A Cheerful Mother

Tea roses on the front grounds of our property. 

I have been listening to Bing Crosby sing Christmas songs on the CD player in my kitchen. I am baking homemade cookies for the family. I am feeling old and tired but wanted to have a nice treat for the household. As I do the work of housekeeping, I am wearing a comfortable house coat with a pretty blue floral pattern. We have had the wood pellet stove on to help keep us warm. The temperatures have been in the 30's and chilly. It is so nice to be indoors by the fire as I go about the work of making home a pleasant place for us to enjoy.

This morning, we did a little rearranging of furniture. I wanted to move the big desk into the main livingroom by the back door.  I placed a lamp on a doily on the side of the desk and then tucked in a comfortable chair.  It looks so cozy and home-like.  When asked why I wanted a desk in the livingroom, I smiled and said, "in case someone wanted to write a letter or have a place to study by the lamp."  It looks old fashioned and charming.

We have been struggling with sickness. Yet I do not feel overwhelmed or alone because I know the Lord is with me. I can rest and be a cheerful mother regardless of all the work and troubles that hover around us. I am grateful.

Our patient (one of my grown sons) is having some setbacks with his health condition. We are preparing for one of our long journeys for our medical trip into the next state. With mounting expenses for basic living, it can be difficult to manage the cost of these trips. We save as much as we can and then we know the Lord will provide the rest.  I also try to make these trips cheerful by enjoying the scenery and taking walks whenever we can.  This helps keep our patient from feeling downcast and discouraged. I want to be genuinely happy and cheerful to help make his days brighter. The Lord gives us courage and strength to go about our days doing His work regardless of the trials we endure. It is a blessing!

While I have been sitting here writing, I have been taking breaks to put another batch of cookies in the oven, or to pack up the ones that have cooled. And each time I checked the cooling rack, I noticed some of the cookies are missing. Those in the household have come in and helped themselves to a little of the fresh baked goodness in mother's kitchen. . . Some make cookies for special occasions or for a meeting or event. But the best type of cookies are the ones the family can eat right away.   

How truly precious it is to have a home and a family to enjoy both the good and the difficult days. To do what we can to make their lives more cheerful is such a wonderful work of motherhood.

Blessings

Mrs.White

From the Archives - 

Simple Living on a Walton's Budget - Old Time Homemaking.

Practical help for the home - Peaceful Living by Rules.

Old time values - The Blessing of Being a Half - Southern Mama.

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Find cleaning inspiration and encouragement in Mrs. White's book, "Gracious House Keeping."

"Gracious House Keeping: Advice, Encouragement, and Cleaning Help for the Christian Housewife."

Complete with Encouragement and Work Charts to cheer you along in your homemaking!

115 pages, paperback.