Idle Time is the Devil's Playground

(This article is not for young readers.)


It's been said that idle time is the devil's playground or similarly that idle hands is the devils workshop.

I could not agree more. With 8 children I find that keeping them busy goes quite a long way to keeping them out of trouble. While I do believe that it is beneficial to have a time of rest from work and to enjoy some free unscheduled time in one's schedule, I also believe that God has given us time, that it is a gift, and that we should be wise stewards of it. Below is a verse characterizing what can happen when someone (in this case, widows) have too much idle time:

Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. 1 Timothy 5:13

One of the things that our generation did not grow up with were cell phones. We did not have the opportunities to text our friends about every little detail or gossip that came our way. Today's children know how to text as fast as they can speak. Many news reports have been exposing stories all across America regarding children and teens who have taken to the new rage of 'sexting' their friends on their cell phones during their free time and in the school classrooms. It is alarming to realize that something that seems so harmless as a phone could create so much trouble. Our children become victims and casualties of visual and sexual assault while so many around them--the teachers and parents, did not have a clue. In todays world, our children could be sent offensive images while they are sitting in a church service!!! (And the sad part is, most parents would not even know.)

The use of leisure time should be carefully prayed over and planned out by the parents. Too much leisure time can only lead to trouble. It is wise to make sure children have something to put their hand to throughout the day and a schedule of planned activities carefully prayed over and thought through by mom and dad is priceless-especially for those who find children with too much free time on their hands. Nothing is more irksome to see than a child or teenager whining "I'm bored."



Teach your child to work. So many teens do not even know how to clean their rooms, let alone other areas of the home. Teach them these things and you will be teaching them life skills, good character and responsibility. I can't tell you how many mothers have written me, lamenting how they wished their parents had taught them the basics of caring for a home/cooking, etc. so they would not have to struggle so much now. Parents are often afraid of teaching their children to work around the house because they do not want to 'rob' them of their childhood. This could not be more false! If we are training our children to care for themselves and a family one day, the time spend in their childhood learning these things are priceless. I believe if they are not taught they are being 'robbed' of proper training.


If a childs time is unsupervised the child will find ways to fill it himself. Maybe hanging out at the mall wasting money that could be saved, or too much time on themselves such as spending hours on how they look (fixing their hair, picking out clothes, reading teen magazines that promote such behavior). They might dwindle away hours watching tv, movies or playing video games of which have no eternal value. They can also be drawn to premature relationships with the opposite sex and further enticed by other worldly influences.

Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger. Proverbs 19:15

Children who contribute at home feel an inward sense of worth as they contribute to the family unit. Teaching your child the value of time, how it is a gift of God and not to be wasted frivolously. We are managers of the short time we are here on earth. The question we should be asking is: How can we use this time to advance God's kingdom on earth and bring glory to Him while we are here?

If we find our children has extra time after school and housework, set your sights on teaching them life skills. Can they prepare meals, sew, garden, mow, do laundry repair broken items, car maintenance etc? In their spare time they could always be reading through the Bible and through good books that inspire or teach them. I love the idea of having them involved in ministry, or what I like to call Kingdom Work. Whether it is within your home, neighborhood or church, through letter writing or prayer--there is always a need for something. There are widows who would love a phone call or lonely neighbors who could use a visit. There are new moms who could use a meal or new neighbors that would love some welcoming cookies. Have your children be outward focused, and not inward, and see the blessings they will reap by doing so!

My last thought is this....PRAY. Ask the Lord exactly what you should be doing as a family and to guide and direct you in these matters for not every family will look the same. Ask Him to show you and your husband what needs to be changed in your child's life so that you can permanently close the door on the devil's playground and use their time wisely as a platform for serving our King.








(She Looketh Well Series, Part 4)

******************************

Walking with the Wise

Something was different about Johnny.

All through the years he just loved playing baseball, and spending time with his family. He always got A's on his school work and he kept to himself pretty much...until he started to hang out with that new crowd of boys.

These boys were different. They dressed in black, wore spiked collars and black nail polish. But mom and dad didn't say a word, they shrugged it off as a phase and promised they wouldn't interfere. Johnny had a good head on his shoulders and could make his own decisions. After all, they sowed some wild oats when they were teens and didn't they come out alright?

Well Johnny didn't come out alright. This was the wrong crowd. A crowd he should have not gotten anywhere near. What seemed to be harmless turned into a lifetime of addiction, shame, guilt and regret that changed the course of his life. He could not believe the damage he had done. Where were his parents, he wondered bitterly...why didn't they warn me?

"Do not be mislead. Bad company corrupts good character. Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God--I say this to your shame." 1 Corinthians 15:33-34

Johnny's parents were tragically mislead. They thought that Johnny's new friends were harmless, even though there were many red flags. They thought they should not interfere and it resulted in years of rebellious recovery for Johnny. It nearly cost him his life. They neglected their responsibility as parents and paid the high price for it.

I wonder how many times parents have turned a blind eye to their children's friends for other reasons. Perhaps to gain their child's approval, or to help them to become popular. They might have trouble with saying no. Or maybe they assumed the 'I am your friend, not your parent' position. Some just honestly did not notice until it was too late. When the above happens heavy consequences can lie in the future, many grieving parents who have lost their child can attest to this.

He who walks with the wise become wise, but a companion of fools suffer harm. -Proverbs 13:20

Who are your children's friends? Are those relationships bringing them closer to God? If not, is that lining up with the biblical goals for your family? We need to ask ourselves these hard question as we carefully assess their friends.

Our children need to walk with the wise. They need to spend time with the Lord and in His word to develop a strong, faithful walk with him. They also need to spend time with mom and dad. Parents need to actively put time into their children by shepherding their hearts and discipling. Do not leave this for another. Do not assume that when they get older they will make wise choices. Other wise friends can also include grandparents, elders, family members, godly men and women, boys and girls whom have a strong personal relationship with God (all screened by you and your husband, of course, and never to replace you). Many parents find they can do this more effectively by getting together with other families and watching over their children in a supervised setting rather than have them go out/spend time by themselves alone.

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child. Proverbs 22:15



Children do not know how to discern danger and many are actually drawn to it. If foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, then we need to be even more attentive, alert and purposeful in our parenting. The luring away of our children can happen subtly and quickly, I have even heard of stories of children being negatively influenced in what would be considered as 'safe places' such a youth groups, etc. by the other youth there whose parents who did not care or watch over what the children did. Many parents chose to homeschool to protect their children but stopped short there, the other activities the children were involved in surrounded them with the same influences they would have found as if they were going to school. These didn't understand what happened since they felt they were protecting them by homeschooling. And so we go on to this verse:

The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it. Proverbs 27:12

We were appointed by God to be in authority over our children. Not the culture, not the village, not Dr. Phil, not parenting magazines or psychologists. There are many voices that will pull us away from doing what we know is right with our children--do not listen to them, they are lies! (Colossians 2:8) Such as to let them wear that revealing outfit you don't approve of, or go to that party where you know there will only be trouble. Follow your instincts and say no! Have courage and be bold--these are our children that are at stake. God put you in charge. No one will love and protect them the way you and your husband do. The people who will want to influence your children and lure them away will not be around for them when they fall.

Stand your ground, Christian parents!

Protect your children

and help them to walk with the wise!









Note: Teaching our children to protect themselves is a must-- of course they will be in contact with non-Christians so it is important to teach them to respond in Christian love, sharing the good news of the gospel.

(She Looketh Well Series--Part 3)

She Does Not Eat the Bread of Idleness

We are beginning this series because I believe there is a great need to have discernment in today's morally decaying culture to protect the family. The Proverbs 31 woman "looked well to the ways of her household and did not eat the bread of idleness" as we see in verse 27 and we should do likewise. Other translations include:

She carefully watches everything in her household...

She gives attention to the ways of her family...

She keeps a close eye on the conduct of her family...

We need to be ever so careful to not "eat the bread of idleness" by turning a blind eye to the affairs of our family or household, being too busy to notice, or too lazy to care. Instead, we need to be busy faithfully managing the household and watching over the affairs of our family. We need to learn to do it well and practice discernment.

Here is the definition:

dis·cern

1.to perceive by the sight or some other sense or by the intellect; see, recognize, or apprehend.

2.to distinguish mentally; recognize as distinct or different; discriminate: He is capable of discerning right from wrong.

Noah Websters Dictionary of 1828 also adds:

To see or understand the difference, as to make distinction, as to discern between evil and good, truth and falsehood.

Not only will it take wisdom and discernment to really look well to the ways of our household, but it will take a sacrifice on our behalf.

It will mean we have to take seriously what scripture says.

It means we will have to take a close look at what we have been mindlessly allowing in our homes.

It means we will have to free up time to turn our homes around .

It means purposefully living a holy life yourself.

It also means that we do not follow the world's mold or philosophy of raising children. We look to the Bible as our main source of parental wisdom and we start from there. We pray, study and set biblical goals for our children. Whatever does not line up with these goals needs to be reassessed.

Mothers, we need to be diligent in this area. This is a treacherously, wicked culture that is quickly subduing, discipling and drawing our children faster away from the Lord than ever before. But there is something we can do about it...we can say no to the evil and stand strong on the battle frontlines for their hearts and futures.

I am prepared to do that.

I am prepared to fight the war that has been waged against our children.

Now my question is....

Are you?

*************************

(She Looketh Well Series--Part 2)

She Looketh Well to the Ways of Her Household

"Do not be mislead. Bad company corrupts good character. Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God--I say this to your shame." 1 Corinthians 15:33-34

Negative influences can have a profound effect upon our childrens lives if we are not careful. The Bible warns us not to be mislead, and we need this warning more than ever in the 21st century. The onslaught of wickedness is prevalent in our culture and we need to be a discerning people. Being able to wisely choose what is right and wrong in our culture and not succumbing to every whim that seems temporarily pleasurable. We could be doing considerable damage to our children and future generations by not being careful of the influences that we allow into their lives.

We want to have the hearts of our children in order to direct our children toward God and righteousness. We cannot do that well if we do not have their hearts (Malachi 4:6). Temptation towards worldliness can be a powerful force tugging their hearts away from God. We are told to be in the world and not of it and we need to take this warning seriously.

The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it. Proverbs 27:12

In the next few posts I will be examining a few areas of interest:

Friends/Peers
Entertainment
Music
Role Models
Leisure Time
Clothing/Outward Attire
Hypocrisy of Parents: A Stumbling Block

I hope you will join me...








*****************************

(She Looketh Well Series--Part 1)

Woman's Beautiful Sphere of Influence

One of the most hallowed, lovely, and beautiful sights in our world is, a woman at home discharging in all the meekness of wisdom, the various duties of wife and mother, with an order that nothing is allowed to disturb; a patience which nothing can exhaust; an affection which is never ruffled; and a perseverance that no difficulties can interrupt, nor any disappointments arrest—in short, such a scene as that described by the writer of the most exquisite chapter of the Proverbs. Eve in Paradise, in all her untainted loveliness, by the side of Adam, propping the lily, training the vine, or directing the growth of the rose; shedding upon him, and receiving, reflected back from his noble countenance upon her happy spirit, such smiles as told in silent language, their perfect and mutual bliss, was no doubt, a brighter image of perfect virtue and undisturbed felicity; but to me, a woman in our fallen world, guiding in piety, intelligence, and all matronly and motherly excellences, the circle of a home made happy chiefly by her influence, presents a scene little inferior in beauty, and far superior as a display of virtue and intelligence, to that of which our first mother was the center even in her original perfections. And it is imagination, and not reason and moral taste, that can revel in the mind's pictures of Eve in Paradise, and not feel warmer admiration in the actual presence of such a woman as I have described.

But it will, perhaps, be asked, whether I would shut up every married woman within the domestic circle, and, with the jealousy and authority of an oriental despot, confine her to her own home; or whether I would condemn and degrade her to mere household drudgery. I have, I think, protected myself already from this imputation, by representing her as the companion, counselor, and comforter of man. She shall, with my consent, never sink from the side of man, to be trampled under his feet. She shall not have one ray of her glory extinguished, nor be deprived of a single honor that belongs to her sex; but to be the instructress of her children, the companion of her husband, and the queen partner of the domestic state, is no degradation—and she only is degraded who thinks so!

Christianity has provided a place for woman for which she is fitted, and in which she shines; but take her out of that place, and her luster pales and sheds a feeble and sickly ray! Or to change the metaphor, woman is a plant, which in its own greenhouse seclusion will put forth all its brilliant colors and all its sweet perfume; but remove it from the protection of its own floral home into the common garden and open field, where hardier flowers will grow and thrive—its beauty fades and its fragrance is diminished. Neither reason nor Christianity invites woman to the professor's chair, or conducts her to the lawyer's bar, or makes her welcome to the pulpit, or admits her to the place of the magistracy. Both exclude her, not indeed by positive and specific commands, but by general principles and spirit, alike from the violence and evil of the military, the debates of the senate, and the pleadings of the forum. And they bid her beware how she lays aside the delicacy of her sex, and listens to any doctrines which claim new rights for her, and becomes the dupe of those who have put themselves forward as her advocates only to gain notoriety, or perhaps unneeded income.


The Bible gives her her place of majesty and dignity in the domestic circle—the heart of her husband and the heart of her family. It is the female supremacy of that domain, where love, tenderness, refinement, thought and tender feeling preside. "It is the privilege of making her husband happy and honored, and her sons and daughters the ornaments of human society. It is the sphere of piety, prudence,diligence, in the domestic station, and a holy and devout life. It is the sphere that was occupied by Hannah, the mother of Samuel; by Elizabeth, the mother of John; by Eunice, the mother of Timothy; and by Mary, the mother of Jesus. It is the respect and esteem of mankind."

It is, as Dr. Spring has said, that silent, unobserved, unobtrusive influence, by which she accomplishes more for her race, than many whose names occupy a broad space on the page of history. A woman who fills well the sphere assigned to her, as a wife and mother; who trains up good citizens for the state, and good fathers and mothers of other families which are to spring from her own; and so from generation to generation in all but endless succession, need not complain that her sphere of action and her power of influence are too limited for female ambition to aspire to. The mothers of the wise and the good are the benefactresses of the human race.

What would be gained to woman's comfort, respectability, or usefulness, or to the welfare of society, and how much would be lost to each, by withdrawing her from her own appropriate sphere, and introducing her to that for which she has no adaptation? Who, but a few wild visionaries, and rash speculatists, and mistaken advocates of 'woman's rights', would take her from the home of her husband, of her children, and of her own heart—to wear out her strength, consume her time, and destroy her feminine excellence—in committee-rooms, on platforms, in mechanics shop, or philosophical institutions?

But may not woman, in every way in her power—benefit society by her talents and her influence? Certainly, in every legitimate way. Her sphere is clearly assigned to her by God—and only by very special and obvious calls should she be induced to leave it. Whatever breaks down the modest reserve, the domestic virtues, the persuasive gentleness, of woman, is an injury done to the community. Woman can be spared from the lecturer's chair, the platform of general convocation, and the scene of public business; but she cannot be spared from the hearth of her husband, and the circle of her children! Substitutes can be found for her in the one, but not in the other. In the bosom of domestic privacy she fulfills with truest dignity and faithfulness the first and highest obligations of her sex.

~from FEMALE PIETY, written in 1852 by John Angell James (1785-1859)

In Honor of Mothers Day

I want to wish all my lovely readers a wonderful and blessed Mother's Day! In honor of this day, I wanted to repost an article I did on motherhood a few years ago to keep us focused on the high calling of mothers....enjoy!

Reclaiming the Lost Vision of Motherhood

O' for mothers to hold in their hands a child who's soul is eternal and to grasp the vision of changing the world through her mothering as she purposes toward multigenerational faithfulness.

To look into the eyes of her child and know that God has put a purpose for that child here on earth--to advance the kingdom of heaven-- which is glorifying the Father he serve's above. Mothers also put on earth for royal purposes, to raise children for the King. Shaping and molding them to become one day warriors for the Lord. Who will not just feed the poor in secret but also help direct and change the course of a nation. History has proven time and time again, that one person can change the course of history. You never know who you might be raising. Susannah Wesley never knew the child she rocked in the cradle would take England by storm. John Wesley started a movement and said, "If I can find ten men who hate nothing but sin, love nothing but God, and seek nothing but the souls of men, we can turn England upside down for God." This man, did indeed with the help from God, turned England upside down for God.


Mothers, do we understand that what is done in the four walls of our home--that it is holy work done to the Lord? As we teach that small child to stand, are you praying that one day he will stand strong for the Lord against wickedness? As you teach him to walk, are you teaching them to walk to the lost and preach the gospel? When you teach them to read, are you telling them that one day they will read the Word to the masses and that lives will be transformed forever?

In other words are you raising your children to be world changers? Yesterday I gathered all my children together and shared with them how God gave them life for the sole purpose of changing the world---for HIM. Who is the child who understands his purpose in life---his calling? Where is the child who has been whispered to and reminded that he will one day change the world since he was a wee babe? How would our lives have been different had our mothers embraced such a vision?


As mothers we need to equip our children well to do the work the Lord has assigned for them to do. We must diligently teach scripture, we must teach godly character, we must teach love for the Lord and the lost without growing discouraged ourselves for we have the Masters work at hand, an honorable and momentous responsibility! We must understand that lost souls could be at stake and nations could be destroyed if we do not fulfill this high calling of motherhood. We cannot simply render ourselves weary and ultimately give up.

Do you notice that little boy who is playing in the sandbox? He might very well be the world's next church planter. That little girl in the corner who is quietly playing dolls might one day raise a martyr for Christ. The little baby in your arms whom you cradle today could very well go to Africa one day and share the gospel to the lost tribes.

I am convinced that the greatest world changers have not been written about in history books, and that only God knows who they are. They are God's best kept secrets. They are the unnoticed people in society-the old man you brushed by walking to the store today. They are the ones who do great and mighty works in private where only He sees. They are the ones that make a difference through the one small, powerful act that the Lord had assigned them to. These will be richly rewarded in Heaven for their faithfulness---we will find them seated at the right hand of Christ in Heaven!


Our lasting influence impacts future generations through our children, our grandchildren and great grandchildren whether for good or for evil. Which are you raising for the Lord? Descendants who could be an army to take the world by storm or descendants who build up alters to false gods? We must revive the vision of multigenerational faithfulness! We cannot change our homes through the efforts of our flesh---it comes from grace and power from God alone---but we are required to do our part. We cannot fall short of this glorious vocation because our Lord has called us to it. And where He calls us to- we must obey.

Now in of honor those great mothers who have come before us who have sacrificed their lives, gave unselfishly, wept in the dark to the Savior and persevered to the end---we applaud you! You have paved the way for us behind you! The Lord has used you as a mighty instrument in His hand and you are surely called blessed among your children. Your dedication has lasting power that is the sweet aroma of Jesus Christ.

God certainly uses the weak to shame the strong. And he uses ordinary people who serve an amazing God that has extraordinary plans to help us reclaim our vision for motherhood and build a godly nation for Him.

Book Lists for Daughters

Daughters should be using their time well and reading books is a wonderful way to learn more about character, life, homemaking, etc. But please, don't just give your daughter just any kind of books. Be prayerful and selective about what kinds of books to give them. As a young girl I came across many books that were inappropriate, a waste of time, or just fed the flesh. Books have the power to influence and teach our children for good or evil so be sure of what you are placing in front of them. I make it a habit to always look/read through the books my children read so I know exactly what is being put in front of them.

Here are some recommended books for daughters that I have either had my daughters already read that I highly recommend or will have them read in the near future. They are not in any specific order:

The Bible
So Much More by Elizabeth and Ana Sofia Botkin
Raising Maidens of Virtue- Stacy McDonald
Polished Cornerstones-Doorposts
Lamplighter Books-various authors 19th century fiction includes a godly theme/character
Beautiful Girlhood-Mabel Hale
The Golden Gems of Life-SC Ferguson
Life of Faith Series
Elsie Dinsmore Series
Above Rubies Magazines by Nancy Campbell
Bible Doctrine/Theology
Stepping Heavenward-Elizabeth Prentiss
For Instruction in Righteousness-Doorposts
Christian Character-Gary Maldaner
Books on Christian Missionaries-various authors
The Hopechest-Rebekah Wilson
Homemaking/The Family and anything by JR Miller
Keepers at Home - Keepers of Faith
Foxes Book of Martyrs
Voice of the Martyrs Magazine
World Magazine
Creation Magazine
Passionate Housewives Desperate for God-Jennie Chancey and Stacy McDonald
The Courtship of Sarah McLean-Castleberry Farms Press
Jeff McLean: His Courtship-Castleberry Farms Press
Do Hard Things-Alex and Brett Harris
Start Here-Alex and Brett Harris
Before You Meet Prince Charming-Sarah Malley
I Kissed Dating Good-Bye-Joshua Harris
Noble Womanhood--Pearables 19th century writing
Little House on the Prairie Series
Daughters of Destiny-Noelle Goforth
The Kings Daughter and other Choice Stories
Mother-Kathleen Norris
Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends-Sarah Malley
Ten P's in a Pod-A. Pent
What He Must Be-If He Wants to Marry My Daughter-Voddie Baucham
The Excellent Wife-Martha Peace
Training Our Daughters to Be Keepers At Home-Ann Ward
Social Graces- Anne Platz
Rod and Staff Readers--Amish readers
The Moody Series- Sarah Maxwell
Choice Stories for Children-Ernest Lloyd
The Little Boy Down the Road- Doug Phillips
The Kathleen McKenzie Series
G.A. Henty Books--historical books for boys but also good for girls
My Mommy, My Teacher-Johannah Bluedorn
Christian Charm Course-Emily Hunter

Our daughters and sons are too precious to put just anything before their eyes. We must guide them to use their time wisely and reading good books is a wonderful way to do this while challenging the spirit. Let us all set an appreciation for high standards and quality literature for reading in our homes!

**Click here for godly resources for raising sons.**

******************

If you are encouraged here, be sure to subscribe and never miss a post!

A Wise Mother Guards Her Time

She was busy running the women's ministry at church. She would rush home and get ready for her MOPS meeting and then later in the day she knew she would somehow try to fit in the desperately needed shopping trip to host the monthly bible study in her home. She also had to run Johnny to soccer practice and little Suzy to her ballet class. She had forgotten to make dinner again and hubby would be home soon not to mention she hadn't touched the growing pile of laundry for days. She was tired, overwhelmed, and burnt out.

With all these seemingly good activites, she felt a gnawing at her soul. She had not read to her children for months, and yesterday she had yelled at her husband because she felt burdened by all the housework that she had to do when she finally did make it home from being out. She sunk despairingly down into her chair and saw an unfinished sewing project laying in a basket nearby and wondered when she would ever have time to even think about when she could complete such a project. She knew something in her life was amiss---but didn't she have the life she had always dreamed of? Didn't she take on these commitments with good intentions to serving her Lord?

Women were designed to be helpmeets, it is within our intrinsic nature to want to be available whenever there is a need. But we often do not pray before we take on new commitments as we blindly nod and say yes to fill someone elses needs. We forget to seek wise counsel and ask our husband what he thinks. Before we know it we have schedules that are swamped with well-meaning duties and obligations that were never intended for us, distracting us from our first responsibilities---time with God, our husbands and our children.

We have forsaken what is good with what is BEST. The days can be filled with many temptations, all enticing our souls, minds and our hearts away what is God's best for us. I believe many of us unknowingly choose such busyness for our lives falsely assuming it is the norm, but what we really need is to just live more simply. Simplicity helps to restore peace and order.

Sometimes we need to pare away the unnecessary things in our lives. This might be saying no to outside activities or events. This might be stepping down from some ministry positions we have found ourselves in. This could be putting some of your favorite craft projects on hold to be able to do some real work around the home. This might also mean taking a long break from the internet if we find it always tugging at our hearts pulling us away from our first duties.

If we find ourselves unsure if this is taking place we should ask ourselves a few questions: Are our homes in order? Are we getting meals to our husbands on time? Is the training and education of our children being neglected? Are the clothes in good repair and washed? All of these things take time and they are important. The mandate in Titus 2 is to love our husbands, love our children, to be self controlled, pure, kind, keepers at home and submissive to our own husbands, so that the word of God may not blasphemed. When we are doing these things, we are doing the Lord's work that He commanded us to do. These things to do not have to perfect, no home with people living in it will ever be, but we need to try to do our best in doing what we can in our circumstances.

Mother, turn your heart towards home!!! If you have a straying heart that always wants to be out shopping and driving all over town, surfing the net, emotionally distracted and absent with the non-important, pray that the Lord will give you a heart to stay home, to be present, to love it and to faithfully learn how to manage it well. It is well known that the woman is the heart of the home------but if she is gone all the time, now the home is lonely and empty. The mother is the one who helps fulfill the vision of her husband and puts into action cultivating the culture, warmth, order and atmosphere of the home, something that is impossible to fulfill being physically or mentally absent. It is hard to look well to the ways of our home and those in it if we are distracted by other so called "good" commitments or pursuits that are not required of us. We must use our best energies toward giving our all to our loved ones, not just our leftovers. May the Lord give us all wisdom on what might need to be eliminated from our lives, or our childrens lives, to preserve the sanctity of our precious family time and to manage our homes well.


Linked up with The Legacy of Home