By Linda Knudsen

"Mom, the dishwasher EXPLODED!" my boys yelled frantically.

"Guys, dishwashers don't explode! What are you talking about?" I asked incredulously.

But as I rounded the corner into the kitchen, I shrieked, “The dishwasher IS exploding!”

There it was—oodles of bubbles erupting from the dishwasher and spilling across the floor in massive heaps. It looked like a foam party gone rogue. The stern mom in me was furious... but the sight was so hilariously ridiculous, I couldn’t help but laugh!

In the simplest of terms, that moment was the perfect visual for the Law of Cause and Effect.

Cause: Someone put dish soap in the dishwasher.
Effect: Bubbles. So. Many. Bubbles.

So, how do we use this law to prosper our families? Great question! Let me share two keys that have made all the difference for me.

But first, I want you to know: I haven’t always had a comfortable relationship with the idea of prosperity. My heart has wrestled with it for years. I’d heard plenty about the Law of Attraction—how our thoughts attract experiences. And yes, I've made vision boards. I've stared at them from the couch, waiting for the magic to happen. Sound familiar?

I wanted the “effect”—the dream home, the thriving business, the peace—but I didn’t understand what “caused” it.

Let me be clear: Vision boards, goals, and dreams are important. They’re part of the process. But they’re the effect, like the suds. If we want to see those effects in real life, we’ve got to focus on the cause—what actually produces the bubbles.

That’s where the two keys come in.

Key #1: Education

And no, I don’t mean just a four-year degree. Formal education can be wonderful, but it’s not the only path to prosperity. Lifelong learners understand this. They chase clarity, insight, and understanding—long after school is done.

People who prosper seek out knowledge through books, seminars, podcasts, observation, and experience. Their reading list is a mile long and full of books that uplift, teach, inspire, and motivate—everything from biographies to business strategies to personal growth.

I’ve found that some of the best "education" comes from moments when I’m simply paying attention. Applying what I’ve learned—even if it came from a $10 book—has often created powerful causes in my life. And just like that overflowing dishwasher, the effect followed naturally.

Key #2: Work

Yep. Work.

Now, before you roll your eyes and say (with the same voice your kids use when they’re told to unload the dishwasher), “But I already work so hard!”—I hear you.

I say the same thing. All. The. Time.

Mommas, I know we already work so hard! Our lives are full of dishes, laundry, meals, errands, homework, carpools, volunteer work... and that’s just the mothering part. Many of us are also working, managing homes, caring for extended family—you name it.

So when I talk about "work," I’m not ignoring everything you already do.

Motherhood is sacred work. It’s the greatest use of your time and talents, and it should absolutely come first. There’s nothing more rewarding than watching our children grow into capable, prosperous individuals. If we don’t put family first now, what makes us think we’ll magically do it in some perfect future?

But there’s another kind of work I want to talk about, too.

It’s the work you feel called to do—the work that lights you up inside.

It might be writing. Creating. Speaking. Coaching. Teaching. Designing. Building. Serving.

Start small. Take just one step. Write a blog post. Make a flyer. Open your laptop and begin. Do something—anything—that moves you toward that passion. And then watch as that cause creates an effect that blossoms into something beautiful.

The key is to balance your calling with your mothering. Invite your kids into your vision. Let them see your hunger to learn. Let them watch you work. Teach them the principles as you live them.

When you keep your family first, seek knowledge intentionally, and pursue your work with heart, you will unlock the doors of prosperity.

The suds are coming. Just make sure you’ve got the right soap in the machine. 😉

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