A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

Monday, October 6, 2008

At The Well- Keepers at Home


Is it a coincidence that I just read this verse this morning? I think not. I had no idea that today's topic would be about keeping the home but I was already pondering what that meant to me this morning after I read this verse.
Titus 2:5
to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
I love keeping my home but it wasn't always like that. I was a bit lazy when I first got married. I had never kept a home and so it was a learning process. (Thank the Lord for my patient husband). I believe he was able to be patient with me because he saw me striving to be more like what this woman is in that verse. That's what's important. To have a teachable heart. There is always going to be someone that does something better than you. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, learn from them. Maybe they have an easier way to do things or are better at time management.
That is one area I struggled in. Time management. The more kids I had and when I started homeschooling the more I had to nip this problem in the butt. I have a daily routine that I stick to pretty regularly. There is room for unexpected interruptions and flexibility. If you are too rigid then frustration will come when things don't go as planned. My kids are happier when they know what is happening next. Kids love routine.
I try to have my house neat enough so that if unexpected company was coming it would only take a few minutes to make it tidy. My house is FAR from perfect. I like to decorate for the seasons and make it homey. I am by no means an interior decorating professional but I think you would say that my house is comfortable and inviting.
The kids help out with things around the house as soon as they are old enough to walk. The little ones can put dirty laundry in the hamper and pick up their own toys. They can even "help" dust low lying furniture. Older kids can help with dishes, washing windows, keeping their own bathroom clean, do their own laundry etc. Kids definitely need to help out at home. My Mom didn't make me help out at home and because she didn't "make" me I didn't and therefor when I got married it was quite an eye opener because I realized I was the one who had to do all this stuff. Like I said it was very hard when I got married but I married a patient man who saw that I was willing to learn. Now after 12 years of marriage I'm coming along quite nicely. I'm a homebody in nature anyway so being a keeper of my home is easier because I enjoy being at home.
So my advice? Set up a routine, incorporate your kids, plan your meals and last but not least, really enjoy being home!
For more on this topic visit Joyfully Living for His Glory!
Blessings my friends.


12 comments:

  1. I love how God speaks to us in His Word than follows up loudly, to make sure we hear Him! I can relate to the young married days of housekeeping. Back then my husband mentioned things like window sills and the top of the refrigerator - duh, what about them!! Oh, you wipe them down?? I had never heard of that! Loved your thoughts on keeping neat enough for company and making it homey, but most of all enjoying being home!
    Have a blessed day.

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  2. Great suggestions.

    I really enjoy some home time too. I was a stay at home mom for about 15 years before going to work and I loved it. I did really good at keeping things together back then. But now that life situations have changed, I love working. I still try to keep things going fairly well at home too. Keeping the balance between home, work, extra activities, and some me time continues to be a challenge for me since going to work. I like cleaning the house when no one else is home. It is extremely rare that I'm home alone anymore.

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  3. I am a homebody too. My problem is having three big dogs in such a small house. It is so hard to keep my house looking and feeling fresh. But I have also come to realize that my dogs bring me joy, love and happiness, so I have to deal with certain issues. I love your heart, I love your spirit, and I love that you honor God in your blog and I am guessing in your life that I don't get to see. But knowing you as I have come to know you, I bet you are just like your blog in real life. So what a blessing to have met you, to continue having you in my life and to be able to call you my friend. Have a wonderful week.

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  4. Good morning, my friend.

    I love this post. It is so important to know that there will always be someone that will do something better than you...that's just life...but your attitude of ...learn from them is they key! I love that about you. :)

    So many times we do the comparison thing and end up miserable when we should be gleaning. And oh!...to have a teachable heart!!!

    What a joy it is to be your bloggy friend...blessings to you today and blessings to your beautiful home!

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  5. This is perfect for me today! I'm going to enjoy homemaking duties today (and that's not usually the case!).

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  6. Oh sister, I think you hit the nail on the head when you said:

    "So my advice? Set up a routine, incorporate your kids, plan your meals and last but not least, really enjoy being home!"

    Having a "working" schedule and enjoying being a Keeper of the Home is very important!

    Thank you so much for sharing at the well today!

    Bless you dear sister,
    Sunny

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  7. thanks for sharing with us AT THE WELL today about keeping your home. I am a believer of having a routine or schedule and I find if I spend even a few minutes each day - keeping our home is much more managable. I enjoy keeping our home tidy but being in fulltime ministry it seems like things get hectic...this is where my family comes in - they all pitch in and help. Thanks for sharing today.

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  8. I learned pretty much nothing about keeping a home from my mother. It's probably a good thing I didn't have any girls, coz I'd be an awful example. But I do love a challenge, so I quite often enjoy working on my technique. 8-}

    RYC: My LR/DR are one big open area, as well. I'm not crazy about that layout, but I'm trying to make lemonade. Too bad you live so far away... someone just posted a 6' farm table on our CL.

    Have a JESUS-filled day! ^i^

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  9. I agree with Sunny, this said it all, "Set up a routine, incorporate your kids, plan your meals and last but not least, really enjoy being home!" I've got the incorporate the kids part down. Enjoy being at home, check! Now I just need to get a schedule/meal plan together. After reading today, I am inspired to come up with something that will work for us. May I ask, how do you go about planning your meals?

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  10. I used to not enjoy being at home as well, but now I love it. I think, though, that we can instill in our children a desire to not be home by the continual running around that we all do. When we enroll our children in all sorts of activities, when we have to go someplace every day,when our toddlers have to have a play date every day, we are training our children that home is not where the fun is, that other places are far superior to home. then those children grow up and become (what else!) discontent at home. They become mothers (like you and me) who don't want to be at home. But if we stay home more and cease the non-stop, nonsensical running, our children will learn to be content at home. Then they will grow up to be content to be at home.

    Blessings,
    Patti

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  11. What a great post, Kim. Thanks for sharing your wisdom and encouragement to be good housekeepers.

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  12. So true, I had quite the eye opening moment as well when I got married because I never had to help out at home and I did not know how to do anything. You are right, it is a learning process. Well said!

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