A Day in the Life of a Housewife

"A Country Home" by Frederic Edwin Church (1826 - 1900).

Things are very quiet in the rural mountains of Vermont.  The winter keeps us mostly indoors. There is not a great deal of activity at this time of year.  On days when we do not have much company, there is less to do.  My grown children and grandchildren are my most frequent visitors, but not quite as often during cold winter days.

When things are this quiet, I tend to think about what it may have been like for homesteaders in the old days. I remember the homemakers who lived out in rural areas and were confined to the family residence with chores and the maintenance of home as the main occupation. 

 It is a blessing to be at home. Yet, sometimes I wonder, am I doing enough? I have been struggling with health difficulties for nearly four months now, since I was in the hospital in early November of last year.  Things have changed so drastically for me and I am finding myself less able to do the work and activity as before.  This makes me wonder, on very rough days, am I useless?  Yesterday was one of those days. Because of this, I thought it best to write out what I actually did on that day. It is a sort of diary of a housewife.  This, I am hoping, will show me that even though I have serious limits, what I did was certainly good enough.  If you ever have one of those days, I hope you find encouragement here.

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The activity of the day:

Walked

In the quiet of the morning, at about 6 a.m., I walked for 35 minutes. I do this by pacing the floors at a steady rate.  When I first begin, I do my devotions as I go.  While I am walking I read portions of the Bible, a page from a hymn book, and then daily readings from two devotional books.  This daily walk is essential for helping to maintain my health. The devotions are an incredibly comforting way to start the day.

Chores

I made my bed and made sure my room looked neat. 

Research

I spent about an hour doing research for a book project I am working on.  

Reading

It was time for a little rest. I read several pages of an interesting book.  

Laundry

I did a load of laundry. I also checked on it during the day. When it was finished, in late afternoon, I folded it all and put it away.

Bookkeeping

I took the receipts from my purse and recorded the entries in my financial journal. I then got out my bank books and recorded any checks I had written or debit transactions since the last time I did this. 

Chores

I had an idea since I woke up that I wanted to dust and vacuum the living room. It took me a long time to feel that I had enough energy. First I had to empty and clean the vacuum since I last used it.  A repair was necessary and for this I was grateful that my husband fixed the problem.  While I was waiting, I emptied the children's toy baskets. I tossed any trash or broken items. Then I found little containers to sort and store puzzle pieces, tiny cars, and other treasures.  Everything is now neat and inviting and ready for when the grandchildren visit.  I also swept the floor under the baskets. 

I was starting to feel a great deal of pain. One of the family reminded me that everything does not need to be done in a day. Unfortunately I did not listen. I kept saying, "I just want to finish this one project." By the time I finished with the toy baskets, I was in no condition to vacuum the carpets.  I had to go rest.  After a short time, I went back and did some of the dusting. But I could not do any more. That is when the feeling of being useless came over me. I went straight to bed feeling extremely fatigued and in pain.

The comfort of hymns

When we are feeling discouraged, my husband and I will start quietly singing "Amazing Grace."  He started doing this to cheer me up when I was feeling down. It is heartwarming to hear him sing this to me.  Often I will join in and sing along with him. It always helps us to refocus on what really matters.  We are most joyful when we keep our thoughts and focus on our Heavenly Father who loves us dearly. He guides our actions and blesses us with peace and provision. The hymns help make things better.

Visits with the Family

I talked to two of my grown children on the telephone. This is so comforting to all of us. We share advice, talk about our days, and I always enjoy hearing what my beloved grandchildren are doing.  As I was resting, propped up with pillows, my grown sons stepped in to talk and visit with me.  And, of course, my husband checked on me frequently to see if I needed anything. 

Evening Devotions

My husband and I have our Bible time each night.  We read Scripture and sing hymns. This is a favorite part of our day.

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Looking over my activity, I still feel that I did not do very much.  But I must realize that life is not always about what we can accomplish. It is about being here. It is about creating a home where we can rest and feel safe and loved. It is about the blessing of family and the gratefulness I feel to be a child of God. 

Life is not about a focus on myself. It is not about having ambitions. It is not what I can do because I have learned by hard lessons that I can do nothing without my precious Lord. I am helpless and flawed and need my dear Lord to guide and strengthen me. 

This time of illness and inactivity is a reminder that the whole duty of my life is to keep looking up in my thoughts and prayers, and know that every single day I get to be here is an incredible gift. I will not waste it in thoughts of discouragement. I will be cheerful, joyful, and at peace even if much of my time is spent resting. In all this, I am grateful.

 

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

What Many of us Crave - An Ordinary Life at Home.

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

Careful thrift in the Home - Reducing Expenses.

 

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Mrs. White's detailed explanation of keeping a financial journal and budget:

 

For old time encouragement in living simply on a limited income, order Mrs. White's book:

"An Old Fashioned Budget: Humble Financial Management for the Christian Housewife"

This slim, 77 page, paperback book is available for sale through Amazon.