I smiled today as I threw trash out. Why you might ask? Let me explain.
We have a large, black, plastic trash can with lid in the garage, just off the kitchen. Inside is always lined with a plastic trash bag that gets pulled over the lip of the can. The trash goes INTO the bag. Well. . .not always. When my son and husband throw trash in, they just open the lid and toss without looking. I always look to make sure the trash gets into the bag. This might have something to do with my perfectionism, which I’m trying to let go of just a little. Or it could just be that I’m normal in wanting trash inside the trash bag. Anyway, sometimes something heavy will be thrown in and the bag will come off of the lip of the can and becomes crumpled. When my guys just toss without looking, if that bag has come off, trash just piles up on top of the bag and when I come along, I have to take all that trash off by hand and insert it into bag. This can be unpleasant at times depending on what the trash is, and also has been frustrating to me wondering why grown men cannot get trash into the trash bag. Gggrrrrr. . .
But just a few weeks ago, we had a small scare. My husband found a lump that was quite disturbing. After all the googling on this kind of lump, the diagnosis did not sound good. And when the doctor said we need to look further into this, I got a little worried and went into my prayer closet. Praise the Lord, it only ended up being a fatty cyst and we were told it was nothing to worry about. Nothing had to be done. Again, Praise the Lord!
I have to tell you though, while waiting the week to find out what the news on this lump would be, I began to see things a little differently, one thing being the trash. Would I rather have the trash pristinely in the trash bag and not have my husband around or would I rather have him around and have the trash, well, trashy. Seems like an absurd question until the security of your mate being around becomes indangered.
I like my home clean and tidy and trash in the trash bag, but not at the expense of being alone. This sounds silly, but before, it used to be such an irritation to see the trash on top of the bag, clothes on the floor, candy wrappers left on the coffee table, socks in the floor inches away from the laundry basket, dirty glasses and dishes sitting on top of the dishwasher instead of inside the dishwasher. Can grown men not do these simple tasks?
Maybe, but I’m not going to care anymore. One of the ways I can show love is to pick up after my men with a smile and feel so very blessed that they are with me to share this life with. Life can get messy and my husband has always been there with me through it all. So I will be with him through his messiness of the house…the trash. After all, he works hard to provide for us and it’s my job to make our house a home. I never wanted to do anything else but that. So I pick up with joy whatever is not suppose to be on the floor, on the tables, and put trash that is sitting on top of the trash bag inside the trash bag.
Remember the Proverb, “Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife” ? Well, I don’t want my husband up there on the roof, I want him inside with me. So toss away honey, if it lands in the bag, woo-hoo! And if it doesn’t, I love ya anyway.
I know from a writer’s standpoint, this story is probably very messy. I was trying to get a point across. I hope I did just that and it didn’t just end up sounding like trash talk!
Linking up with the girls over at
14 comments:
Thank the good Lord for those good men who want us to be the women to make a house a home together.
Deborah
Kristin, I'm having a grumpy day – a little like Oscar. Everything is going wrong. But one of the reasons that I blog in this community is the heart women write with that men don't seem to. And so, I came here to get some heart. And now, I find I get not only heart but perspective. I heart how you gained perspective from all of this. I gained a lot today from your "trash talk". Thank you for this – I kind of needed it. God bless and keep you and all of yours this day. And again – thank you.
Oh Kristin! I just had to laugh at this..let me tell you.. its not just grown men who miss the trash, I have the same problem and we're a houseful of girls!
Yep.. I see the similarity in your thinking and mine.. I'd rather have the people who make my life messy than pristine, lonely emptiness. (though it still gets my goat sometimes ;-)
I love it!
Love & Hugs!
Oh Craig, you have made my day. I was a little worried what a man would think. I love my husband to death and I got his permission to post this. He thought it was funny, which was sort of my intention along with the "perspective". And I love that you thought to come here to get some "heart". Thank you!
Lisa,
I think we were sisters separated at birth:)
I love this post! It's all about perspective, isn't it? I needed a little new perspective too. I need to focus more on my blessings, like my wonderful, messy family. I would rather have my hubby and kids than a perfectly clean house. I hope they feel the same way about me. ;)
Thanks for sharing this with us. Many blessings!
Very sweet and, thanks be to God, your hubby's diagnosis was a good one. What is it about men and trash, though, I wonder? Have had more arguments with my son about taking out the trash than just about anything else, I think. But. One day, I'm going to miss those arguments, I know. Stopped over from Jen's place. So nice to meet you.
Kristin, so glad hubs' report was a good one. I learned this lesson some time ago. When you get to be my age (65), this becomes very pronounced. Every time there is trash or dishes on the counter or whatever, I just praise the Lord that hubby is still alive and with me! Great post! PTL \o/
Great post. And yes, I can tell you first hand that a messy house and small irritants are far better than being alone. I've done it. Twice. Our compassionate God saw fit to give me another chance at a long lasting union, but I will not likely see a twentieth anniversary. It wasn't in God's plans for me. So, yes, treasure your time, it is so precious. Having said that, I do have to admit I sometimes get tired of walking behind my husband shutting all the cabinets he leaves open. But, I never say a word...in one heart beat I could be alone in the house with all the cabinets closed - and silent. I am looking forward to reading more of your writing.
You know, I remember a few weeks ago being very discouraged about the lack of cleanliness of the house. I'd pick up and then, the mess would appear again. But then, I felt God nudge me. Would you rather it be the opposite? Would I ever trade my girls for a clean house. No, thank you. Wonderful reminder of what is really important.
I didn't hear any trash talkin' here. :) Just a sweet shift in perspective.
Isn't it amazing how trash can cause soooooo much trouble in a household???? You would think it was THE most important issue in life. I can explode over trash --- especially when there is one who thinks economically and makes the bags soooooo heavy that I can't carry them, no less lift them and heave them into the dumpster. I live in the country and share a dumptster with 4 other families, so it's a job to get those heavy bags up and over. And yes, I've exploded a few bags and had it come back at me. A real day killer if I let it. But as you said, in the whole of life, is this REALLY a biggie???? Your reminder of what IS important was a good one for me today --- and I will carry my trash those 76 steps in love!!!!
And thank you for your comment on my blog today. It meant all the world to me!
I thank ALL of you for coming by and leaving sweet messages! God can teach lessons even with the trash:) I love that! It keeps me on my toes to always be looking, always be aware, because I do not want to lose out on anything He wants to teach me!
And Cora, You made me giggle once again with your "76 steps in love" line :)
Kristin,
I know exactly the point you're making in this post. It's all about perspective, isn't it? When we focus on what's really important, suddenly (in my case) the huge boots left in the middle of the floor (that the kids and I most certainly will trip over--LOL!), don't seem all that important anymore.
This is such a down-to-earth reminder of what we really should be focused on. I don't want my husband living on the rooftop either.
Take care, Kristin.
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