Make Your Bed

Bed-making was a big deal to Mama. I’m not naming names, but I remember one time Mama actually tried to bribe one of my siblings into making his/her bed. (Didn’t work.)

When Tom and I first married, a shriveled up tailor, Rosie, at the clothing store where I worked told me that during the war (World War II, for the nowhere near middle-aged ones reading this), they learned to always make their beds and wash breakfast dishes before going to work.

I should have listened to Mama and to Rosie.

Tom and I were looking forward to having friends over for supper one Saturday night. Unfortunately, I had to work all day. Tom was fine cooking, but making the bed wasn’t a priority.

We had just moved into our new house and our friends were excited for a tour. I was, too, at first. Then I remembered the bed wasn’t made…and how neat and tidy their house had been when we visited. 

You’d think I’d learn, right? Not so much.

A few months later, Tom changed jobs and was working an evening shift, frequently on the weekends. We were still newlyweds, so I matched my sleeping schedule to match his.

When the doorbell rang about eleven o’clock one Sunday morning, we were barely waking up. And who stood at the front door? Tom’s “Big Grandpa”.

Honestly, Dear Reader, I don’t know if I was more embarrassed at trying to pull on some clothes or that the bed was unmade.

Embarrassment is a powerful motivator, isn’t it? Let’s just say that there have been very few occasions in the subsequent decades when our bed hasn’t been made in the morning.

God’s Word tells us to love each other (a lot), but it also specifically instructs us to be hospitable. Even if our bed isn’t made or our house spotless, our hearts should always be ready to show hospitality to others.