The Lesson from the Messy Table

The other night, I thought I had finally finished for the day. The kitchen was clean, the week had been long, and I was ready to rest. It was just after 8 p.m.—and since I’m usually in bed by 9, I was looking forward to slipping into bed early.

But as I walked into the dining room, my eyes fell on the table. It was still covered in dishes, books, and the remnants of the day. And I lost it. Tears fell as I picked up the plates, too tired to keep going, but feeling like I had no choice. By the time I reached my bedroom, I was still crying.

My husband came in and gently asked what was wrong. Through tears I told him, “I’m just so tired. There’s so much to do, and it feels like it never ends.”

He held me close and reminded me of what had happened at that table earlier. That table wasn’t just a mess—it was where we ate a good meal, studied Scripture, homeschooled, talked, laughed, and lived life as a family. That table wasn’t a sign of my failure—it was evidence of our living.

I needed that reminder. Because sometimes, as women, wives, and mothers, we carry so much on our shoulders. We want everything to be “just right,” and when it’s not, the weight of exhaustion and unmet expectations can crash down on us. But our worth isn’t found in a spotless table or a perfectly managed home.

YHWH never called us to perfection—He calls us to presence. He calls us to love.

“Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.” Proverbs 17:1 (ESV)

That night, my husband reminded me (again) my worth is in what YHWH says about me. He loves me. My husband loves me. My family loves me. And no pile of dishes can erase that truth.

The lesson from the messy table is simple but freeing: it represents life, not failure. It holds stories, not shame. And even in the clutter, YHWH is present.

“And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.” Deuteronomy 8:10 (ESV)

So when you see your own “messy table,” pause. Don’t just see the dishes—see the life that was shared. Don’t just see the crumbs—see the provision. Don’t just see the clutter—see the love that fills your home.

Because perfection fades, but the presence of YHWH and the love of family remain.

When you see mess or unfinished tasks in your home, what thoughts or feelings rise up in you? Do they reflect YHWH’s truth about your worth—or pressure from perfectionism?

Think of a recent moment when your table (or home) was filled with laughter, conversation, or learning. How can you shift your focus to the life lived there instead of the mess left behind?

What are some ways you can remind yourself daily that your worth is not measured in clean counters or folded laundry, but in being a beloved daughter of YHWH?

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” 1 John 3:1 (ESV)