Do you ever look at where you are in your homemaking journey and feel like you have a long ways to go?
Like you just don’t have enough of the right abilities?
When I think about who I was 10 years ago, I remember feeling so discouraged.
My house was a mess and dinner was burnt more times than I’d like to admit. I felt inadequate.
Yet, now as I look back at that time I see so much growth that happened even though I didn’t always see it at the time.
When you’re in the midst of growth, it can be hard to be content with where you are.
But I hope to encourage you today with a few lessons I’ve learned in the past 10 years about embracing the gifts God has given you.
Perfection is not the goal.
One of the lessons I’ve learned is the reminder that you don’t have to be perfect.
Mishaps are going to happen.
And that’s okay. We aren’t called to be perfect.
We are called to use our gifts to the best of our abilities.
It reminds me of the parable Jesus shared in Matthew 25.
Three servants were given different amounts of money. 2 of the servants made a profit on that money.
But the third servant who had the least amount of money only buried it, afraid it would be stolen.
Whether you think you have a lot or a little to offer, God wants you to be content with your abilities and use them.
Growth happens slowly and steadily.
When I compare myself to who I was 10 years ago, I see great improvement. But it certainly didn’t happen overnight.
The change only happened when I chose to faithfully do what God called me to did each day.
And each day, as I embraced God’s calling, I matured and grew and tried new things.
When we steward our homes homes and serve our families well, that is an act of worship.
We are using our abilities to honor Him.
This is my second time growing a little garden. The first time I tried , the results were dismal. But this year it has been so much fun seeing actual vegetables growing.
I’m so glad I didn’t quit after failing one time.
I think sometimes we just need permission to stop aiming for perfection. And instead be okay with giving something your all and then letting it be “good enough.”
There’s a quote I love that says:“Do what you can with what you have, where you’re at.”
You don’t have to have all the fancy systems or the picture-perfect routines.
Just start where you are, with what you have, and give yourself grace in the process.
Be kind to yourself.
I feel like grace is a word that gets thrown around a lot. But what does it really mean?
I would say when you give yourself grace, you’re being kind to yourself.
Instead of putting yourself down in an area you feel like you fall short in, ask God to help you be content with yourself.
Keep improving, but don’t get down on yourself.
If you find yourself constantly thinking negative thoughts about yourself, take those thoughts captive and replace them with edifying truth.
Look for progress.
Another thing that helps me is looking back to see the progress that I’ve made.
My past is proof that if I continue to faithfully show up each day, I will see even more improvement in the future.
Maybe your home isn’t exactly how you want it to be yet. But is it a little more peaceful than it was a year ago?
Have you learned a few things that make your days flow smoother?
Every small step matters.
You don’t have to be better all at once.
Just a little better each day, or each week. And eventually all of those steps will add up and you’ll look behind yourself and see how far you’ve come.
There’s a verse that has encouraged me so much when I feel like I’m not measuring up:
Galatians 6:9,“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
You are planting seeds—of love, of care, of faithfulness that will eventually bloom even though you may not see the effects until another season in your life.
Choose contentment.
1 Timothy 6:6 tells us “godliness with contentment is great gain.”
In the seemingly mundane work of homemaking, it’s easy to let comparison steal our joy.
We may look at perfectly styled homes, fancy meals, or organized pantries with nothing out of place, and suddenly, we feel like we are behind and not doing enough.
But Scripture reminds us that the richest life isn’t built on having more, doing more, or looking like someone else’s highlight reel.
Paul tells Timothy to focus on godliness and contentment.
Godliness in the home looks like serving your family with love, seeking God in the midst of the laundry and the dishes.
It’s allowing your everyday tasks to help mold your heart.
Contentment means looking at what God has given you – your home, kids, husband, resources, abilities. and saying, “This is enough, because God is enough.”
True contentment is only found in Him.
When we pair godliness and contentment, we discover that homemaking isn’t about creating a perfect space, but about creating a space where God’s presence is welcome and joy can grow.
Honor God by showing up faithfully every day.
And if you’d like to help improving as a homemaker, sign up for my free Simplified Homemaker’s Checklist.