Keeping My Soul Over Keeping My Home

I learned a very important lesson today.

But there’s a bit of back-story, so hang in there.

Here’s a few important facts to remember:

1. We just moved to Korea.
2. We just moved into our house last week.
3. Our HHG (Household Goods, i.e. everything that we own) have not made it yet.
4. We have a three-year-old and a one-year-old

Without getting into the weeds, yesterday was one of those days where we were busy all day and had nothing to show for it.

I was so overwhelmed with the fact that there was stuff everywhere (living out of suitcases starts to get real old after the first couple of months…). So I decided that to have any sort of peace of mind, I needed to put things in the built-in drawers and wardrobes, because even if it wasn’t the right place for those items, at least our house wouldn’t seem so cluttered.

I hadn’t read my Bible or prayed yet, but I wanted to accomplish something and feel less overwhelmed. So I spent a good hour in our bedroom, unpacking suitcases and putting things away. And then it was time for the next thing, and before I knew it the day was gone.

But the result was fantastic. I did feel better. No more clothes spilling out of open suitcases onto the floor, and no more clutter on the countertop. The suitcases were put away and everything was in it’s respective location in the house. My husband was impressed and also felt the relief of our tidy room.

And then today happened.

While we were at an event, my husband was unexpectedly ordered back to the range.

He left us at the event and hurried home to grab his gear, the whole time receiving text messages yelling at him to hurry up, and was frantically trying to find the ONE item that wasn’t where it was supposed to be (which actually was exactly where I told him it was, but you know how it is when you’re looking for something in panic-mode). He finally just had to go, called me to apologize for the mess and to tell me he wasn’t sure when he’d be back but he’d let me know.

I came home to a disaster zone. And that is putting it mildly. I should have taken a picture except I probably would still be mad so I’m glad I didn’t.

All of my hard work from the day before had been completely erased and more. EVERYTHING had been ripped out of the drawers and closet spaces in his search for the one item. Every. Single. Thing. I wish I could say I was exaggerating. It was so bad that if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it. It was a good thing he wasn’t home when I got to the scene of the crime because then it probably would have been an actual crime scene.

After I got the kids to bed, I started to clean up the mess. I was still angry, but as I worked, I felt like God was saying to me:

This. This is why it is more important to keep your soul than to keep your home.

It is so tempting for me to spend my time on tasks where I can see an immediate result from my effort.

But if I had spent that hour reading God’s Word, praying for my family, and syncing my soul with my Creator, I know that today would have gone much differently.

When I spend time with God I’m more prepared for what life throws at me.

I’m able to prioritize better. I have more patience. My marriage is stronger. I appreciate my husband more. I enjoy my children more. I enjoy life more, just as he promised in His Word.

My husband also benefits from my time with God. He has more patience, wisdom and favor when I am diligently praying for him, daily.

I needed this reminder of what is lasting, what has eternal value versus what is temporary, here one day and gone the next.

“So now, Isra’el, all that Adonai your God asks from you is to fear Adonai your God, follow all his ways, love him and serve Adonai your God with all your heart and all your being;  to obey, for your own good, the mitzvot [commands] and regulations of Adonai which I am giving you today.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13