Have you ever felt like a maid?  Well, if you're a homemaker, it's one of the many hats we wear.  I’ve been grappling with this piece on being a maid and my husband answered it for me the other morning when he couldn't find a certain pair of socks.  I found them for him, but they were dirty so he had to wear something else.  Of course my husband would never treat me like a maid.  Although, if I didn't wash his socks, who would?  Erik would gladly do the wash, but it’s not his job if I’m able.  I know this is going to sound old fashioned to those out there with the notion that men and women are equal in every aspect, and that's ok.  I recognize and have come to grips with the fact that God didn't create me the "bread winner"; He created me the "homemaker".  So, since He placed me in this position, I should strive to do the very best job possible.  And if you stop and think, the “maid hat” is pretty important.

A Maid's Duties

The list could go on forever but we'll start with just two: Cleaning and Laundry. Now, we're talking manual labor here. This isn’t one of my more favorite hats.  I don't like to clean toilets or dust.  Scrubbing baseboards and washing dishes are just detestable.  Sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, straightening, picking up after everyone - tiring work indeed.  And then there's laundry.  Well, you've got the sorting, stain treating, loading, washing; and don't forget the delicate items by hand.  Of course, the laundry doesn't just end with the washing. Next you have to dry them and fold them (yuck) and put them where they go.  It's an all day affair. But let's add one more ingredient to this already bitter pie.  It never ends.  Yep, you work all day cleaning and washing and guess what's in the sink after dinner? That's right, more dirty dishes.  The laundry basket doesn't stay empty longer than a couple of hours and with small kids, the house doesn't stay picked up - ever! It's ongoing.

We can get caught up on all that still “needs” to be done if we aren’t careful.  Bear in mind, the Maid Hat isn’t about having the perfect home; it’s about doing the job the best you can.  It’s about striving for excellence in the work you do….not perfection.

I know I told you when I first started these "Homemaker" posts that I wanted to show you the joys of homemaking.  You're probably saying, "Good grief, I can't believe I'm such a work horse."  Or, "Man, I don't ever want to be a Homemaker."  Well, let me tell you that wearing the "maid hat" is one of the joys of Homemaking.  "WHAT?!" Yes, that's what I said - it's a joy.

A Maid's Joy

While we already know that homemakers aren’t paid monetarily, there are other ways to find satisfaction in this job.  First and foremost, it's the job I was given by God.  His desire is that I do it to the best of my ability and with a happy heart.  Next, there is my wonderful husband.  Too many times to count, my darling has come home and just raved about how nice the house looks.  It's so funny because he's rarely out of socks, but he'll still go to pull something out of his closet, find it there, and come to me saying, "Sweetheart, you have no idea how wonderful it is to always have clean clothes.  Thank you for all your hard work."   No, we aren't June and Ward.  Things go the other way too.  Sometimes he doesn't think to say anything and I feel unappreciated.  I know there are many women out there who never receive a complement from their husbands and they are doing a great job.  To you, I want to say, don't give up.  God sees your faithfulness and He will bless you.  So what do we do when no one seems to care that we work so hard?  Where’s the joy then?

Joy is really more about attitude than anything else.  It's about looking at that toilet and saying, "I am so glad I have a toilet to clean."  We can "play the glad game" (from the movie "Pollyanna") about every one of our chores as a maid.  Be glad you have clothes to wash; otherwise your family would be naked.  Be glad you have kids to pick up after as so many long for children and that longing goes unquenched.  Be glad you have floors to clean and things to dust. We could go on forever about all the things we can be thankful for.  So, next time you're feeling like a grumpy maid, be a glad servant instead.  Counting our blessings with each sock we fold and each grimy spot we wipe can go a long way towards a joyful heart.

A Maid’s Worth

Well, let's see here. If your husband had to hire someone to do your job, what would he pay them?  I don't know what maid services cost these days, but we can certainly say that you are saving your family money by fulfilling this role.  "But what if my husband decided not to hire anyone and just do it himself?"  Well, then, you are saving him something even more valuable than money and that's time.  Also, when my house is clean (as much as possible with kids) and the laundry is done (except what was thrown in there a few hours afterwards) then life seems to go more smoothly in my house.  There is less chaos and tension. By keeping your house and laundry clean, you are giving your husband and your kids a pleasant environment to come home to and live in.  That, my friend, is truly priceless!  As mentioned in my post about The Pay, the ripple effects will be felt far beyond your home for a job well done wearing the Maid Hat.