As I grow older I've become more of a stickler in my ways.
I have always loved being at home and never been much of a mom to take my children out daily to this or that just to be out. In many ways, doing too many activities would just exhaust me and I find that for me, staying home more is best.
I love the comfort that home provides. The peace. The familiarity.
I love that home is that place where everything slows down. That we can control the pace, the temperature, and the culture there away from the busyness of the world.
I am a very private person in many ways so home is like a great escape. To read, to think, to dream. To internalize my deepest thoughts.
And now that summer is here I am prepared to drink in the slowness, to relax, to enjoy, to relish just being and sharing special moments with the children. Because each moment is so precious.
To protect this time because this too will so quickly slip from my hands and vanish in a blink of an eye.
To deeply breathe in and breathe out.
To mend a neglected sock, and play a sought after board game. To lay in the fresh cut grass and giggle endlessly next to small little bodies.
To dance with growing sons in the kitchen to oldies, and bake a piping hot treat.
To tickle young daughters, and lovingly hear the overflowing heart of my young adult.
To whisper stories about tadpoles that live under old oak trees and encourage them to trust Jesus when they are scared in the night.
Home.
So simple, we take it for granted.
Home.
Where hearts can be restored.
Home.
A place for a mom like me to be...
in the quiet love of home.
Encouraged here?
Please also check out my book True Christian Motherhood.
34 comments:
Beautiful ♥
My thought exactly! I love making my home like a sanctuary.
Lovely.
Oh, this is me...... HOME SWEET HOME
June, this made me want to rejoice in the Lord--so thankful for the blessings of home. (((Thank you)))
Love this June.
This is a great post and so similiar to how I view my home. Sometimes I think what is wrong with me that I enjoy being home so much and like my private, quiet sphere. But this is how God made me and maybe thats why
being a homemaker fits me.
Loved reading this today, as we realize how very close we came to loosing our home in the Colorado fire this last week. So very grateful to the LORD for protecting our home and bringing us back safely!!!1
It is interesting that this article came today. This is my thinking on this subject too, but I have recently been scolded for this several times, and told I am being selfish and reclusive and damaging my children because of it.
I do know we have to be balanced, and you can't reach people without reaching out, and you can't just stay where you are comfortable all the time, and on and on. I just think sometimes if I feel / think differently about some subject, instead of that difference being viewed as a personality related preference, it pits me automatically against the 'status quo' and somehow they feel attacked, or like I have violated some major doctrine of faith, or am trying to cause division or something, even though we are all Christians in my group?
So far this summer there has been only one day besides Sundays when I haven't had a call from someone wanting to meet my children and I at the park, or library, or for a play date, or this or that. We have a big yard and live out of town so I often feel it is bad stewardship to just nonchalantly gallivant into town at the drop of someone else's hat just to smooth out their hypersensitivity or 'prove' I am their friend by helping to entertain their kids.
Please help if you can. I am a young mom with 5 under 10 and one on the way. I want to make good decisions in this regard, I just don't think friendships with other Christian moms should hinge on how often I do what they would do - it seems so shallow? On the other hand, I don't want to burn bridges over such a seemingly insignificant thing. I have friends all over the country from college and so on, and we just pick up where we left off when we talk, I haven't seen any of them for years. Why is it a shame for me to not interact on a daily basis with some who I see several times a week at church functions or etc.? Am I wrong? Do I have an attitude problem?
Just to be clear: if someone was sick, I would absolutely pack up my herd and drive in to bring food or help in any way I could. If someone needs a babysitter, is going through sorrow, etc. But really? Drop a friendship over how often we rendezvous at the park, meet at a play place, go for coffee, or shopping? Huh? I am not a hard person to get along with, I am just baffled by this. Should I apologize for being content at home?
Thank you, Alena!
Thanks, Jasmine!
Aren't they sweet words? I so agree! :)
Praise the Lord--your welcome, sweet friend! :)
*HOME SWEET HOME* that is!
Dear Shonni,
So glad you were safe from the fires, our family was praying for everyone out there! Praising Him in the good and in the bad.
Many blessings...
Awww, Marci, you're so kind. To God be the glory!
I feel just the same, home is a wonderful place :)
Beautifully written <3 I come from a rough 'home' so as a first generation Christian mother I appreciate too what you said about being able to set the culture in our home. "Home" is such a small, powerful word!
I enjoyed this article very much, I'm 52 now and my "baby" is 18. We are blessed with four daughters and have homeschooled for over 23 years. : ) I'm constantly grieved when I see homeschoolers who have bought into the busyness addiction of the culture.
There will always be those who run the roads constantly with what looks to be a very discontent life, some are fellow homeschoolers, some unfortunately are old enough to be great grandmothers...A few will criticize us and that's okay. We know what is right and good, and most importantly we know that Peace that passeth all understanding. Nothing in this world can replace the Joy we have!
Such a wonderful blog entry...Soooo needed. Bless you! I follow you by email. ~amelia
June, This is so beautiful! I love reading the posts that you write and still take pleasure in digging through your archives to read the posts you have written in the past.
This one is going in my parenting inspiration "scrapbook." (The one that is still in the idea phase!:) Right now my favorite parenting writers' works are in a file awaiting the actual scrapping!
Do your sons really dance with you in the kitchen?! What a blessing they are! I guess I should have started that sooner for my 14 year old would be a bit mortified, and my hubby really isn't a dancer!
However, our youngest daughter and I like to dance sometimes! Can you believe she is 11?!
Yes, time really does go by in the blink of an eye. I am slow to learn the treasuring sometimes!
Thank you!
I love the simplicity and beauty of this post! You just made me love being home a little more and thankful for it too :)
Dear Leah Rose,
Yes, they *do* dance with me in the kitchen, living room, and anywhere else the mood strikes!
Many blessings...
Beautiful post. Home truly is a respite from the frenzy-itis swirling about me! It's so easy to get swept up in the perceived "shoulds" rather than just being content where God has placed us. The gift of our homes and families are to be cherished.
The subject of Home has been on my mind lately. I've been posting about it, and wondering if I should stay at home, or go out into the world...
Blessings, Rhoda
Thank you for this beautiful confirmation that Home is where my heart is!
Wonderful post my sister in Christ. Your sentiments are mine exactly and for a second...I thought I had written this post. ;) God has recently put such a joy in my heart about being home lately that sometimes it takes my breath away! I mentioned it a few times recently: http://www.the-how-to-guru.com/2013/06/summer-in-south-memorable-mondays.html
LOVE your posts and look forward to ones in the future.
Blessings,
Shan
The-How-to-Guru.com
I'm comforted to know I am not the only mother who sticks close to home and who doesn't enjoy going this way and that! Have a wonderfully peace summer!
I am so enriched by having visited this site. i will be back as it adds to my home and does not distract like so many sites. Thank you Jesus for the dear sister who linked me.
Yes! This is precious and just excellent! I pray that young mothers would capture this vision of how they can make their home a sanctuary of worship and delight. Thank you for articulating it in such a beautiful way, sweet friend!
That was just a beautiful post.
This. This is what I strive for. I have a strong desire to just be the keeper of my home and make it a haven for my family. Working slowly room by room to make it exactly that, where every room invites an sigh of relief and a contentment of heart;
Same here. God sets us apart for a purpose. It's encouraging to me to know others are the same.
Nope. You shouldn't �� I'm a home body too. I home school my daughter and love it. Like you, I will definitely muck in when needed but font need coffee/play/ nurture dates.
Yes I love this - so me! Beautifully written!
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