Chores and Meditation

Our dishwasher was broken. It didn't take long for the novelty of washing all dishes by hand to wear off. By the end of the week, I was grumbly and angry.

At that same time, my discipleship group was discussing scripture memorization and abiding in the Word. What keeps us from being in the Word? What keeps our minds from meditating on God's truths?

My answer, in short, was nothing.

When I have time to read the Bible, I choose to read something else or be on the computer. And when I have time to meditate (like when I am doing housework), I fill my mind with anxiety, worry, planning, or in many cases, grumbling. Oftentimes, I go to bed with the sudden realization that I had not communed with God all day.

I decided to make an action plan. If I have time to think about the Bible, then I just need a reminder. And what better prompt than the things I'm doing all day, everyday! While I'm cooking, the smells, colors and tastes of the food can remind me to "Taste and see that the Lord is good…" When I make the bed, I can recall that "This is the day the Lord has made…" I brainstormed a list of my daily chores and looked up verses (some in different translations) that relate to the actions through a key word or idea. Here is what I came up with:

Cooking- 
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! ~Psalm 34:8 (ESV)
For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. ~2 Corinthians 2:15 (ESV)

Doing laundry- 
I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God, For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. ~Isaiah 61:10 (NIV)

Washing the dishes- 
Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. ~Isaiah 1:18b (ESV)

Making the bed- 
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 (ESV)

Gardening- 
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ~John 15:5 (ESV)

Changing diapers- 
And said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ~Matt 18:3-5 (ESV)

Dressing- Colossians 3:12 (NIV)

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12 (NIV)

Then came the hard part– making it a habit. When I changed the baby's diaper, I reminded myself to think of the verse. When I folded the laundry, I reminded myself again.

After a few days, I wasn't as diligent anymore. But one day, as I was washing the dishes and grumbling again about how long it was taking for the technician to come and fix it, I caught myself. The words "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" came to mind and suddenly, my whole attitude changed! My shoulders relaxed. My grumbling was replaced by gratitude. I praised God for His love and sacrifice. A broken dishwasher became secondary, and my time doing the dishes became a time of worship.

I am now trying to be more mindful of my thoughts throughout the day, so that the day will come when everything I do draws me to God's Word. Some day I may write down these verses and post them around the house so that I can memorize them. And there are certainly many more verses that I can look up! But for now, remembering a few key words is enough to turn my thoughts back to meditating on God and His Word, even if I am "just" doing the dishes!

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ~I Thessalonians 5:16-18