The High-Low Cycle - 31 Days to Clean by Sarah Mae ~ Day 25

I used to think something was wrong with me.

You may have too.

I never really realized others had the same "problem."

Sarah Mae calls it the High-Low Cycle.

She describes it well by saying, "you've cleaned for a week or two, keeping everything in order, then, bam, your back to your messy ways."

I do this with practically every new habit I'm trying to form or project to complete, etc.

I'll exercise regularly for a few weeks, start seeing results even and then have a lazy (not feeling so great) day and take a break which ends up lasting months. This is usually the status quo for a new schedule or habit I'm trying to implement. :-/

I was always wondering why I had such terrible follow through. At least, I'm not alone.

The most important thing to remember is that we are human and there is HOPE!

There is no quick fix to the high-low cycle and we will most likely deal with it for the rest of our lives.

She reminds us that we are to persevere and hope. "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:3-5 NASB

 This really blessed me. She says, "Everything we are doing to care for our families by way of our homes we are doing for an eternal purpose! It all matters! God is molding us with each pulled weed of housework, with every spill lovingly cleaned up, every mouth wiped and diaper changed and kisses given and...It matters and it is not insignificant. Your work in the mundane is the refining of gold."

Sometimes it is really hard to remember that when you are cleaning up cottage cheese off the floor that the baby dropped or when you are hard at work folding mountains of laundry while there is still another mountain of it in the laundry room or when you are washing dishes for the 15th time (okay, maybe that is excessive, but still.)

God is using us to serve Him even in the mundane. We have a blessed hope and one day this life will all be gone. There will be no more laundry or dishes or cleaning the floors, not to mention no more evil or heartbreak only celebrating and worshiping before the feet of Jesus!

This life will be over all too quickly.

If you struggle with the High-Low Cycle too, it is helpful to make a 3 month journal of how you are feeling every day and when you notice that you have more energy and feel more motivated to clean. That way you will be able to see a pattern and can better plan how to get over those days when you just don't have your get up and go.

Cleaning assignment for today is to clean and organize shelves and polish wood furniture in the home office.