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| LOC: Mrs.Theodore Eickholt and her three children, Iowa, 1936. |
A few years ago, I started to feel a heaviness. It was as if there was a dark cloud over my life. I finally realized that I needed more cheerful things around me.
The first thing I did was order myself a Christian-based calendar-planner book. This would be something I would see several times a day. There are Bible verses for every single day of the year. This was something good for my home and life. It helped my mood a great deal.
Then I made sure my wall calendar was pretty. I stopped getting a cheap one from the dollar store because it was lacking something. When I switched to getting one from Sword of the Lord publishers or In Touch Ministry, I felt as if I was supporting good ministries while also having a beautiful, encouraging calendar that was also a necessary item for my home.
The main screen on my computer has a wallpaper image with an encouraging quote by Charles Spurgeon.
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| Part of an image on my computer screen, with an inspiring quote. |
The walls of my house have mottoes with Bible verses and inspiring sayings to bring a smile and a bit of encouragement to weary minds.
I believe there is a battle, in our day, over our emotions and thoughts which bring a great deal of anxiety, worry, and discouragement. We need to counteract this with good things. We need to be surrounded by that which is good and lovely and peaceful.
In the old days mothers were busy keeping house, taking care of their children, gardening, and just trying to make sure all were fed and cared for. Their own little world was simply their immediate family, neighbors in the community, and guests who visited. This was before there were television sets. It was before telephones became popular. The worries had more to do with what was happening in their own homes and lives. They were not as overwhelmed and full of fear as we tend to be in our modern day with constant news updates from around the world. We have so many distractions and things to plague our emotions. We need to constantly seek peace and find a way to quiet our hearts and soothe our minds.
Keeping lovely things around the house is a tremendous help. Having good friends and family members who bring cheer and a light of hope and help is a blessing. But most of all, we need to keep reminding ourselves to "keep walking with the Lord."
When we are discouraged and down, it is a good time to look at all the good things in our homes. Take a few minutes to read the beautiful Psalms and Proverbs and find comfort in Scripture. We need to take a break from trying to solve all of our problems or trying to imagine solutions and just rest in the presence of the Lord. When we are at our wits end, on the verge of sorrow and fear, it is time to remember that we cannot walk this path in our own strength. It is impossible!
Scripture verses on the walls of a home, an open Bible displayed on a table, pretty flowers from the garden, and a lovely well-kept home will bring rest to our minds. Doing good things and being surrounded by good things is an excellent way to chase away the dark clouds of the world. We can make the effort, each day, to spread sunshine and good will to our families. It all starts with being surrounded by good things.
Blessings
Mrs. White
From the Archives -
The Blessing of - The Mother Who Isn't Busy.
Happy and Frugal Kitchen work - Basic Cookery.
What Many of us Crave - An Ordinary Life at Home.
- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -
"At Mother's House" by Mrs. White:
For Encouragement in Homemaking, order Mrs. White's book, from 2016, "At Mother's House: The Blessing of Being a Christian Housewife."
In this book, you will find essays, articles, and diary entries about life in a Christian home.
There are 40 entries which include: "Poor and Pretty Living;" "A Home Without Clutter;" "The Money Packets;" "A Church Diet for the Family;" "Bringing Home Baby;" "The Children's Prayers;" "The Shabby Garden:" and "Just a Housewife."
Those who are seeking a peaceful home, with the Lord as the foundation, will find encouragement. (Paperback, 122 pages.)
A very timely post Mrs. White! I think everyone is feeling rather down and worried these days. It seems the world is just plain crazy lately! And we are constantly exposed to the seedy elements of society, and crime and dishonesty. I like to think of Philippians 4:8, which encourages us to think of things that are lovely and honest and pure and virtuous. I have tried to stay away from news and spend more time in my Bible readings and just talk with the Lord throughout the day. It is a peaceful way to cope. There is really nothing I can do to solve the world's problems, but it IS my duty to spread the word of the Lord and do what I can for those around me that I can do something for!
ReplyDeleteThe world is a sad place at the moment. I rarely watch the news on Television now as it seems to be centred around Hate. This does disturb me. It is so wonderful to go out and look at Nature, seeing God in the trees, the amazing Spring flowers and the burgeoning garden. Thank you for your post, Mrs Whitw, it helps to remember the peaceful things in the world.
ReplyDeleteJust reading this post made my heart slow down a bit :) Thank you for always bringing us back to the home and the Lord, in all of your posts. It's so comforting.
ReplyDeleteAfter a weekend with extra company in the house, I'm feeling the need to just rest and refuel.
I hope all is well with you and your family.
Surrounding ourselves with beauty and goodness is half the battle. Thank you, Mrs. White!
ReplyDeleteWHERE WEARY HEARTS FIND REST --- "I believe that a godly home is a foretaste of heaven. Our homes, imperfect as they are, must be a haven from the chaos outside. They should be a reflection of our eternal home, where troubled souls find peace, weary hearts find rest, hungry bodies find refreshment, lonely pilgrims find communion, and wounded spirits find compassion.
ReplyDeleteJani Ortlund
Hello dear friend, your blog is one of those beautiful things. I too love pretty calendars, the past few years I've treated myself to a Susan Winget calendar with art by Susan Winget of little sheep in country settings, it features Psalms 23. Half Price books actually has that same brand of calendars for $1.00 right now on clearance. I purchased mine from ChristianBook.com.
ReplyDeleteLet alone the cold cruel world, there is quite a bit of carnality these days everywhere and I'm especially shocked at the source at times. Where people are at, is rather shocking and the cruelty that comes out of people who claim to be Christians. In the past several weeks I've learned to stay within sweet company and concentrate on my own home, enjoying family and those precious grandchildren doing much as you have written. Oh what Peace!
Yesterday my husband was in surgery, and today I'm tending to his needs, the hospital staff was so sweet and wonderful. May I say the Lord went before us and both on the day we went for tests the lady had a beautiful prayer on the back of her computer and check in day yesterday another lady also had beautiful prayers on her desk. I took two of your books with me in the waiting room, a wonderful sweet time to read and pray. I took your homemaking book and the one I won with one with a vintage shot of a lady.
When our precious surgeon came in I looked up from your sweet book and smiled.
Bless you, Mrs. White. Praying for your trips and the needs, as you know, we fully understand and are walking the same path. Love, ~Amelia
As always, your words are timely advice given with loving graciousness. I am surrounded by lovely things in my home. My yearly calendar planner is one I get from Daily Bread. It's filled with verses, quotes and lovely pictures.
ReplyDeleteAlso my personal reading is a Psalm and Proverb every day. Memorizing scripture is another way of having God's Word with you everywhere.
And singing...oh how lovely are the old hymns and the new praise songs.
Thanks again for inspiring us!
Thank you for this timely advice. The world wants to crowd out lovely things and we have to be vigilant to keep the world out of our homes. I have Scripture and mottoes in home also but i love the idea of having an open Bible out where it can be seen. This is something I'm going to incorporate in my home. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderfully encouraging post, Mrs White. God bless you! I pray often for your son. x
ReplyDelete