THE PURPOSE of STANDARDS

If you run your own company I may be preaching to the choir, but hear me out anyway. In my new calling as a cleaner for the Lord I have daily been reminded of the importance of standards to maintain quality control and consistency. Our little band of deep cleaners has named themselves The Nauvoo Blue Belle Shiners....Blue because of our light blue shirts and dark blue aprons, Belle because we're beautiful ladies, and shiners because we shine up physically and spiritually wherever we go! Here's a picture of us. I had to cut and paste one person in who was missing. This gorgeous house was in Carthage, IL.

WE have the honor and priviledge of developing the new standards and procedures for our department. We are strictly in charge of maintaining the churches missionary housing in Carthage and Nauvoo. We are developing the cleaning procedures so that anyone who joins our department or if we get a new manager, the high standards of cleanliness and order will continue.

Every day we DEEP clean (the way YOU might once a year) EVERY DAY. We pull out the fridge, oven, washer and dryer and clean under and behind. We remove the light fixtures and clean them, we clean the base boards and moulding, scrub blinds, windows, pull out beds and clean under and behind, wipe drawers, check kitchen and laundry inventory, toilets inside and out, hard water on shower and tub walls, drains, and on and on.

Every once in a while one of us will say to ourselves or to someone else, "GOOD ENOUGH! I'm tired of this blind or floor, or window" and if you saw how dusty/dirty/decrepit it was before we started on it you might say "good enough" too. But comparing to anything besides THE standard is disatrous for consistency and quality control. IF the standard is based on how tired you are, or whether your knees or back hurt, or if you were at odds with someone, or were never taught how to clean, it really couldn't be called a standard! You must compare to THE standard EVERY time and hold every worker accountable EVERY time.

When I get fed up or frustrated I take a break, do something else then come back and do it right. Sometimes a fellow worker will take over and finish it off. I will also step in when someone is just plain exhausted and can't be on their knees any more and finish. When our boss hears, "good enough" she will pop over and check it out and either give correction, or spell them off and finish it or ask someone else to. We all help each other. There's no judging only understanding and gratitutde, and lovingly holding each other to the standard.

In the end the new missionaries coming in have a really sparkling apartment or home. They are already tired and homesick and stressed from the big life change. Providing a clean and welcoming environment is just our way of saying, "You're safe, we love you, we're here for you"

In life God has given us his commandments...there are more than ten. Each one crafted lovingly to help you have the best experience here on earth. We mustn't compare ourselves to others. We can't say, well I'm OK because at least I'm not as bad as _____________." Nor can we say, "I'm never going to be good enough because I can never measure up to ____________________" Nephi 3:7 reads: And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them. That means everyone has the power to live up to God's Standard. Everyone. Our job is to support everyone in living the standards, give grace, and no making excuses for others or yourself...and it's GOD's job to make up the difference...not yours. So it's ALL good.