The Citizenship and Kingdom of the Home

Our citizenship in the home, is where our own dear kingdom exists. It is here where we are free to rule ourselves according to heavenly principles. The home is where our attention to duty and honor will determine our future.

In this kingdom, a men and women rule their own houses. They are not there because of the amount of votes they got. They are not the rulers because they were elected. They are there by divine appointment. God created the home, the first kind of government there ever existed. The home suited the spiritual, social, economic and physical needs of its own citizens, and it still does.

The nation of the home is so important that it cannot be put out of office by popular vote or law. Whatever the current trend or rage is, the home remains the same. The home is a husband and a wife, even if they have no children. It can be a mother or father that have, through sad circumstances, been deprived of their mates, but still have their children. This is still a home. A home can be a widow living alone, but it is still her home and can be ruled by her own beliefs, with no interference from other kingdoms or governments.

Although our position in the home as mother or father or child is not voted on, we do cast a vote daily in this kingdom. We vote for strong marriages by our loyalty. We vote for good children by the way we train them. We vote for a future government in our land by the what we allow our children to be taught. If we turn them over to someone else to train their thinking, their judgement and their knowledge, they will vote for things that will tear down the kingdom of the home. If take the responsibility to teach them ourselves, they will stand by the old paths, where is the good walk, that will bring peace to our little kingdoms of the home.

In these kingdoms, there is more freedom than anywhere else in the world. It does not matter who is elected or who is king in any other country, because in our own homes, our rulers are servants as well. No one can legislate how clean our houses will be. No one can legislate how we will develop our talents and skills or how much we can learn at home. No one can interfere with our clean air laws in the house. No one can limit our potential in anything we put our minds to. The home is such a wonderful place, that great artists and composers and architects of the past developed most of their work from their own homes.

In a kingdom, an election

To "elect" means to pick out, to choose, or to prefer. As women who guard, guide and rule the workings of the home, we can elect to do the following:

Elect to have at least one place that is orderly and lovely. This is one reason that I admire the idea of the Victorian parlour so much. It was a place set aside to be lovely and orderly for things that were special. Jane Austen wrote many of her novels by listening to parlour conversations. Visitors left their calling cards in the parlour. The parlour was furnished with the family's best.

Elect to be organized. This is a difficult one, but it can be accomplished if the citizens of the kingdom understand long-term goals and how to reach them, little by little. Some things done today, and some things done tomorrow, will add up to completed goals. Set aside a few minutes each day to eliminate some clutter and simplify.

Elect to correspond more by post. There is something about sitting still and putting pen in hand and writing words that the mind directs, that is very calming. A racing mind can be settled down by spending some time writing letters and sending out hand made cards.

Elect to be creative every day if possible. Try making something this year, whether small or large. Creativity is essential to reasonable thinking. When you feel rushed, or foggy in the mind, just make something or make up something. I love to sew and work with cloth, but I find paper crafts give quicker results, and that is kind of a warm up to something more creative.

Elect to straighten up the house before you retire at night. This is so refreshing the next day and makes you feel renewed.

Elect to eat foods that God created, as close to their natural state as possible. These real foods increase health and mental ability.

Elect to dress beautifully, every day, not just for special occasions. The kingdom in which you dwell, has other citizens which can be inspired by the way you look.

Elect to have someone over for tea this month. Keeping the teatime ceremony alive is essential to civilized life. I have been doing teas for a long time and have never had a rude guest. Tea parties tend to refine people and draw hearts closer together.

A citizen is a dweller or inhabitant of a place. Those who obey the gospel are citizens of a better country and they serve a higher king. In doing that, they ultmately will be good citizens of any earthly country, and better dwellers at home. Children who obey their parents and honor them are good citizens of the kingdom of the home. If they cannot be good citizens at home, they will not understand how to be good citizens anywhere else.

Citizenship is the state of being invested with the rights and privileges of a citizen. As citizens of the home, we have the right of arranging it as we like and conducting our families the way that is the most convenient for us. Those who have become citizens of the kingdom of Christ have the privileges of blessings bestowed from the One whom they serve, but they must obey His written will. As citizens of a country, we have the responsibility and right to make our elected servants obey the Constitution, which is the law of our land.

Citizenship, like love and service, begins in the home. It is here that the most important issues of life will be developed. That is why the home must be attended to and not abandoned or neglected. Women are needed at home. There is no career that will give them the fulfillment and love that will last through the generations, like the work of the home.

To those who were pleased with the results of the election in their district, please remember to be vigilant, and pray for those in authority * that we may be able to mind our own business and be free from interference.

The prophet Elijah did not shrink from admonishing Ahab, the king, to do what was pleasing to God. Remember Jonah, whose warnings turned an entire country to God, and the King humbled himself. Daniel refused to participate in unholy things in his country and the king was so moved by him that he declared that only the one true God would be served. Paul taught King Agrippa, and in like manner, we need to keep our elected officials hearts tuned to God's will by reminding them to do what is right so that we can be safe in our own country and in our homes. When Mary, Queen of Scots, was often urged by a preacher to do what was right in the sight of God, she said, "I fear the prayers of John Knox, more than an army of 10,000 men." Be sure to remind our elected officials whenever they are about to make a decision, to do what is right in the sight of God, so that we may have the liberty to exercise our faith and do our duty.

To those who are unhappy about the outcome of the election in their district, God knows how you voted, and He will honor that. You will have abundant blessings in your life if you did the right thing by the choices you made on the ballot, even if you did not choose a "winner." You are citizens of a greater country and you can make your calling and election "sure" by working the work of the one who sent you. In the home, you have greater power than you realize, for homes create countries that love their homes. The home must be restored. It is the highest office of the land. It would take another long post to explain it.

*1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 1Ti 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth