How do you manage your home or workspace?

Do you prefer tidy surroundings (because you think better when there is order and a high degree of tidiness) or do you refuse to allow a few dust bunnies or some organized confusion to detour you from things you consider most important— like friends, activities, causes, pets, kids, hobbies and impromptu get-togethers? Are you the kind of person who focuses on activities and only occasionally stops long enough to examine your surroundings?

I grew up in a house guided by two extremely organized parents who functioned well within systems. And although my mother, in particular, is not a white glove kind of woman, she never allowed my brother and me or our friends to create messes in the first place. She found that putting away things and straightening up to be thankless, endless, and generally unpleasant. She is the consummate homemaker and as far back as I can recall, Saturdays are set aside to vacuum, dust, and mop her highly organized house.

It is a system that works extremely well.

I occasionally think back on those Saturday mornings when I survey my own house, nestled at the end of a country road yet easily accessed by kids, friends, hobbies, and a host of animals that fill the ranks of our family. I think back to my uncluttered family home when we are running from one activity to another with little down time. When there are so many cars we could use a valet. When asking everyone to sort their laundry beside the washing machine starts out as heaps and evolves into baskets of folded clothing that I can only hope will eventually end up in dresser drawers.

Call me and I’ll talk. Come by and I’ll feed you. I’ve made it a point my entire life to be available. Not make too many demands on people. Practice flexibility. Be spontaneous. And never hide behind schedules and “To Do” lists. But there is a time for fun and a time to regroup. Pick up. Sort. Toss out. Clean up. Get quiet.

And do it without complaint.

Ouch! How often have I said, for all to hear, “In my next life I’ll have a housekeeper!” How often have I watched my family members dilly dally, complain, beg to be excused from housekeeping tasks, and grump about messes for which we have only ourselves to blame?

“Make a game out of this cleaning!” I tell my kids. “Let’s see how quickly we can get this done. Let’s decide on a way to treat ourselves when the job’s done. Let’s pretend it’s fun!”

Choosing not to complain is a great choice to make. To begin, we must make good career choices to prevent daily complaining about our jobs. We must also scrutinize our sources of entertainment that paint unrealistic portraits about daily life.

Riding horses may be a romantic notion, but mucking out stalls will always be dirty and smelly. The two are forever entwined. It is the same with inviting that precious new baby into your life, buying that dream house with the unlandscaped yard, or accepting that exciting new job requiring travel. Every situation in life has enjoyable and laborious aspects. We have got to stop whining and get to work.

It’s part of faithful living, this upkeep and care of all that God has given us. I like how this relates to things within the confines of our homes as well as the way it draws God into the equation. We are mightily blessed and need to be careful and practical in the way we manage our possessions. To an adult it may mean embracing the role of beneficiary by modeling care, respect and good judgment. To do this we use office equipment with care. We respect our beautiful environment by getting out in it and teaching others how to care for it. We demonstrate good judgment around those who depend on us most: our children.

There are other ideals to pass on that are not only practical but spiritual, as well:

• When you open it up, close it.

• When you turn it on, don’t forget to turn it off when finished.

• When you take something out, put it back.

• When you make a mess, clean up after yourself.

One can only wonder what our homes and communities would be like if we set these simple rules before ourselves and worked them into our daily lives. Better yet, may we each make small yet determined steps this week to close it up, turn it off, put it away and wipe it down. A great majority of our private fussing would diminish. So would our frustrations and that sense of hopelessness that grows when we believe our frustrations may never improve.

Take on your tasks with new meaning and put a little bounce into your step this week. Your efforts really do count.