Nicole– I’d open your church directory for ideas, since it’s the local body that is the biblical center of edification and Christian growth. I’ll explain my strategy, although in your case it might not apply. It’s possible that you have to be transparent enough to explain why you need help (in my case, it’s partly because I have young children, partly because I was making a costume for Lee last week, partly because I got behind awhile back, and– the hardest to admit– partly because I have wasted a good amount of time reading or being on the computer). God’s not interested in merely my house being clean; he wants to conform me to his image. So I feel like if I’m going to ask the body of Christ for help, I have to be willing to submit myself to some scrutiny and accountability. Everyone’s situation is different, and not every reason for asking for help has to include a confession! A round of sickness is sometimes enough to set a well-ordered household out of orbit into disarray, and a lack of sleep seems always enough in itself to make you feel like you’re losing sanity. Some women might be too committed, but that’s not my problem at all.

I have an elderly lady that comes over once a week. She listens to David read and helps me iron. I thought I was being a good Christian and ministering to her, but I discovered that she’s been a blessing to me. And she doesn’t tsk tsk when I have dishes in the sink (actually, she never remembers from week to week what my house looks like!). Pre teen girls are good, too, because they’re too young to babysit when you’re gone, but they’re quite capable of playing with little ones (and they often play with children better than the seventeen year old teenager who might normally babysit for you). I’m paying the teenager who is coming over today and Wednesday, but I don’t do this very often.

In the past, I’ve traded help with a friend who also has young children: I’ll come over and watch your kids one morning if you’ll come over and watch my kids the next. It’s really hard to be lazy when someone is over helping like this.

Of course, I’m just relating how God is working in my own life. I’m not sure how he’s working in yours. I do know that the older ladies at church always caution me about being too worried about the house and keeping it clean, at least while the kids are small. It’s a good balance, I think.