A Church Diet for The Family

Photograph by Arthur Rothstein: Library of Congress

Sunday used to be family day. 

 In my childhood home, we would get all dressed up in our best clothes on Sunday morning.  We would hear Dad singing some hymn as he went about the house, preparing for the day.  He would put on his best suit and get his much loved, worn Bible.  Mother would put on a special dress and her pearl necklace.  She had a pretty Bible Dad had given her. I can still see her, in my memories, holding that Bible with a sweet smile on her face as we prepared to go to church.

We children loved that drive to the church, with the family all together.  Dad had worked every weekday. Then on Saturday, he would work on the house and maintain the cars. He would labor in the garage and in the yard. But on Sunday, all of that work was put aside.  It was a day to worship the Lord, and be with the family.

Our social life, as a family, revolved around the church.  We were delighted to see everyone there each week. There were programs to get involved in and plenty of opportunity for ministry.  My sister and I worked in the nursery, were involved in Sunday School, attended youth programs, were members of the choir, and part of the nursing home ministry. We loved this work because we loved the people we went to church with.  Most of all, we loved doing the Lord's work.

After the morning Sunday School and Sunday service, we would go home for lunch.  We always sat at the kitchen table and ate together.  This was normal for all of our meals in those days.  This was a big part of manners and building a bond with one another.

At this time we would rest, perhaps lay down for awhile. No one ever did chores on Sunday (other than basic meal preparation and clean - up).  All of our major housework, laundry and cleaning had been done during the week, along with a big cleaning day on Saturday morning for the weekly work.  Sunday was a free day of real rest and family time.

We would have a light dinner in the early evening, all together.  Then we would head back to church for choir practice and the night service.

Our Sundays were full of Bible reading, prayer, Christian fellowship, rest, and precious family time. This was the common way of life for generations of Americans until recently.

These modern days, we have fallen into step with a corrupt world. Few go to church. Many have dusty Bibles from lack of use.  A great many parents work 7 days a week, from home, or at their jobs. They are less available to their families, with cell phones and computers making more "work" and "productivity" a normal part of a great deal of their time. This has caused a weakening of morals; it has become a destroyer of health; it is a major contributor to the destruction of the family unit.

Yet, there is a solution. . . .  We need a steady church diet . . . We need to stop working on Sunday. This is the most acceptable day of the week to take a break from the hectic pace of modern life.  The churches are open.  The bells ring on Sunday morning to remind us to stop what we are doing, gather up the family, and worship together.

We need to read our Bibles, pray, and be with our families without the interruption of work, chores, or worries.

A Diet is something we do for our health. Sometimes we start a diet thinking it is boring.  We are often forced to begin a healthier way of eating by a physician.  Once we start that diet, we begin to feel better. We establish a routine, and our health and energy improve. It is not long before that "boring food" becomes our favorite and we begin to crave it;  It does amazing things for us.

There is also The Great Physician - We are being warned that our spiritual welfare is in peril.  We need a healthy diet to feed our souls. That first Sunday morning of going to the church will seem boring.  We will think of a great many things we'd rather do. But taking that first baby step of going to church and making it a priority in life will start to heal the soul.

We need to get back to the old paths.  Our parents, our grandparents, and the generations of parents before them, knew the way of peace for the soul. They knew how to keep a family together.  They knew how to nurture the love and unity each household needs.  They knew that Sunday was the Christian family day and they kept faithful to that church diet.  We need to be reminded of their wisdom.

 Today, I am remembering the example of my parents.  I am grateful for all the effort it took for them to take us to church and spend time with us all. They made our family very close by their time and attention.  They taught we children to love the Lord, to love the Bible, and to love the Church. They did this by example. 

Blessings
Mrs. White


From the Archives -

Encouragement - How a Godly Mother May Guide and Imperfect Family.

Lovely Days at Home - The Gentle Art of Homekeeping.

Financial Struggles - How the Old Time Mothers Survived Poverty. 

 

 
- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Mrs. White's special book for homemakers:

 "Introduction to Home Economics:  Gentle Instruction to Find Joy in Christian Homemaking."

 Paperback, 200 pages. 

It's A Wonderful Life - by a Sweet Pastor's Wife

For the last several months, I have been reading a book by Terrie Chappell.   She is the wife of  Paul Chappell, who is the Pastor of Lancaster Baptist Church in California.

The church, when they first arrived, was falling apart and in a terrible area. There were only a few congregants.  It now has a membership of over 7,000 people!

Mrs. Chappell is a homemaker and Mother of four grown children.  She is known to be a sweet, meek-hearted lady who loves the Lord. She is a dedicated Pastor's wife and is much loved by those in the congregation.

She was urged to write a book to encourage women.  "It's A Wonderful Life: Serving God Joyfully in Marriage and Ministry" is the result. 

This hardcover book consists of three sections and sixteen chapters. There are 257 pages.

Section One is about our Personal life.  This covers the definition of a godly wife, becoming a godly woman, preparing for ministry, etc.

Section Two is about Family Life.  She talks about balancing the family and the ministry, praying for your husband, developing memories, etc.

Section Three is about Ministry Life.  Here you'll find a wealth of wisdom on challenges in the ministry, hospitality, and being a blessing to your church family.


Terri writes as if she is standing before us, at a Mother's Tea, speaking in a friendly way; making us smile, laugh, and want to take notes!  She mixes her own life stories with beautiful lessons about living a godly life.  

She shares both practical ideas and humble encouragement.   Even though the book has a great amount of help for the wives of pastors, it is also greatly needed for wives of laymen.

Mrs. Chappell writes in a gentle way that makes you feel as if she is a dear friend.  I highly recommend this book to wives!!




  Publisher:  "Striving Together Publications" - "It's a Wonderful Life."







*Disclaimer - I received a copy of this product for review purposes. This review is my own personal opinion. I would not recommend a book unless I sincerely found it to be beneficial.*



To find out more about my commercial breaks, please see my disclosure page.



Easter in Vermont

We are getting ready for morning church services, here in Vermont. It is a beautiful day of hope! The cold winter weather is starting to fade. Snow is melting. There is a bit of warmth in the air. This Easter, I am reminded of how very difficult the bitter cold winter can be, but how very precious it is when spring comes. This is like our life - the sin and the misery that pulls us down is the winter. The spring is the joy and peace of holiness and purity.

I am delighted and thankful to be able to go to church today.  After services, we will have a special dinner with Nana and Grandpa.  It is to be lovely day!

I want to take a minute to thank you so much for being here. Thank you for your comments, emails and kind notes over the years.  You have encouraged me through some very wearying times. You have also shared in my joys!  May you have a blessed Easter!

Most Grateful,

Blessings
Mrs. White

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

For Home-keeping Inspiration, order my book - For The Love of Christian Homemaking. 

The Blessing of Being a Half - Southern Mama

I have a dis-attachment, somehow, to the cares of this world. I think it has a lot to do with having a strong cultural background and then living in a different place.

My father is from rural Alabama and my mother is from suburban Massachusetts. We grew up in a beautiful, wealthy town, south of Boston. But the culture of my father's life was with us every moment. We travelled to Alabama many times. My Uncle was a minister and had a small church, packed with the sweetest people you could ever meet. Many cried with joy, or repentance, at his revival meetings.

Have you ever heard the beautiful, humble songs of the saints in those old rural churches, down south? The melody echoes in my memory, even after all these years. The thought of them brings tears to my eyes.

When poor, gospel country clashes with rich, majestic values, there is a shaking of the character.  There is a yearning for a life that is true and poor (in worldly goods) and grateful.

There is a reason this old reserved New Englander has a tremendous attachment to the old southern ways.  I live in a cold society. It is full of culture and worldliness. But my heart is in the memories of the old Alabama life.

It is the world where Grandma wore pretty dresses, and spoke with such a deep accent, I could never understand her.  She had the sweetest heart!  I can still see her smiling, walking across the hill on the family property.

I remember her old house. It was humble and precious and just like something you would see in a movie from the 1930's. It was a white, 2 story, with a large covered front porch. The furniture was clean and neat and simple. Mothers in those days would set out tablecloths and bring you a drink with lots of ice. They would make sure you were happy!  The home and the neighborhood were nothing like the suburban area in which I lived.  It seemed like rural Alabama homes held the hardest working, strong families you could ever meet.

 I remember living there for part of a summer, as a teen, and being given some lovely dresses. They fit me perfectly and were homemade. I only wish I still had them. You can't find beautifully made fashion like that anymore.

The Bible was the book everyone wanted to read. It sat predominately where all could see it. It was treated with the greatest respect.

I cannot even remember anyone not going to church. Everyone got dressed up and went together.  Oh, and the music of that time is outstanding.  Famous gospel singers openly loved the Lord. You could hear it in their songs. They knew where the real money came from - singing the old godly songs, knowing the reward was in Heaven.

The homes were neatly kept and lovingly cared for.  The summer heat was intense but just right. There were gardens and delicious home-cooking.  Neighbors watched out for neighbors and were friendly and thoughtful.

The sermons in the old country churches would melt the heart of the coldest sinner. They touched the soul and would never leave you. This is the southern culture that has stayed with me all these years. And so I listen to old  gospel songs, from the likes of Roy Acuff and J.D. Sumner to help me stay strong in this cold-hearted world around me.

Sometimes I wonder what will become of my children, who have never been down south. But I know that my habits and values from those memories, are vivid in their daily lives. Somehow, they may just become half-southern without even realizing how it happened.

The reality of what I crave from this heritage, is old American values frozen in time. That is what the southern lesson is to me. It is the memory of what was, and what I must keep alive each and every day of my life.


Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Oh, how wonderful this would be! - A Mass Exodus of Women Coming Home. 

 I want to be - The Mother Who Isn't Busy.

 A happy day of -  Gracious Homemaking.

 

 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Find Home-keeping Inspiration, in Mrs.White's book - For The Love of Christian Homemaking.  Paperback, 274 pages.

The Old Sunday Dinner

LOC: Sunday dinner on the McLelland homestead, Florida, 1942.

In the Old Days, American Families would gather round the table after Church for a big Sunday dinner. Often relatives would come by - like a brother, aunt or cousins. There would be laughter and happiness and a joyous day of rest from labor. There were Blue laws * so the stores were all closed.  It was like the country encouraged everyone to stay home and have family time.  This was still going on in the 1960's.

Mother went out of her way to plan and prepare a hearty meal. She would get the children to help her set the table and then send them off so they would not be "under foot." Mother made a big pitcher of lemonade or iced tea. She also had plenty of freshly brewed coffee. There was often fresh baked bread, or biscuits, that she had prepared the day before. This big meal was a way to nourish the family with comfort and love.

After dinner, the women visited and cleaned up.  Sometimes they talked about the state of the culture or  comforted each other over some trial. This helped make getting through the week much better, knowing they would get together each Sunday after Church.

The men would head outdoors or in the living room and talk and visit, while the children raced out to the porch, or the back field, to enjoy each others company.

This was a precious time of remembering the morning sermon, refreshing the soul with good fellowship and enjoying a rest from worldly cares.

I think we lost a little something when the blue laws were mostly repealed. 

Blessings
Mrs. White

*The Blue Laws were In Effect in Massachusetts, where I grew up, and where my Mother grew up.  Other states had similar laws.*

From the Archives -

Old Fashioned Advice for taking are of the family - - A Comforting Sick Room.

Ration Books from 1942 and helpful advice - Adapting to the High Cost of Living.

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

 

Mrs. White's special book for homemakers: 

 

"Introduction to Home Economics:  Gentle Instruction to Find Joy in Christian Homemaking." 

 

Paperback, 200 pages. 

 

What Sundays Used to Mean to Housewives

LOC: Praying during the sermon at the First Wesleyan Methodist Church, 1943.

 

The Housewife of old used to look forward to Sunday Morning. She would spend the morning in delightful anticipation of fellowship and Church services. This dear mother would get all dressed up in her best and help the family get ready. As she walked out that door, with Bible in hand, she would take one last look around and know that her work at home had been done well. It was time to rest. It was time to be refreshed and take a break from the world and all its trials and labors.

I like to think of going to church each week as an example of the end of our lives. During the week, we housewives do all our work.  We do laundry, wash floors, make meals, handle appointments, phone calls, shopping, bills, and heavy cleaning. This is our labor in the world. When that church day arrives, we take a much deserved rest. We have our reward.

To me, the end of my life will be like Mother's day. I will be sitting in a church pew with my dear husband beside me. All our grown children will have put aside their wanderings in the world and will be there with me. They will have the hearts of humble servants and everyone will be grateful to be there. The precious sermon will start. . . Yet there will be tears welling up in my eyes because all my children are with me. They made it! And it will be just like the way it was supposed to be all along.

May it be so.

Blessings
Mrs. White

*This post can also be found in Mrs. White's book, "Mother's Faith."

From the Archives -

A Precious Lesson! - All of God's Children Have Shoes.

What it Takes - Old Fashioned Duty of a Homemaker.

Encouragement in Duty - Make an Effort.

 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

 

 

 

Church Bells and a Respectful Appearance

I love the sound of church bells on a Sunday Morning. It is like the whole town is awakened and being called to think about God and to come together to worship. It is a somber moment when those bells ring. I can hear them from my house.




For some reason, many people stopped dressing up for church. It used to be that we put on our best clothes and our biggest smiles and walked gratefully to the church building. We did this out of respect. We dressed up to show it was an important event and it meant something more than just being casual at home.



Ladies used to wear hats and gloves to church. The gloves were often a pretty white and were crocheted. You can still find gloves like this at The Victorian Trading company. But we should be able to buy them from our local stores. Why are they so hard to find?

I have a box of gloves we found in the attic of one of our investment properties we bought several years ago. This box has gloves of different colors and fabrics and were well worn. There were also letters and postcards inside, dated from the 1940's. It is a treasure!


Imagine the family getting their Bibles and heading down the street to the local church. What a precious sight! 


Blessings,
Mrs. White

How a Godly Mother May Guide an Imperfect Family

Sunday dinner, 1942, Connecticut (LOC)

So many mothers have trials and sorrows. They cry out to God because of wayward children. Or, perhaps they shake their head in despair when their young child continues to do wrong. We need a country of strong, encouraged mothers. We need Mothers to understand that all children, all people, have a sin nature. Our families will be imperfect.

Whenever you see a lovely family of Bible Hugging children- know you are only seeing an image. Those children still sin and give their parents trouble. Perhaps they bicker, or disobey, or even lie. But they love their Mother and they love their Bible. It doesn't mean they are going to be perfect. Let's get that clear, first off.
 
Children silently observe all that Mother does. They know what she is really like. It cannot be hidden in the home.  Mother, we need to know we cannot do any of this alone. We need our dear Lord and I will tell you how to find strength from Him.

1. Strive to live a simple, unworldly life. Find time for recreation for the sake of the body, but it must not be the consuming of one's life.

2. Read the Bible more than any other reading material. Read it to ponder. Read it while praying. Read it while weeping. Read it for strength.

3. Pray with all thy heart and soul and strength. Pray diligently throughout the day. Pray for each child by name. Pray for courage. Pray for faith and love of God's holy way. Pray about everything.

4. Live out your commitments without wavering. Do what you promise to do, even if it causes you pain, exhaustion and suffering. You will be a shining example of a dedicated, responsible soul if you can be trusted to keep your word.

5. Work hard. Work with whatever you have been given to do. Work with all your strength and might- whether it be in your housekeeping, cooking, mothering, gardening or what have you. Do it with pride and commitment.

6. Talk about God with your children.  Tell them about your prayers and the answers when they come. Show your children your total trust and faith in your Heavenly Father. Do this in normal, daily life- as things come up - rather than in forced conversations.

7.  Offer Grace and Mercy to your children. Do not hold grudges. Forgive at once! Forgive even if they are still acting up! Forgive, smile, show compassion and love them with every bit of your strength.  Forgive them over and over and over again - without end.

8.  Speak life into your children.  Lift them up. Praise them and tell them how much you love them and are grateful for them.

9. Do good things for your children. Make an effort to cook their favorite meals and make home a special place they want to be. Make a pleasant and loving home for your family.  Do good things for them, unconditionally - even if they are acting troublesome. Show them love through your actions.

10. Live out a godly life before them. Pray openly. Read your Bible openly. Sing hymns or listen to gospel music openly. Go to the Master and fill your heart with love and holiness and then face your family, fully equipped to minister,while doing your homemaking tasks.

11. Confess your faults. If you are in a bad mood - tell them you are sorry. If you made a foolish decision- repent of it. Show them that none of us are flawless, but God has great mercy and we can only cling to him as the source of our hope.

12. Never bend. Know what your convictions are and do not change them with the times. Do not try to join in sinful, worldly living just to be friends with your children. You are the Mother. You are the example. You must stay strong and live out a godly, holy life before your family. Do not bend to their childish, immature worldly whims. I cannot stress this enough. Children will grow up, remembering your example. One day they will cling to the old ways and realize it was your source of strength.  Long after you are dead and gone, dear mother, they will remember your strong character and godly ways. Don't underestimate the power of a committed, godly life. 

13. Realize that money and things are never going to be more important than one's convictions. If you are seeking money at the expense of your family, or at the expense of your moral values - pray and find a way to drop it as quickly as possible. Nothing is more important than the salvation of the souls of your children. Do not let money, things, or the world's standard of life destroy your only chance of bringing up godly children.

 I want to paint an image of what this looks like in an old fashioned home. Mother has her daily duties. We thank God for her work, because it gives her something important to do. She cannot spend all day wasting time on television, constant eating and lounging. She needs to be about the Master's business - and that is the keeping of the home. She should pray for love for her job, so that it will shine through and bless those around her.  I can see her right now, washing clothes, hanging them on the line. I see her humming and smiling while she makes supper.  Now she is reading the Bible and sharing a verse or two that has blessed her. All her worries are cast on the Lord in prayer. She goes about her daily life, unhurried, and in peace.   The children feel safe and secure because they know Mama is there.


 Dear ones, our daily religious duties are an obligation. We do them whether or not we feel like it. It is what helps keep us on the straight and narrow. If we follow our own way, our own desires, we will be led astray. Perhaps we don't want to go to church. This is an enormous struggle in many homes. We don't want to go. But if we go out of obligation and gratefulness to God, we are setting an amazing example to our children. 

We, as mothers, will have children of all ages, at all stages on their religious journey. Some have been saved, some are struggling in sin, some are confused, and some are under the chastening hand of God. We need to be there, praying, smiling, encouraging and seeing them through these rough years. We may be weeping now, as we work in the harvest fields, but in the end, we will rejoice, bringing our sheaves with us. All that matters, at the end of it all, is not the fun we had, or the worldly things we indulged in, or the money we earned. What matters is walking through the pearly gates, with the souls of our beloved children following us into heaven.

Blessings,
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Old Fashioned Living - Retirement Planning for the Poor.

Wisdom from Colonial Days  - To Earn and Not to Spend.

Taking Care of the Family - A Covered Bridge and Graceful Living in Rural Vermont. 

 To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Learn How To Manage Money on a Small Income, with this helpful book:

- It is an honor to be the bookkeeper for the house! - 

Find detailed instruction and inspiration in budgeting on a small income, along with a method for keeping a handwritten ledger, with lots of thrifty ideas, in Mrs.White's book:

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

 Paperback, 77 pages.