The unavoidable reality about cooking, cleaning and laundry and all sorts of other household tasks is that they have to be done. There's no way around it. Whether you are single, married, children or no children, someone has to do it. Betty Crocker is not going to come over and make dinner and the laundry fairies are not going to deal with Mt. Washmore no matter how many times we click our heels together. :)
Sure, you could pay someone to do it, but would they bring the warmth and order to your home that you would? Would they carefully plan the menu making sure to incorporate all the fresh tomatoes and herbs from the garden and then cook the meals with love? Would they create a home that your family loves to live in? I think not.
Ladies, as homemakers we have the opportunity to take our time with these daily tasks. We don't have to be on fast forward all the time. We can make our homes into bastions of comfort and contentment and leave a legacy of love and joy for our children.
By the way, one of the definitions of bastion is "a stronghold into which people could go for shelter during a battle". Isn't a battle exactly what our loved ones face out in the world every day? Don't you want your home to be a bastion?
I want to encourage you to live a thoughtful and meaningful life as you make a home and go about your daily tasks. Serving your family can be creative and fulfilling if you make the choice for it to be. Each moment you can choose to notice the little luxuries in your life, the beauty around you, and give thanks to your Creator for all your blessings. You can choose to add to the quality of the lives of those around you rather than detract from it.
Laugh with your children, enjoy the soft, fluffy towels warm from the dryer, listen to the birds outside your kitchen window, smell the freshly brewed coffee and realize that each new day is a gift from God.
Someone has to do it. Aren't you glad you get to be the one?
31 comments:
Absolutely! It is a high calling, a deep privilege to care for the home and the people there. I love the book, The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer. It sounds as if you've read it! Happy day!
Oh it is such an honor to care for my family!! I thank God daily for the opportunity...especially as they are getting older and I can see the end of their days in my charge ahead....sigh... =)
Thank you. I love this!
Amen sister!! :)
You are so right and I do love taking care of my family and doing all those little things that make a house a home.
I have to ask you though, I love the picture of the long tables with white plates and syrup pitchers - is that in your home?
what a luxury to have so much dining space!
Pom Pom, no I've actually never read The Hidden Art of Homemaking. I would love to. I've read other bloggers talk about it and it sounds like a wonderful book.
Rhonda, no the table is in a local ranching museum. It was the "dining hall" at a ranch many years ago. I just loved the long tables so I took a picture.
I worked full time outside the home for the first ten years of my marriage, which was also the first 9 years I was a mother. I truly treasure and appreciate the opportunity to be at home caring for my family. If I start to get frustrated, I just remember how desperately hard I worked to get home and how unhappy I was feeling like I was never home. That is all it takes. Thanks for an awesome post!
Loved this post! Thanks!
I agree with you 100% it is something that we should be thankful for everyday. I'm not fond of some of these daily tasks but knowing that I'm making a haven for my family puts everything into perspective.
Carey
http://americangirlprimitivesnsuch.blogspot.com/
I love this post. It's nice to get a reminder like this when the kids are on your last nerve and you're looking at the dishes with disgust. Thank you for making me stop and reflect on why I'm doing what I'm doing.
I loved this post it was truly truly lovely :)
tracy
Yes I am glad I get to do it! Thank you for this lovely post! I always wanted to be a wife and mommy, ever since I was a little girl!
BTW, is that your dining room in this picture, because that table is looooong! That would be so cool to have that much room!
I do enjoy it, but there are times when I would like some help folding laundry in the basement!;D
Great post!
Absolutely!
great post....by the way where did the pictue of the tables & red gingham curtains come from? Looks like the Somoa Cookhouse in Eureka, CA.
What a sweet post. Made me smile :) I sure am glad I'm the one!
Yes, I sure am glad I am the one. Thank you for this post....it helped give me a re-fueling for the day. Bless you and your home...and all of us who are reading your lovely blog. Let's keep on keeping on!
What an inspiring and encouraging message you share. I'm a mom to 7 and grandma to 5. I don't envy young mothers today--raising mentally, emotionally, physically, and especially spiritually healthy kids is a real challenge in this world now. So thank you for waving the banner of family and momhood! We need more of it! Your fan, Alice
What fun, this was quite enjoyable…thanks.
Is that your kitchen table in the lovely photo?
I was amazed to see a comment from you on my blog…pleasantly, of course. Thanks for stopping by.
♥Hope
what a fabulous post! i'm gonna link to this- it should be read by everyone!
First timer here. Love your blog and this post is WONDERFUL!!! I love being the one that does it all!!
Thanks for this great post!
You have such a gorgeous home! Thank you for the kind comment. ♥
Wonderful! Fabulous post!
Darn, the fairies aren't coming to help? Seriously though, sometimes I do just have to stop for a moment and remember why I became a stay at home mom in the first place, and how blessed I am to be able to do that when so many others are not.
Everything you say- you speak to me girl! There's not that many people outside that believe this. I've met so many wonderful Mommy bloggers- but in reality, I don't know anyone who stays home anymore besides me. Sometimes I just need to hear stuff like this!
amazing INSPIRATIONAL POST!
I love this post.
Thank you.
Love, love, love this post! Thanks :)
I just read this, but oh my goodness did I need to hear it! I'm sitting at my dining room table, still in my PJs thinking about how much work I have to do on this Sunday. But after reading your thoughts on homemaking, I've gone from dreading the work to realizing that I have the honor of making this house a home, of creating an atmosphere of cleanliness, comfort, and beauty.
Your words are just what I needed to get myself motivated today. Thank you!
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