A Guarded Life

Our river in the early morning sunlight. 

 

Old time home-life is something many crave. We want a place to get away from it all.  We want a break from the business world and from news reports. We want a rest from the ringing of the telephone and constant demands for our time. Home should be a place of rest and refreshment.  Going home ought to be something we look forward to. 

It has been difficult to observe the changes in culture where the world and society have slowly become a part of everyday life. There doesn't seem to be any rest for the family.  

 Living a more private life, a guarded life, can bring rest and comfort. We may very well be able to find this in nature and in reflective moments enjoying the beauty of the scenery around us. 

Years ago, when I was growing up in Massachusetts, we lived near the ocean. There were both public and private beaches nearby.  It was common to walk a great deal of the time, without interruption, in all seasons.  (This was before there were pocket telephones or the internet.)  It was about a mile to reach the corner store, or the town bus-stop.  For much of the year, I would walk to the private beach and sit quietly to watch the waves of the water. I would listen to the rushing of the ocean and feel the coolness of the wind. This was peace. This was a way to rest from the ways of the world. 

Blueberries, at our property, in the morning light.

Today, I am grateful for gardens and walking paths. We have a river bordering our property which is such a privilege to see.  But all of the beauty in the landscape would not be noticed if I was preoccupied by the troubles and drama of the world around me. I must live a guarded life.

As the dear children of our Heavenly Father, we can find a precious peace that is uncommon.  There should be a separate way of life from society-at-large. There are certain things we will not do. There are places we will not go. There are things we will not read. This is guarding our way of life. It helps to protect our peace and our meditation on that which is holy and good and righteous. 

In old literature and in biographies, from the 1800's, we can get a sense of what life was like at home before the television set, radio, or computer came along.  What is so striking to me is the lack of commercials, advertising, and subtle propaganda that they were not exposed to. Sometimes, I think, we need a break from it all. It may be as simple as turning home into a vacation spot, by shutting off technology and putting it away for a time.  

I sincerely believe we need more moments of listening to nature, walking outdoors, and having a great deal of time to listen to the Lord speak to our unhurried hearts.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Encouragement in Homemaking - Keeping an Old Farm Journal. 

Getting Along - The Secret to a Happy Home.

The Blessing of Taking Care of the Family - A Comforting Sick Room.

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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.