Courteous Housekeeping

Tea and cake at our table.

 

There is a way to keep house so that others are not burdened. We clean up after ourselves and try to avoid making big messes.  We clean as we go along. We do our best to teach this to our children and grandchildren as well.  It is good manners. It is being polite in the home.

Last week as I was making a batch of homemade bread, I was weary and trying to hurry. I wanted to rest.  I knew I could manage the work, but I wanted to finish it as quickly as possible.  There were some dishes that needed to be done. There was flour on the counter where I had been kneading dough.  The floor below my work-station needed to be swept. I thought of all this and decided that in case I was called away from my work, by a phone call, or an urgent request in the household, I would need to do the hardest work first so that an overwhelming burden was not left for someone else to clean up after me. I could just imagine if I had needed to go lie down. Someone else might walk into that kitchen and see the floured counter (and floor) and sigh. In hopes of avoiding this, I did the hardest work first. I knew anyone would be fine washing the dishes if they had to. But to clean up my mess of making bread would be overwhelming for those not accustomed to such work. I wanted to be courteous and considerate of others. So, I did the difficult chores before the easy ones.

I leave myself notes on the desk in my room. These remind me to pay a certain bill, to make a phone call, or to remember an appointment. The notes will also help anyone else who comes along and has to take over in case I become ill or suddenly have to take our patient to the hospital. My life is on-call for the needs of others. I am also conscious of my own frailty and health struggles.  I want to be kind to those in my home, by keeping some order and routines in place so that at any moment, they could step into my place and sort of know where I left off with the management of the house.

Despite all this sense of urgency to be diligent, I must remember to rest in the Lord. He gives me the strength to do His will. I must not add anything else to my day that would weary me more than necessary.  There are troubles enough in the world and in our homes.  We need peace and a sense of contentment. I will do the best work I am capable of while stopping to take breaks as often as necessary. This way of working and resting brings a sense of relief and accomplishment. I am weary. The Lord is strong. I will draw my strength from Him and I will be grateful.

This coming week, as troubling situations are happening around the world, I am doing the basic work of preparing for the coming spring season and managing the last several weeks of a New England winter.  I ordered a delivery of kerosene. I ordered a small amount, the minimum they require - 100 gallons. I am hoping this is the last we will need for the season. The prices are rising and are unstable.  I will not know the cost until the day they deliver it to our home. I must not worry or fret. The Lord will provide all we need in His timing.  

There must not be a sense of fear in our hearts. We must not overdo or take on burdens that put our nerves on edge. I want to be a blessing, a calm and pleasant housekeeper.  There must be a beacon of light and comfort coming from this old house.  The children and grandchildren must feel that this is the place where we do our duties with grace and kindness. It is a place of comfort and safety. 

The Lord is so good to us at all times. Knowing this and resting in this brings out the fruit of the spirit of good manners, love, self-control, patience, joy, gentleness, and genuine love to all those around. 

We reap what we sow. Let us remember to sow courtesy with a mind full of old-fashioned hymns and precious verses of Scripture. We cannot do the good in our own strength without the beautiful goodness of God in our hearts.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Mother's Life Dedicated to God - The Mission House.

Peaceful old time Living - Quiet Duties of Home.  

Some History of Being - Just a Housewife. 

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