This week I set out with a goal and a mission to prepare my home for our Thanksgiving dinner. I had grand plans to clean, organize, declutter, and perfect my little nest for all of my guests. Yesterday I set about with gusto cleaning my kitchen from top to bottom. I organized my cabinets, cleaned out my oven and refrigerator, scrubbed the floors and even washed the interior windows.
By the time I was done, it was time to mess up the kitchen make dinner. After a delicious meal of vegetable soup, salad, homemade dinner rolls and pumpkin cake dessert (that overflowed in my clean oven!) we all sat down for some family devotions, Little House on the Praire and some potato chips.
Needless to say, by the time I went to bed, the sink had dirty dishes in it, the oven had spills in it, the floor had footprints all over it, and there was flour in the crevices of my cupboard doors! Feeling a little discouraged, I decided to get some blog therapy before bed when I stumbled on this post and these words struck a chord:
Thanksgiving is only three days away. As I prepare to gather with family and friends, I can feel myself beginning to sweat the small stuff. I am making lists in my head that include things like paint front door and purge house of all clutter and world peace. In the midst of the planning, I am reminded not to take myself too seriously.
Yes, there are preparations that go into a Thanksgiving dinner, but it can be done without losing sight of what really matters. Why I feel like my home has to be perfectly clean and organized is kind of silly. I mean who is actually going to see if my spice rack is in order when they come over to eat?
I realized I won’t do myself any good by working to exhaustion these next few days on things like organizing my pantry. How easy it is that I complicate matters on things that do not really matter. How easy it is to became a Mary instead of a Martha. These next few days I will choose the better part and will spend some extra time in God’s Word, snuggling with my children, being refreshed for my husband when he comes home and keeping things simple. No, I may not have a decorated table with matching linens, handmade place cards, and gleaming windows (as a matter of fact, we are eating off paper plates this year). But I will be able to open the door and greet my guests with a well rested smile, and overflow of God in my heart and sincerely say
“Welcome, this is where we live and I am glad you are here!”
{ 7 comments }
We hosted Thanksgiving this year. We invited a family over and had a terrific time.
I don’t host Thanksgiving, I get to just show up at MIL’s. I do bring a dish, however. I never seem to notice if her house isn’t perfectly clean. Usually I’m too focused on all the good food and great company. I’m sure your guests will be the same! Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!
It’s so easy to get into a Martha mentality and get discouraged when things get messy right after we’ve cleaned. Thanks for this great post and reminder to focus on what is important.
You are on the right track! I started doing the same thing…fretting over the small stuff. I finally told myself…it’s just unrealistic. I have four small children who keep me very busy…my guests, who are my family, will understand! Besides, they are in no position to complain, right? Afterall, they aren’t hosting.
My goals are simply to have the place tidy, dusted, vacuumed/mopped and that’s it! The rest of my focus will be on dinner and enjoying my guests. 
You have the right idea!
I wouldn’t fret over paper plates.
I am a FIRM believer in paper plates! A family with six children and NO DISHWASHER!!!!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
Nothing wrong with paper plates. You will have more time to enjoy your guests
Nice post. Happy Thanksgiving!
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