Take Back The Home

"Baseball Player Mowing the Lawn" 1946 by Stevan Dohanos

 

 Children can give us trouble. Teenagers can drive us crazy. And husbands can sometimes be difficult to bear. Mothers have so much to face each day, that it can be overwhelming. She may want to cower off somewhere and wait for the next "shoe to drop" before she gives up entirely. Or she may even play with the idea of moving out on her own (running away)!  When these rough times come, this is when her courage is most needed. This is when her creativity must come into play.

Mother must stand strong and Take Back The Home!

Many horrible things happened to me the last few days.  I was devastated by my circumstances and felt powerless to change them. But I finally realized that this is MY home. I am in charge. I am the mistress of this castle and it will be run in a rated G way! (smiles)  It is to be a godly home. It is to be a wholesome home.  Worldly troubles are not allowed indoors.  Rule-breakers will be firmly told not to step over the line, or consequences will keep coming, no matter how weary this mother gets.  I decided to take back my home.

First I put on my very favorite Edwardian apron. I wore my prettiest clothes and even a pearl necklace.   My mood and my courage require an appropriate uniform to show my authority as the Mother and Housewife of this lovely place. 

Next, I turned on my kitchen radio to hear a sermon of my late Uncle, a preacher from rural Alabama.  (He passed away in 1995, but many of his sermons had been recorded.)  As I listened, I remembered my childhood visits to his country church and the beauty of precious holiness, and godly living.  My courage began to soar.  I cleaned and made our humble house look lovely. 

I set out a game of chess on the parlour table.  Teenagers came by and spent hours happily playing together.   They were peacefully occupied!

A certain teenager stopped listening to her worldly music.  Another began to clean up his messes. The children started to smile and laugh and to, once again, bring joy to our hearts.  A grumpy husband cheered up because his wife was suddenly happy again, and devoted to home. 

After I spent the morning cleaning and loving my housework, I sat in a parlour chair to rest. Mr. White walked by and smiled at me.  He said he was very grateful to have me for his wife. 

I had taken back my home.

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Old Fashioned Thrift  - Retirement Planning for the Poor.

 The Reality of Getting By - A New England Winter on a Small Income. 

Beautiful Living - Feminine Grace.

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

 For happiness and cheer in the kitchen:

Mrs. White's old fashioned cookbook focuses on serving meals and setting the table in a humble home.

"Serving in the Kitchen: Cookbook with Recipes, Advice, and Encouragement for the Christian Home"

152 pages, paperback

 

Free Presents for Mother

For my birthday this year, I devised a lovely plan that won't cost any money. I gathered my teenagers around and announced, "It's time for a family meeting. . . " I smiled. "About my birthday."

They came running.

I told them I wanted something so very much, and said they didn't need to spend a dime. 

One of them guessed, "We don't have to clean the house, do we?" 

"That's it!" I cheered!

But it will be much more fun than that.

I am putting together a lovely little package and will leave it on my kitchen table.  I will use a large shoe box and wrap it up with delicate wrapping paper. I will write on the top, "Happy Birthday Mother!"  Then I will put a slot in the top.

Beside this, will be a small basket with a great many index cards.  Each card will have the name of a specific chore, such as "dust all the baseboards."  There will also be a spot to sign the child's name, and the date the chore was completed.   This card will then go into the happy birthday box as a present for mother!  (The children will have an entire week to get these done.)

On my actual birthday, I will open the box, read all the cards and thank my loving children. I will then walk the house with great joy and see all the beautiful clean rooms.  I can't wait!

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -


Financial Legacy - The Bills in the Whitman's Box.

No Money? - We Desperately Need These - Mothers with Christmas Courage.

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

A Full and Busy House

I love it when all my children are back at home. The house is busy and full of wholesome fun and activity.   My oldest ones will soon be here for Thanksgiving, and it will be just like the old days.

I was reading a homemaker book from the 1970's. The author talked about how her grandmother had it easier because her "nest" never emptied:

"In  my grandmother's day the children didn't leave home until they married.  Not one of her chicks established his own nest as a single person.  Consequently when the last one left home, Grandma was seventy-one."  - Terry Hekker

A full house, with children of all ages, brings joy to a homemaker.  There is always someone to visit with, bake with, play games with, and share laughter over a plate of cookies. 

Older children spend time out in the world, and bring home stories and news of  life "in the fast lane."  I love to be the one who is here to welcome them back, and delight in their presence.

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -


What My Dear Son Did - Presents to Cheer Me Up.

Marriage - What I Learned from My Husband's Weariness.

 
Some ideas - How a Housewife Passes the Time.


 To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Amazing Dedication

Library of Congress:  Scene in front of a church, 1943, Washington, D.C.

Somewhere, in the middle of the world,  a heavenly light shined down on a virtuous Mother.   The angels watched, as she walked the earth with amazing dedication to the Lord.

Through her life, temptations came, but could not take her away from her mission.  It all started one afternoon, when she shut off the television, put aside a magazine, and vowed to give up her collection of worldly fads.  Something had happened.  The things of earth had suddenly become dim. Her worldly interest had faded.  The former things of the heart had passed away.   All it took was one little, hesitant step toward the warmth of holiness, and she was overjoyed with a yearning for heavenly treasures.

In Scripture, we are told to follow the Lord with all our heart.  There is no room for other loves, or worldly ambitions.  There is no room for worldly pursuits, because that would take away the time and the heart from the focus of the mission.

We are told not to turn aside.  We are not to become distracted by the glitter or the entertainment in this world.  This too will weaken the loving heart and take us away from our mission.

All earthly pursuits that are not founded on a godly vision, will be but hay and stubble at the end of one's life.  

The holy war, for the virtuous mother, is to recognize the subtle distractions and to have the courage to ignore them.  It is a daily battle. One that makes one incredibly weary, unless one is constantly warming oneself by the beauty of Scripture, old time sermons, hymns and solid church fellowship.

What else do you think Susanna Wesley (1600's) meant when she said, regarding the spiritual training of her children,  "I have lived such a retired life for so many years.  No one can, without renouncing the world in the most literal sense, observe my method: and there are few, if any, that would entirely devote above twenty years of the prime of life in hopes to save the souls of their children." ***  Two of her nineteen children, went on to be famous ambassadors of the Lord. John Wesley was an amazing preacher.  His brother Charles wrote some of the most beautiful hymns one could ever hear.

How else could any of this happen without Amazing dedication?  Is it painful to say no to the world and all its glitter?  Of course!  Is it painful and wearisome to stay on that little narrow path? Certainly. But the discipline it takes to make the effort is rewarded and relieved, when the flood of peace and heavenly joy comes in to renew and regenerate the mother's spirit.

At the end of her life, when others look over the earthly possessions of the departed, they expect to find worldly goods to sort.  Instead they find a hymn book, and  a tear stained Bible (for the path is hard, but worth it). Everything else was gone.  Because by the time she reached the heavenly gates, all her interests and worldly cares had dropped away.   Leaving the beauty of a dedicated life that amazed the souls she left behind.

And this heroic legacy made many want to stand strong for this same cause, the cause of being a holy light in a corrupt world.  On that day thousands more virtuous mothers came along and filled her place on this earth.  This is amazing dedication because of the AMAZING GRACE and LOVE of our dear Lord.

Now let me ask you this. . .  . Are we really following him? Or are we like the toddler child who is constantly getting tangled in the weeds of the world?

The virtuous mother craved and loved the church. She loved her Bible above all things.  She observed daily religious duties for the sake of her soul. And these small efforts kept her on the holy path.  This is what made the light shine down from heaven.  And the angels watched and were blessed by her life.

Blessings
Mrs. White

*** This quote from Susanna Wesley can be found in the 1993 book by Arnold A. Dallimore, "Susanna Wesley: The Mother of John and Charles Wesley," page 57. ***

From the Archives -


The Classic Old Fashioned Housewife.

Managing Money - The Housekeeper's Budget.


 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -


*** Update - This post can also be found in my book, listed below:

Find Home-keeping Inspiration, in Mrs. White's book -Mother's Book of Home Economics .  

Paperback, 312 pages.

The Dinner Hour

I entered my parlour this afternoon, after being out in the cold on errands. We had bags and papers and things everywhere. It was time to prepare (mentally and literally) for the dinner hour.

I turned on a sermon tape, on my kitchen radio, of A. W. Tozer, "The Plague of the Heart," and  worked in my home, while being nourished and strengthened by godly wisdom.

Soon the dishes, from the day, were soaking. The counters looked neat. The table was cleared and shining.  The chairs were in order and the floor was picked up.  Home looked lovely.

I will light a candle before the sun sets. I will get the Bibles ready to prepare for evening worship, after dinner.  There will be no watching of television, or computer time, or listening to secular news or music.  It will be a sacred time of our family gathering together at our family table.   It will be the dinner hour.

To make the dinner hour successful takes labor, and vision, and an eagerness to enjoy home.  It takes a pushing aside of all worldly thoughts and worries and activities. It is time to calm the heart and to soothe the soul.  It is time to make family and loveliness and charm and the beauty of home a sacred obligation.

We will pray and eat and enjoy fellowship at the family table.  It will be a precious time because Mama made it happen.

Blessings
Mrs. White 

From the Archives -

A Precious Gift - A Wife Who Does Not Complain.

What Life is Like With Little Money - Living Without Credit Cards.

Take Time to Read - The Old Vintage Hymn Book.


 To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Sweet Hours at Home

Evening at home is a lovely time, even in the most humble home.  The housewife might be mending by the fire, smiling at the children while they play.  Father is reading the paper, and sharing a bit of news that may interest his little brood.

The family has had their supper, and finished their nightly chores.  They enjoy some time in the warm room, forgetting the days troubles.

The world is shut out. The day is done.  These are sweet hours on the home front.

Soon it is time for family prayers. . .  The Bible is read.  Prayers are said.  Then each one is tucked into a warm bed.

Another precious day has become a beautiful memory.


Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Old Fashioned Living - Retirement Planning for the Poor.

Encouraging children to clean -  Nobody wants to Clean a Messy House.

Finding Genuine Happiness at Home - Peace be Upon This House.  

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -