Today we’re going to be talking about the freedom you feel in airing dirty laundry. If you’re wondering what that means, join me!

One Sunday after coming home from vacation, I did the unthinkable! I did laundry and hung it up on the clothesline. Well, we live in a small conservative rural area where stores are closed on Sunday, you don’t mow on Sunday, and you definitely don’t air your dirty laundry on Sundays or else people will see!

Like other unwritten rules, I’ve learned to assess the root value of why we do what we do or why we think we should do what we think we should do. Are the rules from man or from God? I’ve learned to check my motives for breaking the silent codes that brings the look of “I Can’t Believe She’s Doing That?!” Hanging clothes on the clothesline on Sundays is one of those that I’m not bothered by because there’s a simple principal I value.

I should be the same person in public that I am in private. 

If I’m okay with doing a few loads of laundry on Sunday, then I should be okay with letting people know it. God sees me do it and he sees my dirty laundry. Does he see yours? Or do you try to hide it?

For years, I hid mine from others. Not the stinky teen boy kind, but the unhealthy behaviors I struggled with. Having an eating disorder was a very private thing. No one knew except me, God, and my parents on occasion. I was good at hiding things.

For years, I responded to conflict with anger. As my children grew older, I couldn’t hide it. It began overtaking my relationship with them and their dad. I could do a lot of good yelling before going to church and sit really calm in that church pew. There’s an unwritten rule that you’re aren’t supposed to struggle with things, definitely not anger. I learned to hide things really well from people, but God saw.

As He nudged to me to address the anger, the hurt, and the rage, I felt more comfortable letting Him wash my dirty stuff. He was gentle with it and removed the stains, the stink, and the filth, and exchanged it for clean, bright, and beautiful through the forgiveness and power of His Grace.

It’s been a journey with me and God. He has changed me inside and out. And as He’s done that, things have changed in how to relate to unwritten rules. I’ve learned to answer God first, then my husband and family above all else.

What guides your choices? 

Friend, where do you need to get honest with God? What I love most about God is that He sees everything, but he pursues us because he wants a relationship with us. It’s safe with Him, He won’t fail you.

1 Corinthians 4:4