I just read Eleanor's post about all she did with what she had on hand to
make her deck a more delightful place. To me, that is the essence of
homemaking! She is working with what God has placed in her hands to make
it something special for her family, to the glory of God. The LORD is
instructing her in the way chosen just for her. And part of that
wonderful instruction to all of us is the care of our homes. You only
have to read the Proverbs 31 passage to realize how much the LORD values
our work in the home.
I love to read what other women are doing in their homes and then see if
I can make it work in my own home with what I've got on hand. Oftentimes
I have to read lots of ideas or look at lots of pictures before I move
into action. Then when I do finally accomplish it, the look is usually
quite different than what they've described or shown. But that's the way
God made us, so individual and so wonderfully unique; we're working in
homes that are as unique and individual as we are.
For example, I wanted to make my kitchen old-fashioned. I kept a picture
of a magazine that had the look I was trying to achieve with
old-fashioned reds and greens throughout. My kitchen did not look like
the one in the magazine, but it was a good starting point for me. And
looking at the picture encouraged me to go on in my own decorating with
what I had on hand or could find in a thrift shop. I had such fun
decorating that room. And now it is such a joy for me to work in there,
for it is so old-fashioned and cozy. To me and my family.
And this is very important, Sisters. Sometimes you will have people come
to your home who might not appreciate its finer qualities as you do. And
they enjoy pointing that out. It doesn't matter. The important thing is
that you take care of them while they are in your home, and that you love
your home and enjoy working there, to the glory of God. I've had people
come to my home and make fun of it. This just happened last month. My
son was hurt for me. But I told him that our home is for us. It is for
our pleasure. We like it. We feel cozy and comfortable here. And we
serve those that the LORD brings to us. But they are only here
temporarily. We are here always. So we decorate our home for our own
coziness and comfort that hopefully extends to the love of others as
well. When that doesn't happen, well, we have done the best with what
we've been given.
Likewise with my garden. It might not look like much to some, but, oh, I
have "eyes to see" such beauty in that small plot of land. Such beauty!
And how I thank God while I water it or glance at it from my kitchen
window. Sometimes it takes people a while to see its beauty until they
meander through it with my eyes leading them. Sometimes they have to
"see" the brown plot of barren land before they can see the beauty before
them now. My husband had to dig up our septic tank recently and has not
had the chance to replace the broken concrete sidewalk near my garden. At
first it was an eyesore to me. Then I took some broken pottery and
slipped it here in there in a sort of old-fashioned hodge-podge look in
the holes and cracks. And some spearmint has come up in one of the cracks
nearby helping it to look as though I planned this unusual garden design.
And so it is with my home. It is as individual as I am. And the
important thing is that my family is content and well cared for. So
perhaps someone coming in doesn't think much of all my hats adorning the
crossbeam in our living room ceiling. All forty of them! My kids and
their friends who visit think that it is one fun living room. (Just this
past Monday our guests' daughters got all dressed up with my daughter
modeling one hat after another for us while we had our tea and dessert.
How we laughed.) Or the numerous baskets running across the cross beam
in my kitchen. All thirty-two of them! Perhaps someone might find that
ridiculous looking. No matter. We like it, and it is home to us. Not to
mention a basket is always nearby for holding herbs, eggs, or produce.
Your home should be one of the most special places on earth for your
family. All within your husband's income. That is the challenge! That
is the reason we have such beautiful work produced years ago and still
today such as hand braided rugs and gorgeous quilts. Women are still
making their homes beautiful within their husband's income. They are
still working with what God places in their hands and doing marvelous
works of art with the leftovers.
How I love to learn from a woman of God! There is nothing like her hands
in all the earth. When she is working with what she's got, she is doing
what women of God have done for centuries before her: making a home one
of the most special places on earth that will never be forgotten nor more
sweetly remembered.
Love,
Laine