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| One of the covered bridges, here in Vermont, Dec. 2024. |
The culture around me has changed so much in recent years. Advertising, marketing, and constant news have seeped into almost every aspect of life. I read that television was not commonly in American homes until the 1950's. Now we have much more than this with the internet. It is noisy in the world of society. Our thoughts and spending are affected by the culture. It is difficult to think when we are walking along the glittery road of life.
In rural New England, we have the opportunity to step away from the hectic pace of life. Winters are bitterly cold, keeping me indoors. It is the season of rest. It is the time to remember simple days from long ago. Thinking about the history of family and faith can bring a sense of calm. It reminds one of the beauty in old-fashioned living.
As this year is coming to an end, we have the opportunity to start fresh in the New Year. I want this to be a peaceful year. It could be a year of contentment and rest regardless of the normal trials and storms that always come along.
We will find joy in simplicity. Stress and pressure will melt away when we are not caught up in the latest message of the social world around us. With each passing day, we can gain a greater sense of purpose in the quiet work of serving in the background.
The other day, the house was peaceful and quiet. I went to the window to watch a group of snow-birds playing in the trees. Red cardinals were in a little nest nearby. Snow was falling heavily making the landscape white and peaceful. This reminded me of the blessing of serenity in home life.
In the coming months, there may be hardships with health, finances, and much more. These often come throughout each year. I want to face them with grace and patience. I want to be ready for the daily tasks with a cheerful and willing heart.
When we realize there are far more important things in our short lives than what is happening in the culture around us, we will experience a sense of relief.
Serving the Lord each day, as we trust and let go of our fears, is wise. Remember to give our burdens to our Heavenly Father and find goodness in the daily work at home. To find a way to live in the world, but not of it, is a great accomplishment. I want to learn to do this each day. My hope is to retire from the world, and settle in to my ordinary life of homemaking.
May your Christmas and New Year bring joy and peace.
Blessings
Mrs. White
From the Archives -
A Simple Life - How to Stop Buying Things that Clutter up the Home.
Old Time Frugality - Keeping the Family Homestead.
A Precious Lifetime of Duty at home at - The Mission House.
- 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
10 comments:
thank you so much for this gift....
Your post is pretty much how I feel also. The world has become quite violent and way too crazy for my liking. It's easy for me and my husband to find peace where we live because we are way out in the boonies. The nearest town is over 10 miles away and not much of a town either. Our nearest neighbor is two miles away. We live on 100 wooded acres. There's always wildlife to watch, and in the winter it is especially peaceful. We are often snowed in. I do hope 2025 will a better year. For whatever years I do have left I want them to be happy, peaceful and fulfilling. A blessed Christmas to you and your family and to everyone!
Have a blessed Christmas, Mrs. White!
A beautiful and thoughtful post. Thank you.
Beautifully written post. Dear Mrs. White, I want to join you in this mind set of retiring from the world. Far to often, my thought life is crowded with way too much worldly concern. God bless and may you have a blessed Christmas, ~d
I’ve learned so much about how to order my mind from your posts! My last year has been on of the best, in the face of many hardships. My husband was forced to retirement about 7 years early, but my daughter finished college and moved back to our area. Money is not abundant, but we’ve had so much fun watching our wildlife, the seasonal changes and enjoying our cute property. We are so blessed and I have you and your readers to thank for keeping me focused on the Lord and calm during change. Merry Christmas, Mrs. White and all the other ladies who read your posts:).
Mrs. White, these are such wise words. Thank you for the reminder to step back from all the craziness and focus on what is truly important! Merry Christmas, and may you and your family's New Year be filled with many blessings!
Jo
"To find a way to live in the world, but not of it, is a great accomplishment. "
Very true, and so essential for a believer, but also becoming more difficult as the years pass and the world bombards us in every corner with it's views and 'necessities'...I appreciate some of what the internet offers us, but overall, I wish it had never come to pass.
Our heavenly home, Mrs White, that's the joy we have ahead, and with that in mind, letting go of the things of this world makes more sense than anything else.
God bless you all, and may the Lord continue to use your simple life as a means of ministry to others through 2025. xx
Jennifer
Merry Christmas to you and your family Mrs White :) Thank you for your calming, encouraging and inspiring writing all throughout the year !! It means so much to me. Your landscape and view out your window during Winter sounds so pure and lovely. While I know Winter can be harsh for many people, your attitude is so Christ centred.
Blessings ~ Linda (NZ)
Beautiful and noble aspirations and calming plans.
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