My Favorite Cupboard in the House

Cupboard

I don’t know if you’ve noticed yet, but I’m just a teensy bit Type A when it comes to– well, just about everything. It might come as a surprise, then, that my favorite cabinet in the house contains not a meticulously organized stash of storage containers or neat rows of office supplies, but a seemingly slapdash pile of toilet paper.

You see, when Connor (now four) was about two years old, one of the first household responsibilities he took on was to remove the rolls of toilet paper from their packaging and put them away in the cupboard. To this day, he gets so excited when he sees me bring in toilet paper after a trip to the store because he knows he’ll get to do his favorite job. He is so proud when he finishes and can’t wait to show everyone in the house.

Though I am often tempted to correct his organizational method or stack the rolls neatly when he isn’t looking, I leave them as is to remind myself of a couple things:

  1. Positively shaping his character is more important than having a neat and tidy cupboard. It’s really easy to get caught up in my mile-long to-do list and forget that my primary job is to raise two responsible, respectful, Christ-centered young men, not to maintain a perfectly put-together home. I once saw a quote by Kittie Frantz that said, “Remember, you are not managing an inconvenience; you are raising a human being.” I almost fell out of my chair when I read that one. How often do I act like the former rather than the latter?
  2. I need to let things bother my Type A self sometimes. It’s good for me to force myself to let the little things pass because maybe– just maybe– it will give me some perspective and help me handle the bigger things with a patient, gentle spirit as well. Who knew that God could use toilet paper to grow the fruits of the spirit in me?!

I know (well, I hope ;)) Connor will one day learn to stack the rolls of toilet paper more methodically. He may even figure out how to do the laundry or wash the car on his own sometime too. Until then, though, I am going to remind myself to cherish his little quirks, applaud his {even haphazard} accomplishments, and learn from his innocent, well-intentioned little heart.

What lessons have your children helped to teach you today?

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4 Comments

  1. That is priceless. 🙂 Thanks for sharing.

    1. abbylawson says:

      He is a character, that’s for sure! Thanks for visiting the blog!

      ~Abby =)

  2. Erin Snyder says:

    I just found this post and I think the quote you mention might change my life. I have an organizing blog and I’m constantly trying to keep up with a standard I set for myself. It’s easy to forget that in the midst of all that, my most important job is raising my two little boys (they are 1 and 4 like yours!). Thank you 🙂
    Erin
    Neaten Your Nest

    1. abbylawson says:

      Thank you so much for your sweet comments, Erin. That quote really hit me, too. I hadn’t realized how often I was thinking of them as a hindrance to my to do list rather than the most important “to-do” I could ever have! Your blog sounds right up my alley! Heading over to check it out now!

      ~Abby =)

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