God is the Creator of order. Scientists spend careers looking at the wonders of His organization and design. When we reflect a small amount of that orderliness in our lives, we are reflecting His character in a beautiful way.

The old adage, “An ounce of prevention…” applies here. It takes time to set yourself up for success in any area, but the time you save down the road is greater. If you have your linen closet set up so that everything has a place and (most) everything is in its place, in the long run you save hours of searching and folding and unfolding and snapping in frustration and searching all over the house. If your kitchen is ordered so that you can easily use it, you will not avoid hospitality because of the nightmare that you have every time you prepare a meal.

All that to say, putting things where they belong is crucial in avoiding chaos in life and home.

• Set up a habit of only ever putting the car keys in one of two places saves headaches and frustrating searches. It takes self-discipline to set up the habit, but it pays off over and over and over.
• If tools go back on the assigned shelf after they are used, they are ready for use again. A project won’t require search time just to get started.
• Groceries are put away in the right cupboard, not just wherever they fit. It will be a lot easier to know what is there and what needs to be re-stocked.
• Bills placed in the stack or cubby to be paid are much more likely to be paid then those scattered all over the house and car. Your credit record and utility providers will be happy, and your bank account will not have to suffer from those pesky late fees.

Again, this idea is something that has to be built into a habit. It’s hard, but it’s worth it once you put in the work. Set yourself up for smooth success. Put things where they belong.