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It's Not About Perfection | Creating a space that feels like home. @ AVirtuousWoman.org

It’s Not About Perfection #ATimeToClean

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Its Not About Perfection | Creating a space that feels like home. @ AVirtuousWoman.org

A Time to Clean: Day 30

How have you been? Are you making good progress on this challenge? My home is so much easier to maintain now. I still have some work to do, but already, I see such a huge difference and it makes me happy!

It’s easy when you are coming from a place of discouragement to fall back into that pit. It’s very easy. I know, because I’ve done it many times! You make some progress and then something goes wrong.

  • you have a bad day
  • you get sick – really sick
  • you go out of town and can’t catch up
  • you have several really busy days and the house gets out of control

All of those things happen to me on a regular basis. And sometimes {okay a lot of times} that means I’m exhausted and overwhelmed. And the house looks it.

And I pray no one drops in on me. Right. 

Its Not About Perfection | Creating a space that feels like home. @ AVirtuousWoman.org

It’s like they know my house is a mess. And they want to dig it in just a little deeper. Okay, so I’m sure that’s all just my imagination, but discouragement is like that. It feeds your soul a pack of lies.

Homemaking

So, I want to remind you that all of this is not about perfection. Decluttering, cleaning, homemaking – it’s not about having a perfect space. It’s about having a space that feels warm and inviting, peaceful and cozy.

Home should be a haven. A respite from this world. The lived in look really is okay. Tidy does not have to mean perfect. Neat doesn’t mean perfect.

What so great about having less stuff is that you have less stuff to clean and maintain. Which really means in the end it’s easy to keep your home tidy. It’s a natural cause and effect. If you straightened your home at 8 am and at 2 pm your children are building a fort in the living room and have toys strewn about when the pastor pops in… there’s no reason to be embarrassed. You’re doing what you should be doing.

[Tweet “Homemaking isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating a space that feels like home.”]

There’s no shame in living life in your home. If you are doing the best you can, there’s no shame in living a life that creates a mess on a daily basis. It’s the noble act of homemaking, making a home – creating a space that your family lives in and grows in and loves in and finding beauty in the real  that motivates us to continue in the daily mundane. Because it’s every real moment you live fully that makes a beautiful life.

“I want to see beauty. In the ugly, in the sink, in the suffering, in the daily, in all the days before I die, the moments before I sleep.”
― Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be amazing. Live your life fully, embracing every joy and ever harsh reality with passion. Because you only have this one life.

Today’s Goal

  • Embrace your life – the good and the bad. Praise God for all of it. Ask Him to help you live this moment and the next fully.
  • Determine to live with purpose.
  • Pray about making hard decisions – about what things you should keep, preserve, or let go.
  • Pick up a journal and write down your thoughts about what He has shown you or print my free prayer journal.
  • Choose an area in your home you want to tackle. I’ll be working in my bedroom today.
  • Fill at least one bag or box full of stuff to give away.
  • Take a picture of your bag. Share it on Facebook or Instagram – use hashtag #atimetoclean2017 {optional}
  • Leave a comment below about what you chose to get rid of and anything else God has laid on your heart.
  • Do your best to wake up early tomorrow and spend time in prayer. Use your prayer journal.


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About Melissa Ringstaff

My name is Melissa Ringstaff and I've been blogging here at A Virtuous Woman since 2001. I'm a pastor's wife and homeschooling mom living in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of Southeastern KY. I believe in finding freedom from perfection and living life with purpose and I want to help you do exactly that.

I'm so glad you've stopped by to visit with me. I hope we can be friends!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mina

    November 2, 2017 at 10:01 pm

    Good Evening Sisters, It was recently laid upon my heart that I had to move from the city, which was killing me financially as just the cost of renting a "cheap" apartment was 900 dollars a month, back to the country.. I balked at first and tried to ignore Gods leading but finally I knew I had to let go and let God.. my son, who is 13, was headed down the wrong path in the city and me being a single Mom, well my finances were shot to say the least.. I cried and agonized over the decision because in my mind I had this perfect job and was doing all the great things by giving my son this city life but finally I had no option.. I had to move.. Moving day was hard.. we packed up ALL this stuff and filled a 16 foot box truck plus friends truck and trailers.. we headed two hours south to the small towns and the farms.. I stored everything in a friends barn while we looked for a place.. in the meantime we crashed with friends.. Within two weeks God laid the perfect little house in my lap.. I went from 1500 a month just rent and utilities to only 500 a month rent with all bills paid.. that allowed me to afford a nice newer vehicle that was dependable.. then after another nail biting two weeks God opened the door to a new job that is fewer hours per week and more money! I was overjoyed! I trusted Him when He told me not to move in quickly but do so very slowly and purge as much as I could.. Was it easy getting rid of some things? No.. but I learned I needed to be more in love with God than material things.. it's a process but with every load I take to charity, I feel an even bigger load of work and worry lifted off me! In Christian love,
    Reply
  2. Gloria

    November 3, 2017 at 12:23 pm

    thank you for this reminder. I was trying to not be upset with myself...this house is still in the process of cleaning the stuff and packing for the move. this move has taken months because of emergencies. Health and surgeries. I was just sniffing when I read this post. thank you. blessing and joy to you.
    Reply
    • Melissa Ringstaff

      November 10, 2017 at 10:25 am

      God bless you, Gloria!
      Reply

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Hi There! My name is Melissa Ringstaff and I believe that being a Proverbs 31 Woman isn't about being perfect. Here at A Virtuous Woman you'll find freedom from perfection and the confidence to live your life with purpose.


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purposenotperfection

Freedom from perfection. 🪁
Live with purpose. ✝️
Proverbs 31 for modern women. 👱‍♀️
Wife + Mama + Homemaker + Kentucky
Life: @melissa.ringstaff

Melissa Ringstaff
Not gonna lie. 2020 was a hard year. And not just Not gonna lie. 2020 was a hard year. And not just because there was a pandemic. Our family has faced many trying times in the past but 2020 gave us some doozies.  I’m looking forward to a new year. The beginning of the new year always feels like a fresh start to me. It feels like HOPE.  But the truth is, whatever heartaches and hardships you and I were facing on Dec. 31 will most likely still be there on Jan. 1.  That’s why it’s hard to keep New Years resolutions. It’s easy to feel motivated for a few days or a couple weeks until we realize life hasn’t really changed and things are still hard.  But if we want to see real change it takes hard work and real effort. It takes showing up every day - even when it’s hard.  Whether that means working on your fractured relationships or setting healthy boundaries or cultivating self disciple... whatever that hard thing is that you need to work on ... it will only get better if you work on it.  We aren’t promised an easy life. But we are promised an “Ever Present Help in times of trouble.” Psalm 46:1  *
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#faithblogger #faithfulness #faithandfamily #bibleverseaday #christianbloggers #dailyverses #christianlife #jesuscalling #shereadstruth#proverbs31women #proverbs31life #10virtues #daughteroftheking #jesuslovesme #womenoffaith #faithquotes #proverbs31
We’re coming into the new year with all the same We’re coming into the new year with all the same problems we had in the last year. And that’s okay! Life doesn’t have to be perfect to still be amazing. Perfectionism is a joy stealer. Let’s determine to enjoy life right now in all its messiness.  I believe you can find freedom from perfection and the confidence to live your life with purpose. #purposenotperfection  #christian #Jesus #love #quotes #quoteslife #quotestoliveby #godisgood #votd #lifequotes #inspirationalquotes #life #motivationalquotes #inspiration #bible #bb #bestoftheday #happiness #wordofgod
🏠 Being a homemaker is such an important role. 🏠 Being a homemaker is such an important role. It’s a ministry to your family and all who enter your home.  But I want you to know: You don’t have to be perfect. ❤️  There’s a fine line between teaching your children to be neat and insisting on perfection. No one can meet that kind of standard and it can be detrimental to the emotional health of your family.  What we want for our homes is to provide a space that is neat and clean enough that your family and friends feel comfortable and well loved.  There is freedom in accepting the fact that you’re not perfect. Not to make excuses for slovenliness - but to give yourself grace.  It’s when we recognize our weakness that we find ourselves reaching out to Jesus to receive the power that comes only from him. As homemakers, when we can find grace for the moment when we accept His Gift.  “But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage. Ezra 9:8  Let His Grace wash over you, cleanse your weary heart. Homemaking isn’t about creating a perfect space. It’s about creating a home where loved ones feel cared for and nurtured. 
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#proverbs31 #proverbs31woman #purpose31 #10virtues #homemaking #homemakingministries #happyhomemaking #homemaking101 #cleanhome #cleanheart #fromchaostocalm #housekeeping #cleaningroutine #inspiredhome #makingahome #lovewhereyoudwell #homemaker #homebody #biblicalHomemaking #wearethehomemakers
❤️Your attitude about homemaking matters.⠀
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A homemaker by definition is someone who manages and makes a home. 🏠⠀
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But, anyone can clean and organize a home. ⠀
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☑️ Homemaking is about more than checking off the items on your to do list.⠀
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Learning how to be a homemaker means you learn how to make your home feel like haven of peace and love. You seek out ways to make your home feel inviting. You work at it.⠀
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There is no easy button for homemaking. There are easier, more efficient ways to do chores, but the chores still have to be done. If you live in a house, you will create the need for the house to be tidied every day and cleaned on a regular basis.⠀
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Having the right attitude about homemaking is the first step in learning how to be a homemaker.⠀
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The good news is, even if you’ve been struggling with your homemaking, you can always go to God and ask Him for help. ⠀
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He sees the unseen work of your hands. And He loves you very, very much. He wants to help you succeed. ⠀
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#proverbs31 #proverbs31woman #purpose31 #10virtues #homemaking #homemakingministries #happyhomemaking #homemaking101 #cleanhome #cleanheart #fromchaostocalm #housekeeping #cleaningroutine #inspiredhome #makingahome #lovewhereyoudwell #homemaker #homebody #biblicalHomemaking  #youngwife #housewife
🙏 If you’ve found it difficult to have a regu 🙏 If you’ve found it difficult to have a regular time with Jesus every day, you’re not alone. Lots of busy Christian women struggle to find time for a daily prayer and devotion time. ⠀
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But I still want to encourage you to start your day with God! ⠀
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⏰ If it’s hard to spend 30 minutes in the morning for a quiet time, I want you to remember you can still begin your day with God – even if that means saying a short prayer before your feet hit the floor in the morning.⠀
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✝️ I also want to encourage you to memorize this verse:⠀
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“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.⠀
Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” Psalm 143:8 📖⠀
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In the morning you can recite this verse and say a prayer. It doesn’t have to take a long time. Although – if you do have time – you will be greatly blessed by spending more time in prayer and devotion.⠀
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📌 Free Printable Morning Prayer Prompts on the blog today: https://avirtuouswoman.org/morning-prayer-prompts/  #linkinbio ⠀
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#faithblogger #faithfulness #faithandfamily #bibleverseaday #christianbloggers #dailyverses #christianlife #jesuscalling #shereadstruth #Christ #Church #Christian #Jesus #Jesuslover #JesusChrist #JesusisLord #CreatorGod #Devotional #verseoftheday #Love #Faith #biblestudy #God #dailydevotional
🏠 As a homemaker, one of my goals is to be inte 🏠 As a homemaker, one of my goals is to be intentional with how I plan our days. I love any opportunity to create a good memories at home for my family and guests. ⠀⠀
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📌 If you're looking to make this holiday season really special, you need to be intentional. Goodness knows 2020 has had a lot of ups and downs. And maybe you feel like it's been mostly downs. ⠀⠀
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🎄 But the holiday season is a chance to focus on celebrating the life we have right now. Things don't need to be perfect for us to celebrate life right now!!⠀⠀
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☑️ Inside the pages of my Purpose 31 holiday planner, you'll find 8 weeks of planning and cleaning all laid out for you. Recipe pages, journaling pages, and more - 120 pages total. ⠀⠀
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✏️ The Purpose 31 Holiday Planner is by far one of the most popular resource I produce each year. ⠀⠀
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Thousands of women have downloaded it over the last four years I've offered it.⠀⠀
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So, even though it's early still, you can go ahead and downlaod it. Print it out and then set it up so you're ready to go.⠀⠀
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I usually take my holiday planner down to Office Depot and have them spiral bind it with a plastic cover for about $5.00. This year, though, I just bought a new 3 ring binder at Walmart, printed off extra cover pages to slip in the clear sleeve, and created a binder with it. ⠀⠀
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📌📌📌 If you use the planner this year, be sure to share and tag me in your photos! ❤️⠀  Download: https://avirtuouswoman.org/holiday-planner/ #linkinbio
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#proverbs31 #proverbs31woman #purpose31 #10virtues #homemaking #homemakingministries #happyhomemaking #homemaking101 #cleanhome #cleanheart #fromchaostocalm #housekeeping #cleaningroutine #inspiredhome #makingahome #lovewhereyoudwell #homemaker #homebody #biblicalHomemaking #christmas #holidayplanning #planningaddict #plannercommunity #freeprintables #thanksgiving #christmastree  #plannerobsessed
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