Everything in life is work in some form or another. Some is strenuous. Some is tedious. Some is enjoyable. Some can be an absolute drag. Cleaning house falls into the latter for most people. Sure, house cleaning work can burn calories and force us into a mindset that’s ripe for prayer and personal reflection. But let’s face it, such work is incredibly boring.
This post is a reflection and review of blogger, Sarah Mae’s book, Having a Mary Home the Martha Way: 31 Days to a Clean House and a Satisfied Soul. Before I go any further, though, I need to make two things clear. First, a copy of the book was provided to me by Tyndale House in return for my honest review. Second, there is a pretty good chance I am not anywhere near to being in the target market for this book. But that’s a good thing, and I’m going to tell you why that’s the case a bit later in the review.
In Sarah Mae’s book, Having a Mary Home the Martha Way: 31 Days to a Clean House and a Satisfied Soul, she reinforces the fact that we should be secure in knowing that we are who God says we are, that all work – even mundane and boring work – has an underlying purpose and that God has the big picture in view even when we barely see a sliver of it.
What is Homemaking and What Work Should Get Emphasized?
One thing I really admire about this book is the fact that Sarah Mae gets straight to the point. On the very first page of her introduction, she says: “…it is not a clean house that defines good homemaking, but rather a warm, inviting place that is filled with love.” Amen sister. Sarah is also very deliberate in helping readers understand that the art of making a home should not be a shameful experience and, with the proper motivation, can be a joyous act that helps to build relationships, facilitates peace, and glorifies God. As she says, her purpose in writing it was to help us quiet our souls, love well and to care for our homes practically.
As the title suggests, Sarah Mae’s foundational passage for the book is Luke 10:38-41 that shows the two styles of hospitality illustrated in the actions of the sisters, Mary and Martha. She also draws on John 11:1-4 and John 12:1-8 to round out the context before drawing character sketches of each sister.
Chapters are then concluded with two challenges – a Mary Challenge and a Martha Challenge – to help us grow and to become better stewards of our homes. As well it should, the challenges begin with scripture and could easily make for a small group Bible study where the actionable steps can extend beyond the group’s time together:
The Mary Challenge speaks to your heart and the Martha challenge spurs you to action.
As Mae shares, she once was much like Martha; distressed and troubled by the many household needs and the seeming lack of progress (in her view). She came to understand she needed God to intervene and grew accepting of the fact that there is often pain before peace.
It was all part of God’s molding.
Work is a Gift and is a Part of God’s Process for Preparing you
The biggest take away for me is threefold. For starters, Sarah Mae reinforces an understanding that we are to be secure in knowing we are who God says we are. Secondly, all work – even mundane and boring work – has an underlying purpose. And finally, God has the big picture in view even as we can barely see a sliver of it.
“If I am the clay, I will be nothing but a colorless lump unless I am picked up by God, the Potter. How silly of me to think I could mold myself. He is the One who does the molding, and I am the one who trusts His process and submits to it.”
Work Endures Current Seasons & Guides You Through Those to Come
One of my favorite quotes from the book is: “Enjoy the seasons God allows you to move through and pray for a contented spirit.” I long ago adopted the framing of life as a series of seasons, so this quote really speaks to me. And as much as I dislike the winter season, I know it has a reason and role in the overall scheme of God’s master plan. For winter, just like work, is not a curse; “unproductive work is the curse.”
Work and the Reframing of Modern Homemaking
Earlier, I mentioned that it’s a good thing I’m not in the primary target market for this book. The reason I believe this to be true is because the traditional sense of housework and homemaking is no longer valid. Long gone are the days of the 1950s and 1960s stereotype housewife baking cookies and making sure the home is spotless for father when he comes home from work. There are many men who are involved in homemaking and many women who work outside the home.
This too is a good thing, as it allows for a new, perhaps better, framing of what homemaking truly is and is not. I think Mae hits it on the head when she says:
“The goal of homemaking isn’t to have perfectly decorated, perfectly clean homes. The whole point is to have a place that is welcoming, and you know where that begins? In your own heart.”
We are not a perfect people. We are flawed and broken. We were given the gift of having a helper and we are granted wisdom, strength and provision by the grace of God. Allow that grace to cover the areas where you cannot change and Don’t beat yourself up or allow yourself to think you aren’t good enough. “… if we are going to walk in grace; we need to be open to being healed or corrected.”
So, in conclusion, Mae’s book is a wonderful devotional, small group study, guidance document for hacking mundane work and a practical approach to modern-day homemaking. I allowed my wife to give it a read as well. While she has many good things to say about it, when I asked her if it would offend her had it been given to her as a Mother’s Day gift, she suggested that it might (so husbands be warned). Perhaps include with it a promise to go through it together and a commitment to mutually build a welcoming home that invites people in, makes them feel comfortable, and is conducive to relationship building.
Some fresh-cut flowers and a premium dinner might be good, too!
Sarah Mae’s work as an influential Christian blogger, conference cohost, and author inspires women to hold fast to Jesus and live by faith. She celebrates life with her husband and three children in the beautiful Amish countryside of Pennsylvania where she often ponders what life would be like if she actually finished all the laundry. Learn more about Sarah at sarahmae.com.