Women are said to be master multi-taskers. And for my part, I believe it.
We all know at least one mother who somehow manages to make lunch, do the breakfast dishes, carry on a conversation with her pre-teen, help her teen with geometry homework, and supervise her youngster’s piano practice, all while compiling a mental grocery list.
I don’t have those kind of skills.
But I do like to multi-task whenever possible (even if my multitasking is generally on the line of 2-4 tasks rather than half a dozen or more.)
One of my favorite ways to “multi-task” is to worship while I work. You’ve heard the ditty “Whistle while you work…” which advises you to whistle while you work because “it won’t take long when there’s a song to help you set the pace.” I don’t whistle while I work to make my work go more quickly, I worship while I work to keep my focus on Christ instead of on all the other things that housework generally makes me focus on.
You know what kinds of things I’m talking about…
…frustration at always ending up with an odd sock (or worse, a half dozen odd socks, all from different pairs)
…anger at SOMEONE for tracking mud across the carpet
…self-pity because I’m the ONLY one who ever does the dishes
And lots more.
If I let it, housework can get me into a high dudgeon. So I don’t. I don’t let it, that is. Instead, I worship while I work.
I keep a hymnal in my kitchen. I open it up and set it in a corner of my counter. Then I sing hymns as I stir my sauce, knead my bread, or mop my floor.
I turn on worship music on my computer as I fold my laundry or tidy my bedroom.
I pray or sing “freestyle” as I wash dishes or vacuum the carpet.
It’s a little thing. Maybe even a silly thing. But worshipping while I work helps me keep my mind on who I’m working for.
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” Colossians 3:23