Dustin and I currently work opposite schedules. When he gets home from work, I head out the door to start my shift. Needless to say, we spend a lot of time talking on the phone, texting, etc., as a way to keep in touch while we're apart.
This is a pretty accurate example of the sorts of things we talk about. You know, really pressing matters. Life altering, even.
I've been thinking about a blog post that made it's way around social media awhile ago. It was written by a husband who decided he would no longer get angry at his wife for not keeping the house clean while he was at work. Apparently, the husband didn't realize the house was messy because the wife was spending that time with their children. A sink full of dirty dishes didn't mean she had been lazy all day, but, rather, she had spent her time making memories and bonding with her children.
I cringed a little when I read the article. It didn't resonate with me at all. Even though I understood why so many people appreciated and related to the message, I, on the other hand, was annoyed by it.
I like to keep a nice house. I don't seem to struggle with finding time keeping my house clean and put together. No, my house is not sparkling from top to bottom, but odds are if you were to drop by unannounced, it wouldn't be a complete disaster.
Dustin and I have both had people comment on the condition of our house. I'm usually at a loss for words when things like this are said because I don't think I'm doing anything abnormal with my time that would explain why my house is clean.
But what I took away from the article was that maybe my house is clean because I'm not spending enough quality time with my children....
...but then reality set in and I began thinking things like this:
I declutter frequently
Everything I owe belongs in a specific area of my house, if not an exact location
I am picking up, straightening, folding, loading and unloading things all throughout the day
If I notice something needs to be done, I'll think about how long it'll take me to complete it: "It'll take me three minutes to unload the dishwasher." Or, "It'll take two seconds for me to put those shoes away." For some reason, understanding that a mundane task will be complete in a matter of seconds really motivates me to just get it done.
When all is said and done, I guess I view maintaining a clean house as a good thing for my children. They know where things are, they know where things go, they put their dishes in the sink when they're finished with them and they throw their own garbage away.
Of course, I could be better at the quality time with my children. And, yes, the laundry can wait to be folded if LL wants to snuggle while we watch The Pirate Fairy for the millionth time. Obviously, my children's needs are a priority over the sparkling, shining state of my house.
But the condition of my house is a priority too - one that I think my children will appreciate one day.
Nothing is quite as good as a finely crafted love song. Like, with lyrics that are real and raw and that show how vulnerable we are when it comes to matters of the heart.
I first heard the song {PERSUASION} on one of those music TV channels. Those channels were the greatest thing to me at the time because I discovered so many artists I never would have by only listening to Utah's less than creative radio stations.
Anyway, this is one of those songs that I can listen to over and over again and never get tired of it. I love the overall message that, despite what we see in the movies, love is not a feeling that can be switched on or off. It reminds me of all those times I let my heart dictate my actions rather than my logic. I think that's something so many people can relate to.
"After all the foolish things that we've been through, I can always make a start on something new. And I'll always be a man who's open to persuasion."
I mean, seriously, how real is that?
Regardless of our flaws or inconsistencies, it's still okay if someone loves us. And, it's okay to love someone that isn't perfect. And we don't have to throw in the towel after one argument. Our relationships don't have to be nice and neat and tidy. There's ups and downs and everything in between. And that's okay.
I hope you enjoy this song as much as I do. It's a keeper!
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