Special Note: This article is part of an intentional home series by Davonne Parks, author of Chaos to Clutter-Free. To view the rest of the articles in this series, go here.

It’s a dream of mine to one day go on a mission trip. I’m sure you have big hopes for your life too. But sometimes it feels as though monotonous housework gets in the way of being able to live out our dreams! So today, I want to share a little story about what used to happen nearly every time I did the dishes:

I stood at the sink, viciously scrubbing cherry colored pans. The bright hue mocked me and I felt bitterness well up within my soul as murky dishwater swirled down the drain.

There are real problems in this world but I’m stuck here at home instead of doing something that actually matters, I thought furiously.

I scrubbed harder, charred remains of the previous night’s dinner finally coming loose, and I vowed that I would someday find time for more important things than just washing sinks full of dirty dishes.

Have you ever felt that way? I know if I could turn back the clock, I would gently whisper truths to my younger self. I would tell her that cleaning does matter. I’d let her know that right now, at home, she’s in her mission field. I’d tell her that making a difference in the lives of those around her will have an eternal impact.

Nurturing souls, whether they’re in our living rooms or across the world, is no small task. And when we can offer a safe, inviting place for our families to land, or welcome others in without hesitation, we’re uniting together to offer havens—refuges—from a sometimes harsh world.

This difficult, monotonous work of sweeping floors and scrubbing toilets is not in vain. Creating and maintaining order within our own homes is one of the most important works we’ll ever do. Not because a clean house in itself is so important, but because having a clean home opens up our lives for so much more.

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.” Matthew 5:14-15, NKJV

Can you see it? When we’re not buried under clutter, we can focus on being a light to our communities.

I no longer own the cherry colored pans, but I’ll never forget the years I spent scrubbing them as I wrestled within myself, longing for an opportunity to impact lives but feeling trapped within my own four walls. Years of experience have shown me, however, that cleaning is not the end—it’s the beginning.

Knowing why we clean, and believing that home is a mission field, is incredibly important to our housekeeping success.

By having a cleaner home, we will feel more ready to embrace unexpected challenges and to joyfully welcome guests into our homes, because we won’t be spending so much of our time or energy feeling embarrassed about our homes as we desperately try to keep clutter piles at bay.

I absolutely love this incredible video about a man who sang “Amazing Grace” without knowing why he was singing it—until someone gave him a reason. The difference is astounding. When we know our why, it changes everything and that concept is illustrated beautifully in the video.

Personal Thought/Application Question: How would you spend your precious hours if you weren’t digging through laundry for clean outfits or rifling through piles of paper in hopes of finding the one item you need?

Davonne Parks believes that your role at home is valuable and she wants to help you thrive in your environment. Click here to receive immediate access to the FREE printable library she created just for you.