginger Harrington
    September 30, 2014 | 8:41 am

    We are so inspired and pressured by the roll models we treasure. It’s amazing how deep some of those impressions go. Enjoyed your post today, Dawn.

  8. Dawn Paoletta (
    October 1, 2014 | 12:37 am

    Thanks, Ginger. So true, both inspired and pressured.

  9. Heather
    October 3, 2014 | 1:18 pm

    Thank you for sharing your heart openly and honestly, Dawn. We are able to encourage each other best when we are transparent. There are some aspects of being a homemaker that I truly love and others that I don’t at all. Grace. It’s all about love and grace. Thanks for sharing.