Success and Failure in the Home

No other success can compensate for failure in the home.
-David O. McKay

I've heard this quote at least a hundred time over the last several years. Most often in Church of course and always in reference to raising children. Well I don't have children dagnabbit, but I'm not one to let a good quote get away from me!

As women, especially wives I feel the above quote can be applied in several ways:

• It is better to have a happy home than a spotless one.
• It is better to have a halfway homecooked meal than a bitter woman who complains that she can't cook anything.
• It is better to have shared laughter in a marriage than to spit sarcasm and bitterness.
• It is better to have a simple life than a Mercedes Benz.
• It is better to have a confident husband than a personal paycheck.

And for me personally, it is better to sit around lazy all day watching tv with your husband than to worry about the housework.

Which is exactly why my sweet husband went to bed with a smile and a kiss, and I'm awake at 2:30am folding towels, running the dishwasher and catching up on blogging and watching Army Wives online.

I am content. I may not have risen early and gone early to bed, but I feel that today (or yesterday to be exact) was a successful day. I could have easily turned away from my husband because the house was a mess. Bitterly rolled my eyes at his lack of help in picking through the dirty clothes, but it felt much better to eat boxed pasta salad and hot dogs on bread while watching wrestling on television than to feel alone and angry.

Now that my dear, sweet man (who actually did help out a lot today by taking the dogs for walks, unloading the dishwasher and bringing the laundry out of the rooms for me) is now sleeping peacefully after two relaxing days off from work, I can focus on the small things like folding towels and finishing up some dishes.

He was more important today.

Family and God should always be the priority, but are they? How often do we yell at our families for not pitching in around the house or for getting in our way? For bothering us when we're obviously very busy? How many mothers refuse to play with their children because they need to vacuum the floors? How many husbands go to bed angry because of a wife who yelled at him for not using a coaster?

A clean home is a happy home, but only if the happiness is there first.

Daily Gratitudes:

1. The sound of my husband snoring. It means he's asleep and I don't have to worry about him being tired tomorrow.
2. The smell of carpet fresh powder. That stuff sure is strong and it wiped away the scent of dog immediately!
3. Watching wrestling. It sounds silly, especially since I don't even watch "real" sports, but my husband and I used to be really into it when we were kids and recently we've been watching it together, and it's been a wonderful thing to share.
4. Good friends who are always there for you, even when you're not always there for them.
5. Acupuncture. Seriously, my health is beginning to take a turn for the better.
   

Featured at: Homemaker Monday