I have some thoughts going through my mind that may leave some room for consideration or argument.
Recently, my H was picking the
brain of an acquaintance who works in Human Resources. Their talk led to how to narrow down a prospective
employee and the steps that take place before the interview. This gentleman
shared a unique little test that he takes a person through without that person
ever knowing. He finds a way to have the potential employee pick him up for a
lunch interview, so that he can take a ride in his car. His reason? He goes on
the hunch that if the person has a cleaned up vehicle and takes care of it,
there will be a better chance he will take care of details that pertain to handling
his job with the company. On hearing this, I was stunned!
Really? I began to sort out in my own mind the validity of such a test. And you are probably wondering what this has to do with making the bed. Besides making a comparison, I’m trying to come up with a word that may explain this man's peculiar way of judging character.
I make the bed every morning
because it's a small thing I can do to create order. Just one and a half minutes. When things around me are tidy, I have more freedom to get on with the day. It seems to work in every room, having a small thing done helps me take on the next task. It has nothing to do with who will see my bed;
it’s all about what I know . . .
Author, Nicole Johnson, tells a story about
a man who went to visit a cathedral that was being built and, coming upon a
worker who was carving a tiny bird into an obscure place, the man asked why so
much effort was being put into something no one would ever see. The worker
never stopped carving as he replied, “Because God sees.”
I thought about this little story
and how we can test ourselves as to our motives. Do I do things to impress or because
I want to be faithful in the little things?
There it is! Conscientiousness! A trait we see in others and may use as an excuse to poke fun at them for. I have seen this
to be true. While we all laugh, in reality, I wonder why we think it fine to
mock when, if it were the other way around and we all laughed at a person being
teased for having an unkempt yard, we would know that to be rude.
These are my thoughts, finally
written in ink on the internet, in defence of all who are made to feel badly for being
conscientious. When you least expect it, it may just pay to have a clean
car. Unless you are not looking for
work.
His master replied, "Well done, good and faithful servant!
You have been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things."
Matthew 25:23
You have been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things."
Matthew 25:23
25 comments:
I'm with you, Anneliese! I definitely make our bed every day for the same reasons you wrote, plus I love to get into a nicely made bed at night. By the way, if those pictures are of your bed, you have very beautiful sheets! :) Have a super day!
I like this post Anneliese. I agree with Karin - I also like things neat and tidy for the same reasons you wrote about. It keeps order in my mind so I can think clearly about other things.
Helen
I'm with you, too, Anneliese! Walking out of my bedroom after I've made the bed in the morning gives a feeling of having done one thing well to start the day. As you've said, it takes less than 2 minutes and there it sits, beautiful, welcoming, waiting and ready for the moment I crawl back in at night. Ahh. Faithfulness in little things.
I agree. There is a peacefulness and calmness that comes with neatness and order. (Even in the car!). At my house, every morning, it always begins with the bed. :)
Hmm. But I believe most people would clean the car before picking up the potential boss, no matter what the usual care regimen was. Who would not, really? So I think it's not foolproof.
Also, I do know some people who are not conscientious (if you would use that word I would not) about the small things. But they spend many hours feeding the homeless, doing volunteer work in battered women's shelters, spending time with their children just reading and listening, and never saying "later". I think that is a person who had their values straight.
Beautiful cutwork by the way. Makes me long for it, but I'm a rough and tumble sleeper and if on my bed it would surely be torn sooner or later.
Sharon
P.S. I had just made my bed prior to logging on. :) For the same reason as you. One small thing.
Your post made me smile...mostly because I confess, I don't always make the bed in the morning, especially these days as I often climb back in after an hour or two for a long nap...... but having said that, our car is spotless! And I have been appalled at the condition of some of cars I have ridden in...but then I'm not a potential boss! :-)
Running upstairs now to make my bed . . .
Eva
Sharon, I agree with you and thank you for pointing out the part that leaves room for argument. One can be so focused on having everything in place that there is little time for what is really important.
I hope that in thinking about these things, what comes through is that, one, it pays to care for little things before expecting larger responsibilities. Then, two, it pays to take care of what we already have in such a way that it can last.
BTW the cutwork duvet cover was a gift from my parents, about 20 or more years ago. At first I did not use it much because of the ironing .. but now I like to pull it out and use it just as a bedspread... so it does not go in the laundry so often.
I usually do make the bed in the morning, for the same reason as you...to maintain order. However if I happen to not make the bed, I will always make it at night before we crawl into the bed! Sometimes I will even straighten the sheets and quilt over top of my husband if he is already in bed! LOL I can't stand crawling into an unmade bed.
Great post - one that spoke to me! I agree: it's the moments that make our days and the little things that make up those moments!
I'd like to make one other point: Today, a woman is just as likely to apply for and qualify for any position an employer is offering as is a male. But she would not likely be willing, nor should she be expected, to pick up and have lunch alone with any potential employer.
I think your bed making advice is spot on, though there are days disabilities and pain keep me and I know many women from the conscientious house and car keeping we once did. We learn to accept compromise. Many a day, I return to my bedroom to stand looking at the neatness and small touches that are in contrast to all else around me. I need that little reassurance. I carry it in my mind.
I'm really conflicted on this one. Until recently bed-making was optional for me, simply because I would run out of morning before it was time to go to work! I know a lot of working moms who feel so stressed about keeping up while being the sole breadwinner, carpooler, homework checker and so much more in their homes. I'd hate to think a gal like that might be turned down for a job because her car wasn't meticulous. On the other hand, personally I've been practicing a Zen form of mindfulness that stresses 'leave no trace behind.' So I try to leave each room without any clues that I was there. And my home and life have been more serene. So maybe it depends on the persons situation. All that aside, your bed is just lovely. It looks like something from hgtv!
So good to hear others' opinion on this! For me, well, I can't even get dressed in the morning if my bed isn't made! Serious!
Manitoba Mother
Debora, It's okay if we leave nice clues bahind, right? Like the smell of apple pie or folded laundry?
I feel for the single parent who has way too much to keep up with.
I would think that employers have to be discerning according the position they are hiring for. Some jobs have more flexibility built into them than others and that has to be understood on both sides.
Anneliese, yes, we get to leave nice things behind...after we put away the hairpins, post-it notes, cell phones, earrings, glasses, purse, water bottle....well, I won't go on, but suffice to say, I've discovered that I am, no, was a clutterbug! LOL
Well said Anneliese. I love to keep my house in order too and have copped a bit of flack for it over the years. Thank you for reminding us that being diligent in small things is in fact a blessing to behold and has good rewards - especially when unexpected guests pop in for a cuppa or you are unexpectantly called out for a day!
Good food for thought here, Anneliese! I like the bed made first thing...though I'm not sure of my motives. I have a hard time leaving an 'unkempt' bed for the maids when we stay at a hotel.
Your bedding is beautiful! I don't think it would look nearly as nice though, if the bed weren't made.
Debora, women's magazines have been trying to convince women our homes should look like no-one lives there for some decades now, but this is the first time I've heard it called Zen!
Sharon
Your bed is beautiful and you have given me something to think about. I'll have to share this post with the farmer and show him that pretty pillows on the bed make for a less stressed wife - smile! I think I'll try to be more meticulous with my bed from now on!
Hey Anon! I should've explained the Zen part better. Here's how it goes...if you have something, keeping it nice is an act of gratitude for having it. There's a story about a monk who asks his student...'have you eaten'..to which the student replies, yes. The monk says, 'then you should wash your bowl.' It's like a physical prayer of thanks.(BTW...I'm Christian, not Buddhist but I do believe that gratitude will compel us to mindful living... )
Great post! I heard the story about the man who made the Statue of Liberty. He was taking great pains to make the hair on the top of her head just right. When asked why since she would be so tall no one would ever see it, he said, "because I would know whether I did my best or not." They could not know how many people would see it from airplanes...which had not even been thought of then!
Oh I like this one! I enjoyed reading the comments almost as much as reading your post. I love how you keep your home and I love how you prioritize caring for others all around you as I've seen you do many times.
My bed is made...as usual.
I've just discovered your lovely blog (and ordered copies of MCC for my daughter and myself!) and had to comment on this post. I always make the bed first thing in the morning and can't imagine not doing so. I'm certain no catastrophe would befall me should I neglect this first chose of the morning, but I'm certainly not willing to find out!
Are you related to my mother? She is a firm believer in always taking a few seconds to make one's bed first thing in the morning. That is how we were all taught and so I agree with you. Your bed is beautiful!
As for taking a drive before hiring. I know two or three business men in my life that do the exact same thing. They say it tells alot about someone. I smiled as I read this post, because I do like order and I do agree with you.
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