This morning I walked out on my beautiful, new porch for some quiet time and found an unpleasant surprise. I am not sure if they were there before, but the walls of the porch were covered with some kind of insect egg cases. I saw just a couple of them at first and then noticed hundreds more covering every surface.
I grabbed my broom to try and remove them, but whatever laid those eggs was absolutely determined that their offspring would live. I had to sweep the walls vigorously multiple times to remove the egg cases. Just as I was finishing, I noticed spider egg sacks in every crevice of the bead board ceiling. So I swept some more.
Was it hot, nasty work? YES!
Was it discouraging? YES!
Would I rather spend my morning differently? YES!
But I have learned one thing for sure: Pay Now or Pay Later. If I had left those egg cases and spider egg sacks on my walls and ceiling, I would have had a HUGE infestation and much more trouble getting rid of them once they hatched. Charlotte’s Web may seem sweet, but hundreds of spiders running around on your screened-in porch makes for more of a horror movie if you ask me.
As I worked to clean my porch, I was reminded of how this exact scenario relates to other areas of life.
We have a dripping faucet, and ignore it because the drops seems small.
We can’t pay a bill, so we put put it in a drawer without opening it.
We notice a pile of clutter, but keep stepping over it.
We shop using a credit card thinking,”It’s just this once.”
Suddenly down the road, that small problem has become a BIG problem. We have a HUGE water bill, phone calls from bill collectors, a crazy disorganized house and thousands of dollars of debt–all because we didn’t face the problem when it was small.
What “tiny” problems are creeping into your life? Don’t let an infestation take over!
Decide today that whatever the problem is, you will face it and work on it a little at a time. Don’t give up!
Are you struggling with something? Leave a comment so we can encourage each other. 🙂
If you have a friend who is struggling, share this post to encourage them.
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I looked at the photo and thought it was a snake. Then I noticed the exact same image again so I guess it’s part of a chair. Glad you don’t have snakes, too. I LOVE the porch.
I agree with the spirit and intention of this post. I just have to add an exception clause that will be encouraging to someone if they are anything like me… Sometimes I have to let certain little things go for a season in order to have grace for myself in my circumstances. I know I can pick those little things back up when I’m more physically, emotionally, etc. ready and for today I can rest in what I am able to do and to let the rest go or ask for help. An example would be after a major life change or during a time of extreme stress. This last year I had to let go of whole food & made from scratch, homeschooling, gardening, mentoring others besides my 4 children, leadership in my Bible study, and trying to fight depression and anxiety “naturally”, just to name a few. I focused on getting enough rest, giving my kids grace and boundaries instead of trying to modify their behavior, health for my kids emotionally & spiritually, and being a friend to my husband in a more grace-filled way… letting go of my obsessive need for perfectionism, striving for better, and trying to recreate Eden. I tried to make sure my laundry got folded, my dishes and counters were clean and my toilets were scrubbed down. I let the other stuff go. Now, a year later, I am adding things back in. I am so much happier, at peace with being ok, not perfect, and loving my kids and husband-and others- in a more gracious way. Sometimes we just have to give ourselves permission to take a break from being on top of everything, let some balls drop to the floor and just juggle the 2 or 3 most important ones. Let someone else worry about the spider eggs (real and figurative).
I appreciate this post as the encouragement it was meant to be, now more than ever, and hope no one reads it and thinks, “Great, one more thing I must try harder to do better!”, but just as a gentle nudge to do what she can do and then do the next thing and the next thing… until she has the other important balls up in the air again.
I hope this is encouraging to someone who has the desire to be a diligent woman but whose ducks keep flying off her pond at the moment. 🙂
Very good point Nicole. I don’t see any of those things that you mentioned as necessities. I was primarily talking about critical issues like spending too much, or not taking care of our health, etc. I agree wholeheartedly that we need to let go of perfectionism and there are different things that are important in different seasons of life. Thank you so much for bringing up this point. 🙂
I have only followed your blog for a short time and the impression I get from your posts is one of balance and encouragement. I really appreciate this! I gave up reading blogs for the past year as well as the other things I mentioned because I desperately wanted to keep pace with the Moms who wrote the blogs (also meaning to be encouraging), yet found myself being discouraged because life wasn’t cooperating with my efforts. I recently started following a few blogs again and just wanted to add my two cents in case there were other women who read your well intentioned blog post but instead of being encouraged, ended up feeling like they didn’t measure up as I used to feel. Thank you for allowing me to express my views here. I look forward to your future posts! 🙂
What a wonderful post!! Thanks. I needed to be reminded of this.
I am enjoying your website as well as my husband! It has motivated us to really make a plan with budgeting and getting a hold on our finances. Thank you for being transparent, it has helped us tremendously. We do live paycheck to paycheck and it gets so difficult trying to homeschool and provide for 11 children, 3 of which are teenage boys. We don’t make much more than your family, and it gets hard, however, GOD is faithful!!
Thanks again for your transparency:)
Wow Jane Ann! You have a tough job with eleven, but I am sure that they are a blessing. God is faithful, and I pray that you will see even more of His faithfulness. 🙂
I love your porch. It looks so cozy and peaceful…like I could sit a few and have a cup of coffee. 🙂
Yes Elizabeth, if we were neighbors I would have you over for a morning cup of coffee and a chat. 🙂
Once again your words are wise and timely 🙂 I have a closet to clean out and a stack of clean laundry Ive been avoiding!
Thank you for that. I always seem to have things to tackle and I have just been able to start on them. I am taking it slow and one day at a time.
One day at a time will get it done Becky! 🙂
I recently stumbled across your website when I was searching “peaceful” and have fallen in love. I can totally relate to your porch story. We all have areas of our life we dread dealing and tend to make them even worse by dwelling on them and/or putting them off. However, from personal experience once I force myself to face the task (I dread) head on and accomplish it I have such a sense of gratification I can’t remember why I dreaded it to begin with!!
Welcome Jennifer! I am glad you’re hanging out with us. 🙂
I have SO much paper work to sort and put away and financial stuff for our personal finances and hubbys business to deal with that I keep putting off because I HATE dealing with that stuff. :/ I have such a hard time just keeping up on normal house chores(laundry, kitchen, cleaning) and caring for my walking 11 month old and wild 2 1/2 year old that the paper work just keeps building.
Life with tiny people can be overwhelming. I encourage you to just work for 10 minutes while the 2 1/2 year old is watching a video or napping and the baby is in the high chair. You will feel better just getting some of it done and it might motivate you to do more than 10 minutes. You can do it Sarah! 🙂
Great advice!
This post is perfect for what I’ve been dealing with lately. Financial burdens become too overwhelming. Bad choices add up to a huge mess. It’s been hard to see the light but we will get there! Trying to keep my emotions in check and trust in my almighty, sovereign God.
Hang in there Christy! Just take one step at a time, and try not to get overwhelmed by the big picture.
Jerilynn… just working on the paperwork thing myself. I am not sure on taxes but I believe if it is personal taxes you should keep them for 7 yrs. I would suggest that if the bill is paid in full and you don’t need it to get reimbursed for something then pitch it. To be on the safe side keep it a year maybe. My husband and I read an article about keeping the paperwork to a minimum. Keep a 3 ring binder and put only the unpaid and most current bills. Once paid …. and confirmed of course… pitch it and replace the space with the next one that comes in the mail. I just cleaned out a small file cabinet that had bills from 10 yrs ago… dragging it around from place to place for what! Good luck on your clean up.
Good advice Heather. I would just add that you need to keep any paperwork for any debts you have paid off indefinitely in case debt collectors try to come back to you later.
I’m having a little trouble moving past the gagging and shuttering that happens when I think of a spider, much less multiples. But what a great lesson here! Good to think upon and remember.
How great to have a porch too!
I was wondering if you had any posts on what to keep paperwork wise. I’d love to get rid of some but I don’t want to regret it later. Mainly, medical bills. How long do I keep what? I thought I’d ask to see if you’ve covered this topic before I search the web. I enjoy your blog immensely!
I am not usually squeamish about spiders, but the thought of so many really creeped me out! As far as paperwork, I don’t have a post about what to keep, but I am pretty sure that Clark Howard does (ClarkHoward.com). Hope that helps! 🙂
I recently started working out and eating healthier. I’d rather bust my hump now when in young than leave my daughter to take care of an ill mother. After seeing health problems arise in my older relatives I realized that now is the time. So slowly but surely I am tackling a small problem now before it gets in-manageable!
Thank you so much for your inspiring words! And congratulations on the new abode!
Thanks Amy! Yes, I became motivated about two years ago to get it together in the health area. I have slowly made changes, but I feel so much better.
The fellowship we belong to (which I grew up in) we have a uniform so I have to make all my own dresses. With that being said I need to do some sewing & I have the fabric but not the motivation to do it, so YES it is starting to be a problem because I am in need of some new dresses as some of my older ones are not as nice to wear in public. For some people this might seem a strange “infestation” but to me its real. Yes I plan on working on it if. not before in Sept. after things get back to “normal” w/ the children in school:)
Karen,
I do the same thing, and the funny thing is I really enjoy sewing once I actually sit down and do it. I have found that if I get my supplies together, then the next day cut out my pattern, then the next day cut the fabric, ect… I do it in little steps, maybe in as little as 10 minutes each. before I know it I am either finished or the sewing bug has bitten and I don’t need to force myself any longer.
I am inspired by you to make myself a fall jumper! I love that you sew your own dresses. I hope you find your motivation ….I am sure as a mother you put yourself at the bottom of the “to do list” you deserve and need those dresses. You are going to feel so good when you get to wear one of them.
I need to figure out our new budget. I just quit my job to stay home with our kids and we’re not quite making it month to month. Right now we have a small balance on our credit card, but soon it’s going to be big… Not excited about it but it needs to happen!!
Good for you for addressing that now Beth. Have you seen my post: How to Manage a Money Crisis here? There are also some great ideas on this post: https://thepeacefulmom.com/2012/04/04/5-easy-ways-to-get-extra-cash/
I am struggling with something that started out small and now has become a heavy burden that I can’t find a way out of. I have turned it over to God – but Satan has his hands in it 200% and I can’t see the forest for the trees.
I am so sorry Denise. I pray that God will give you wisdom and grace, and a way out!