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| Scene by the lake, near our home in Vermont. |
As we go about our days of cleaning and organizing and coming up with routines to manage a household, let us not forget two very important aspects of taking care of ourselves.
I have written about having a cleaning schedule and suggested what to do in the morning, afternoon, and evening. I have described daily work that can be done to maintain a pleasant home. In my book, "Gracious Housekeeping" there are sample charts and simple explanations to make this work easier to manage. But you will not see a time for personal exercise, private devotions, or when to do family worship.
For those who are homeschooling, I have written about my own experience of educating my five children. I describe, in detail, what a common day would look like. I share a daily routine with scheduled times for meals, snacks, and learning. This basic information is designed to give ideas so you can adapt them to your own needs. My book, "Seeking a Thrifty and Simple Life" will help you see what I've experienced homeschooling for nearly 3 decades as a homemaker. But you will not see a time for studying Scripture or how to fit in a workout program.
The reason for this omission in both books is because my own practice is to do these things as I walk by the way. How does one fit in Bible studies and personal exercise? Let me explain a background for this:
Exercise
When I was growing up, I walked all over the place. I would walk to school, to the bus stop, and also several miles to wherever I needed to go. This happened year-round, whether there was rain or snow or sunshine. It was a normal part of life to be active and moving. In the summer I would swim almost daily. I would also do my own exercises at home - such as push-ups, sit-ups, etc. This just seemed like a natural part of the day - to keep going. I would also clean and do chores as well as work to earn a little pocket money; and in the evenings, I would do my homework.
Years later, as young mother, I found that I could not exercise as much as I wanted. The babies needed my undivided attention. Somehow, I learned to incorporate the routines of walking and moving into a busy life of service. As a young mother, I would occasionally wear light ankle weights as I did housework. I would also wear them when I walked to the playground with the children. I would use the stairs instead of elevators. I would embrace the walk instead of finding shortcuts or quicker ways to accomplish things. I kept moving and active with housework, and daily walks throughout the house. I have never been able to have a consistent scheduled workout routine. I simply keep moving, as much as possible, throughout the day.
Bible Study
In my childhood home, I would often see my father sitting in his recliner as he read the Bible. He would sing hymns throughout the day, as he went about his work. We went to church regularly and also watched a sermon on television. We children were encouraged to read our own Bibles. I would go to Dad with Bible questions and learned to mark special passages in my Bible. There was a great love for Scripture which we caught from our Father (who was the son of a southern revival preacher).
When I set up housekeeping in my own home, I continued to study and meditate on the Word of God. I would pick up the Bible and read verses or chapters at a time. I would do this any chance I could during the day and evening. When my children were old enough to sit with me, I would teach them to read the Bible along with us. While it was not possible for me to set up a time for our Bible reading (there were always interruptions - a sick child, a baby needing comfort, a spill to tend to, etc.) I would wait for a quiet lull in the day and happily announce, "let's do Bible time!" To me, it was a wonderful opportunity to rest and take in the beauty of holiness and peace as we read the Bible together, sang hymns, and prayed.
Today, now that my children are all grown, things are quieter in the house. I am able to take long walks throughout the house each morning. While I walk, I read devotional books ("A Year of Blessings" and "Hymns for the Home and Family".) This is my personal time of devotions.
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| Interior view of my book, "Hymns for the Home and Family." |
Yet even though there are many quiet mornings, my walks are often interrupted. Grandbabies arrive unexpectedly! One of the grown children will call on the telephone. Someone will want to sit and talk to me while I walk. Despite all these supposed distractions, I continue to walk and read in the midst of welcoming the family, pausing to chat, and delighting in the blessing of my family. This is how I fit in personal devotions - I do them by catches - by little bits and moments of reading and meditating while my attention is constantly being directed elsewhere to things just as important and necessary.
Our evening devotions are not scheduled. We try to do them either before dinner or late in the day. There is always some delay because there are other needs that must be attended to. I never want to rush family worship, so we try to wait until there is a quiet respite of time to sit and read together, sing hymns, and say our prayers. Yet somehow, we manage to do this every single night, regardless of the time. It is a joy and a blessing to our hearts.
In Scripture it stays to teach our children diligently as we walk by the way. It talks about when we rise up and when we sit down, we are to do this. It is an ongoing process because we love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind.
We must realize that regardless of all our responsibilities and plans, there will be constant distractions, temptations to do other things, and limited time and health to do what is most important. If we can find a way to simply keep moving (for good health) and to keep reading Scripture (for spiritual life), throughout the moments and days, we will reap far more benefit than if we simply exercised or read the Bible only once a day.
Blessings
Mrs. White
* Note - You will find the 4 books mentioned in this post, listed below.
From the Archives -
A Faithful, Virtuous Mother - Amazing Dedication.
The example of my Parents - Minding my own Housekeeping Business.
Unwanted Advice for the Family - Quieting Myself for the Good of Others.
A Tireless Worker - The Benevolent Housekeeper.
- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -
Find cleaning inspiration and encouragement in Mrs. White's book, "Gracious House Keeping."
"Gracious House Keeping: Advice, Encouragement, and Cleaning Help for the Christian Housewife."
Complete with Encouragement and Work Charts to cheer you along in your homemaking!
115 pages, paperback.
Help For Homeschooling:
Seeking a Thrifty and Simple Life: Encouragement for Christian Homeschooling by Mrs. White
Paperback, 112 pages
As you read this book, I hope you get a sense that, no matter what is going on in the world, every home can be a homeschool.
Encouragement from the 1800's:
~ Daily Devotional ~
"A Year of Blessings and a Blessed Year: The Legacy of Home Press Classic Edition" by Rose Porter.
220 pages, paperback. (5 x 8)
A Classic Reprint, brought to you by The Legacy of Home Press.
"Hymns for the Home and Family: Devotional with 28 Hymns and Christmas Songs"
126 pages, paperback
ISBN: 978-1-956616-33-0
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