Victorian Mother and Her Three Children
Awaiting for Their Father's Arrival Home
Good Day! I just read a good post on Blessed Homemaking, and wonder if anyone would like to read it here. I think it is good to support these quiet, diligent homemakers by leaving encouraging thoughts. Many of them work entirely alone, with no neighbors or even church members who fellowship them or call them from day to day. Blogging is a way of connecting with like-minded people. I left a comment there and I hope you will, too.
I have been trying to clean a room a day, but rooms end up being a room a month! Also, I have listed other things as "rooms" to clean. A closet counts as a room, as does a book shelf. A hallway is a room, if it has things in it that need sorting, putting away, cleaning. Storage shelves in bathrooms and kitchens are also "rooms" and require a day or more to clean.
The purpose, of course, is to get my home where I can find something when I need it, and to free up more time for creative things and also for making new posts!
The purpose, of course, is to get my home where I can find something when I need it, and to free up more time for creative things and also for making new posts!
Autumn Charm
by Michael Longo
I am listening to a cd called "Romantic Moments" which features classics by Beethoven. My favorites are:
Romance in F for Violin (Beethoven)
Also, try:
Concerto in C for Piano, Violin and Cello, "Triple Concerto": Largo --be patient because after some rather slow introductory notes, it turns into a wonderful, soothing piece.
It is similar to the music in the final, train scene in the British production of North and South, where Margaret and Mr. Thornton's trains meet at the station. I can't help thinking there is a bit of Beethoven influence in that final, violin concerto in that train scene.
Mrs. Q. put a link in her post for the story, "When Queens Ride By," and one for Taylor Caldwell's essay on Womens Lib, and I would like to add another one here that is an essential sermon for the theme of women in the home: Peter Marshall's Sermon, "Keeper of the Springs."
When Queens Ride By was written for an essay contest back in the 1930's and was penned in the form of a play, which was read in many ladies Bible classes. I think it would be a great one for Women's Studies Classes in colleges and universities. Wouldn't that be a surprise to the teachers and students, to read something quite the opposite of what is being taught in those institutions! It was made into a film on the Loretta Young show in the early 1960's http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0631065/ and was shown on television, but has not been released to the public. I have seen it, and hope that others may see it too.
The story focuses on a young woman who is burdened with her life as a wife of a farmer. Her husband is have difficulty making payments the land, and Jennie is so worried about it that she is unable to concentrate on being a wife, mother and homemaker. She furiously picks their produce so that she may sell it and help with the expenses. She neglects her appearance, lets the housework go, and does not give her children the attention they need from her. All her time is devoted to the farm work.
In the midst of all this, a man and his wife are passing by the farm and have some car trouble. While her husband works on the car, the wife comes over to the fence to talk to Jennie. She quickly detects the stress Jennie is under and tells her a story about a queen who lived in a land where there were sometimes rumors going on about problems in the kingdom. She tells Jennie how the queen reassured her subjects and relieved their qualms. The story causes a deep change in Jennie, and when her husband arrives home that evening, work-worn and weary, he beholds a beautiful scene.
When Queens Ride By is a simple, lovely story for women today, as they worry as much as women did back then. It reminds you to look your best and focus on the home, even more when your husband needs encouragement.
When Queens Ride By is a simple, lovely story for women today, as they worry as much as women did back then. It reminds you to look your best and focus on the home, even more when your husband needs encouragement.
Women's Lib by Taylor Caldwell, a prominent author of the 1960's, is her analysis of the women's so-called "liberation" movement, which destroyed respect for women, and caused some men to become lazy and dependent on working women. It robbed many men of their manliness, as they abandoned their protective feelings towards women and diminished their desire to marry and provide for one woman for a lifetime. She said the women's libbers ruined part of the attraction between men and women and destroyed for many people what the first woman, Eve enjoyed: staying home and taking care of a husband so that he could more easily go out and work and take care of her .
Afternoon Reflection
Keeper of the Springs by Peter Marshall, is a sermon about the important place women have in the home, and how the 20th century moderns tried to bring her down , away from that elevated position of wife, mother and homemaker. It includes a story of a village that hired someone to keep the water from being polluted. The keeper of the spring would see that debris was removed at the beginning of the spring, before the water came down to the village. One day, the villagers decided they no longer wanted the expense of paying the keeper of the springs. The story tells what happened to the water, and compares it to women being removed from the home, causing the waters of society to be polluted.
Included in this sermon is his point about women becoming more like men, which was used as the speech of his wife, Catherine, in the movie, "A Man Called Peter." "The twentieth century gave women the right to smoke, the right to drink, the right to swear... It brought her down from the high place in which she stood as a woman, and lowered her...." (Read the entire speech within the sermon. It was spoken by Mr. Marshall from the pulpit but put in the movie as script for the character of Catherine.) You can watch this movie free online here, instant play http://www.1channel.ch/movie-67716-A-Man-Called-Peter
It is good to be reminded of these theme articles, and to teach them to the next generation of men and women, and for more stories of this nature to be written for today.
Here is another good message from a homemaker http://thequiethome.blogspot.com/2011/11/encouraging-hug-for-homemakers.html , which looks like a good blog to add to your blogroll.
28 comments:
Thank you for the music recommendations. I am interested in learning about classical music.
I also wanted to mention that for anyone who is interested in the fireplace style electric heaters you featured in the last post, and if she doesn't live near a Walmart, Aldi's apparently has them for $179.00, too. They were mentioned in a weekly ad I received in my email a few days ago. They must be pretty popular!
Thank you so much for the link.
How we homemakers need encouragement and support!
Lady Lydia,
I posted here about a site full of classical music that you can either listen to online or download. There are many, many selections. http://www.blessedhomemaking.com/2011/09/free-classical-music.html
I am glad you mentioned home makers who are always alone while doing their duty in the home...at least we know we are not the only one!
LM
Thank you for this excellent and encouraging post! I am in the same boat as the girl in the Queen Rides By book. I am trying hard to make our home a haven for my weary husband---he's got a lot going on right now and needs encouragement and peace! :) Hope you have a lovely weekend!
Sarah
I am so blessed to have a husband that works hard so I may stay home! Twenty years ago when we only had three children I worked and many things suffered. I would never do it again--I have so much to do here on a daily basis. It is a full time job to run a home. I wish more young women would realize that sooner rather than later:-)
Blessings,
Suzanne
Thanks for posting about homemakers now having support. The blogging world is a new thing for those of us that do not have anyone nearby. I guess I kind of thought it was silly to feel that way about the blogs I read/comment on and I'm glad to see others feel the same! I read Blessed Homemaking and your blog often- thanks for the encouragement!
Such a wonderful and encouraging post. I loved being at home and raising my babies but I wish someone would have taught me what an important job it was so I wouldn't have felt the need to go out and "find" a ministry. So thankful to blogs like yours that encourage women in their high calling.
I wish you had been around, when I was raising my children. I was an anomaly in our neighborhood as the only woman who stayed home. It was very lonely, but I loved my work. All the neighborhood children gathered at our home for apples, and cocoa and toast or cookies after school. We made our home the fun house with food, games, classical music, art supplies, and a sports court. I shut my eyes to the fact that I provided free after school care to many, many children. Still the other mothers in the neighborhood ostracized me and had family conversations about me. I know this because their children related the awful things they said. Even so I did the right thing in God's eyes, and that's what matters. It would have been so much better if I had a friend or two to talk to in those days. I talked to the children, but that isn't the same as fellowship with other ladies.
What a wonderful post! Yes, encouragement, indeed! The title of homemaker today means very little..and of the homemakers I know, very few have any desire to be home and make a peaceful respite for the family. The encouragement, as well as the "why it's important" needs to desperately to be taught.
Thank you for this post. I also want to thank you for your instruction about some classical music. I know next to nothing about it, and it's very interesting to begin learning! My husband and I are very passionate about instrumental jazz. He was a saxophone player in the Army band, and still plays, so we really love listening to that. :)
God Bless!
I'm familiar with the story of When Queens Ride By - I think I've read it on another blog, but I forget which one. I do recall enjoying it, and I agree that it would be a very encouraging story to share. I wish it was more widely known. I hope you are having a blessed Sunday!
I also love Catheran Marshall's {before they were married} talk shown in the movie A Man Called Peter. It sure got you to thinking about women's lib too. I am sorry I do not know the title of this talk. Thank you for listing theses links for us. Sarah
The speech you mention is in the sermon "Keeper of the springs." It was originally his words, and the script writers turned it into a dialog for her. Click on the link to "Keeper of the springs" in the post, and you'll see the speech there.
Dear Lydia,
I saw your post this morn regarding the story When Queens Ride By. I have continued the story as I always wondered just how Jennie might have faired. Here is the link:
http://whenqueensrideby.blogspot.com/
I hope you will like it and if so, would share it with your readers. You have to read it in order, on the sidebar it tells you how:-) I look forward to your feedback , if you care to share it.
Have a wonderful day in the Lord,
Suzanne
www.blueberrycottage.blogspot.com
Homemakers don't have much suport, that is true. I can relate to the woman who wrote about families gossiping. I have been the subject of such gossip from my own extended family and it seems they don't do a very good job of keeping it a secret, as though they want it to get back to me. It can be discouraging but even if I returned to work, I know the "approval" they would give me is conditional.I simply cannot place my children in daycare to make other people happy. They just want to feel better about their own decisions. I have read on other websites where mothers who stayed home caved in to the pressure to return to work only to find they started to hear comments about neglecting their children!
One more comment:
I have found that keeping a scrapbook helps me when I am discouraged. I have things in it like favorite photos, inspirational clippings and so on.
It is an upbeat, positive book I can show anyone. I like to add to this or look through it when I am discouraged. It is a simple thing, just the most basic supplies, and anyone can do this. You don't have to have a huge stash to keep such a book - just a basic scrapbook and some scrapbook paper along with a good adhesive and a journaling pen is enough to get started. I also pick up scrapbook stickers now and then. You can download photos and get them delivered to you at home for very little at Wal-Mart.com. They even have a feature that allows you to do some basic photo editing for free before you place the order.
To everyone who wants to learn about classical music, I come from a family steeped in it, with everyone singing or playing an instrument. My mother sang and played piano, my grandfather sang opera and played many instruments, my sister is a harpist and singer, etc Can I just encourage you by saying that to begin with all you need to do is listen to different music and decide if you like it. The more you listen, the more you will find that some composers and musical forms appeal to you more than others, after a while you will even find that certain recordings of the same piece differ and you will find that you have your favourite recording of your favourite piece and so on. Don't feel bad if you find that you don't like Beethoven or Bach. Have the confidence to say so. Just say 'yes I know they were very gifted but they don't appeal to me, I prefer Chopin' or whoever you like best. Never feel intimidated by someone who seems to be more educated musically than you are, music speaks to the soul and your opinion is just as valid as anyone's. Happy listening everyone!
Like any type of music, classical has its good listening and its not-so-good sounds. Some composers were more melancholy and others seemed to have unusual and even discordant sounds...so you have to listen for awhile before decided what you like and what you do not. Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Vivaldi, Bach,Schubert, Pachelbel are some to listen to, yet even then, you'll have to distinguish between some pieces that you won't like as well as others. If you know how to make a playlist on your computer,then you can listen to only the ones you like.
I hope you can find the two that I suggested, if you aren't familiar with classical.
Many of the women's blogs have music to listen to while on their blog I have found many beautiful classic pieces that way. Many I had heard before but did not know the name of them and so learned this. We were raised with every sort of music at home, school and church. The younger people are really missing out if they are not exposed to different music as they grow. So many children do not even know patriotic songs! Some churches now only use the modern songs but the classic hymns are solace and should be know by all I feel. So many times a hymn has come to mind just when I needed those words. Thank you for answering and telling us that the words were actually in the sermon "Keeper of the Springs".
Most of the new hymns are praise songs. That is fine, but they lack the depth and teaching that older hymns included in their verses. One song that I noticed had been almost eliminated in a new hymn book was "yield not to temptation" There were some key verses, such as "Shun evil companions, bad language disdain, God's name hold in reverence, nor take it in vain." The verses were all left out, and only the chorus is sung today,"He is willing to aid you, He will carry you through." The problem with that is WHAT He is willing to aid you in, and whether it is a good and noble thing that you are asking for help for. People need to be singing the verses that are loaded with teaching and meaning, not just the chorus.
How I love classical music! Some of my mother's favorite composers were Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, & Sibelius, among others. We heard these in my original home all my growing up years, & I've continued, in my own home, to allow my children to enjoy this wonderful music. My daughter, who is very musical, has asked me to plug this particular piece by Mozart: Symphony 25 in G minor. It is a great piece, to be sure...though not soothing! Probably something you'd want to play on a day you need to get your housework done double quick! :o)
Brenda
Sounds like a good one to add to my list. Please check on the side for the playlist, because some of it is good for housework, as well!
Thank you for encouraging us to encourage other like-minded women.
Again, you are one of less than a handful of mentors in my life. I do not have immediate family nearby nor are there many like-minded women in my area.
I cannot express my gratitude in mere words. Nevertheless, know that the Lord uses you mightily in my own life.
Yes, leaving verses out of hymns is like leaving verses out of Bible quotes. The meaning is changed. Also many people have learned a song based entirely from a psalm...but do they actually know it IS a psalm? Or which one? Are we getting the milk or the meat of The Word? Or if we don't personally know the scriptures, how will we know if someone is telling us the truth..or leading us astray? How will we answer questions of one who ask us about our faith? Likewise we need to know history for the same reasons. The real history. You have always been wonderful to give us your knowledge on both. We have to study further on our own. As always I am thankful for your guidance. Sarah
Sarah,
There are change agents, working through hymn books to change the nature of our faith, so that it is shallow and without principles.
...And "change agents" working to change the Bible you read too.
I just watched North and South about a month ago, it was a real lift, I love it!
Speaking of gossip, I let the children go to a Wed. night kids group. It is very old-fashioned, learning real scriptures, etc. Last week one of my kids mentioned that during the prayer request time, someone had told that "so-and-so"'s family was being evicted and had no place to live, etc.
I had a very long talk about what is appropriate to share as a prayer request. I don't really believe that children, who aren't in the presence of their parents, should be solicited for prayer requests, do you? I hate to pull them out of a nice class for this, but you just never know if the children are going to start sharing about home life, in the way children see it, and it be taken out of context.
One of the worst things about women's lib was how easy it made it for men to leave their families.
My heart has been broken recently as my daughter, who has been a homemaker for many years, and her children, have been cruelly abandoned by the so-called man of the house.
She is now forced to put her children in public school, and go out to work to support her little family.
I am very angry at men who do not keep their word or their vows these days, but run off to chase fantasies, leaving lives ruined in their wake.
I wish there was something that could change the way it is in our society today, but I don't think I'll see it in my lifetime, and most likely not until the Lord returns.
On this post is a link to Taylor Caldwell's essay on Women's Lib. In it, she described the way feminism caused men to be weak and not take responsibility, because, after all, the modern woman would get a job and take care of herself. She told of men who complained about their bad backs, while they let the woman support them. Miss Caldwell herself had been raised by a feminist mother, to be masculine and agressive, and it attracted the weak men who had an eye on her paycheck. The fall out of this is that the innocent women who are dedicated to be wives and mothers and homemakers, are also abandoned, as men think all women should be working and that it does not matter if they leave them, since they can go to work. They have no conscience about it at all.
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