Can I be honest about something for a minute? Homemaking stinks. And it's hard. (Well, the tasks themselves aren't hard. It's just keeping up with everything.) Especially if you have little ones underfoot, like I do. I swear, I can spend the entire morning working my rear end off cleaning this house or working my way through my favorite decluttering challenge, only to turn around 5 minutes later, and it's like I never lifted a finger.

Have you ever felt this way too? (Please tell me you have!)

It's not that I hate every aspect of it. I actually really enjoy cooking, and I don't really mind the laundry that much. It's just the never-endingness of it all. There are about a bajillion other things I'd rather be doing-important things too! Like spending time with my husband, playing with the children, working, blogging, showering "¦

Wouldn't it be nice if we could all just go on strike and not have to do it anymore? Sounds like a great solution to me!

So you know what? I kind of did.

It wasn't a strike-per se. What actually happened was I got pregnant, I had ZERO energy, and so I just stopped doing 90% of the housework. I had maybe two hours of energy in me first thing in the morning. But then after that, I'd just lay on the couch the rest of the day while the kiddos destroyed the house. This place was A WRECK.

You would think that I would be glad for some time off! I mean, what could be better than laying on the couch all day watching endless amounts of TV while the kids played and my husband pitched in extra much?

Turns out, a life without housework isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Housework may not be fun, but it is incredibly important. Here's why.

1. Housework Makes You a Better Christian

Need to learn love, patience, and servant leadership? Cleaning up endless unnecessary messes is a great way to do that! I felt so LAZY just lying around all day.

2. It Teaches Your Children Important Life Lessons

My housework motto around here? "Everybody helps." Cleaning isn't a punishment for my kids; it's a fact of life. And because of that, they are learning important life lessons such as teamwork, pitching in, self-discipline, prioritizing and of course, how to clean!

3. It Makes for a Nicer Home

Since my energy is finally returning and this place is looking a little better, let me just tell you, our home feels totally different now too! A clean home is far more relaxing, comfortable, and more like a home.

4. It Makes for a Smoother Morning

How stressful is it when you can't find your keys, you have to wash dishes in order to eat anything, you're constantly running out of food or ingredients, or your budget is badly out of whack? Very! Keeping up with the housework eliminates 99% of these problems (and all of the stress, anger and other negative things that come with).

5. It Makes Your Home More Hospitable for Guests

How often do you have guests over? It's kind of hard to fellowship with other believers, get to know your neighbors and other important things like that when you're embarrassed because your house is a wreck.

You see, housework isn't just about having a clean house so you can impress the neighbors. Housework is an important part of being a faithful Christian (by practicing good stewardship), of being a good wife, of being a good mother and of being a good neighbor.

So, if you can't get rid of it, you'll just have to make the most of it.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on Equipping Godly Women. It has been modified and republished here with permission.