The Sacrament of Housework #2: Pay It Forward

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Valeriedoremi, someecards.com

‘It’s always easier to write someone else’s sermon’ is the motto of my preaching group.

On a Friday morning, all five of us might be squeezing one word at a time out onto the pages of our own sermons, but when an email comes through asking for a movie clip showing non-conformist children, a song about goats or what the Greek word in a text really means, well, it’s happy action stations. We all have heaps of ideas about the other homies’ sermons.

I find the same is true with housework. It’s always easier to wash someone else’s dishes than to get around to doing your own. And boy is it nice when someone else puts your rubbish out or organises your plastics drawer.

This is another way housework can be sacramental, something that brings a particular experience of God into our lives. Conscious generosity, practical expressions of love, unexpected kindness: sounds like God, right?

Even if, like me, you’re not the kind of person who ever feels on top of your own cleaning, you may find you have the capacity to give an hour or two at someone else’s house. It is a kind, generous thing to do someone else’s housework, an act of love and a participation in the grace of God.

This is part of an occasional series exploring the spiritual depths of what can seem like mundane jobs. You can read the first part and see my awesome home-made illustration here

You may also be interested in the Sacrament of Breastfeeding series.

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0 comments on “The Sacrament of Housework #2: Pay It Forward”

  1. Angela Reply

    Yes! I have three wonderful women from my church who come every fortnight (one at a time!) to help me with my housework. It is so motivating for me. Before they arrive I can hardly bear the idea of doing it, but as soon as they get here we are in to it with enthusiasm and the results are fantastic. And they all say they wish it was as fun cleaning at their own house (I keep meaning to offer them a small child or two to get in the way of their vacuum cleaner and shout over the noise of it). I really think getting together with a friend and helping each other would be a great way to do it.

  2. Pingback: The Sacrament of Housework #4: My 11 Best Stolen Home Organisation Tips | Sacraparental

  3. Pingback: The Sacrament of Housework #5: My 6 Best Housekeeping Tips (and lots more of yours, please) | Sacraparental

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