Welcome, Dear Ladies. Thank you for accepting my invitation to visit my home today via the internet.
Lady Carlyle from Royal Albert
Please find a comfortable place to sit back and relax, and let us enjoy each other's company as we share our common beliefs.
Table arrangement from Victorian Trading Co.
The scriptures have some important things to say about what richness really is. One of them is contained in 1 Timothy 6:18.
" That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; "
When a lady takes the time to put special touches in her home, she is saying that her permanent guests (her loved ones) are important. When she is careful to teach what is good and points her family to whatever is lovely, she is also gifting them with a good work. Homemaking is a good work, and it creates a personal wealth of happiness and love.
Wicker from Victorian Trading Co.
Being rich in good works is part of home life, for the lady of the house establishes many of the principles that her family will espouse. One of the easiest ways to create a habit of good works is in cooperating together to keep the home orderly enough to function in. It shows thoughtfulness when someone puts their own things away and looks after themselves so as not to leave work for others. Mothers do a lot more than they realize when they teach their children to put things away.
Tea Set from Victorian Trading Co.
Creating a meal is also a "good work" in the home. The Bible records many instances where a meal was served. They homey touch to meals is something unique, for there can be as many styles of meal service and as many flavors and recipes as their are ladies willing to prepare them. To create a special collection of family recipes is a wonderful gift for future generations, not to mention guests.
Floral Napkins From Victorian Trading Co.
The home can be a center for love and good works. A lady at home need never feel alone, even when all others around her are not at home, for she will have a wealth of things to do for her family and others. One of the things I get the most joy from is creating a little package for someone when I am able to do it and to afford it. A package may contain a package of pretty napkins, a slender little book, a pink pen and some pretty decorated paper (using rubber stamps or freehand art), a letter wrapped in ribbon, a scented candle or something personal.
Cottage From Allposters.com
One of my happiest recollections is the day we moved into a house. There we were with everything a shambles, no beds put together, and very little furniture; not even a dining set. A lady from the church came by with a folding table and chairs and set up an afternoon tea for us in our bare, echoing living room. She even brought the teacups and the hot water.
Years later we were again in a shambles, as we were painting the walls of the living room, and this same lady dropped by unannounced. She usually likes to have a cup of tea. I made hot tea for her and all I could find to go with it was saltine crackers and cheese, but oh how lovely it all tasted as we sipped and talked outside.
New Country Roses Dinnerware from Royal Albert
Being rich in love and good works can also include having a sympathetic heart toward someone who has endured a hardship, or complimenting someone.
Please leave a comment to share some ways you have been the recipient of love and good works or some creative ways you know of being rich in love and good works from your home.
8 comments:
Our church was preparing meals for a lady who had injured her foot and was unable to care for her home and family for several weeks. When it was my turn I took the meal but also took some juice and a dessert with fancy tea cups and plates. I sat down and chatted with her. That really blessed her as others brought their meals and left.
Marylee
A few weeks prior to Christmas my mom gave the ensample for my home in later years of preparing a variety of "goodie recipes" and either freeze or store, if a food of such shelf life, in a cold area(if one lives in such a climate where the area can be for storage as in the olden days...close the heat off in a spare bedroom or use an enclosed yet unheated porch, for examples) for when guests arrive. It's fun to make up packages for mailing from those containers, especially if the recipients are known to no longer be able to do such baking.
One memorable visit a friend and I made to a dear lady from church during an uneasy time ~ we made up a wicker picnic basket, etc. that included plated fancy cookies, everyday/every day Pfaltzgraff cups and saucers, teaspoons, napkins, sweetener/milk, and a pot of tea in a Pfaltzgraff thermos(some of which look like an oversized teapot...like mine, the homey Folk Art pattern). We wouldn't abide cleanup by the recipient of our loving care...took dirty dishes home to wash. Cookies not eaten(purposely took volume) were left for warm-remembrance snacking. Lovely fellowship!
Have been known to "super spring clean" prior to a holiday dinner...or when housing college students that have visited church ~ made up such a variety of foods(in consideration of unknown like/dislike tastes plus possible food allergies) for the meals that once that word traveled back that we had provided a feast and stay fit for a king. Our house...home was a humble cottage in size and décor.
A genteel lady that belonged to my childhood church congregation in later years happened to live next door to me when married. There wasn't a visit to her home that didn't include her pulling baked goods from the freezer to thaw while she made fresh coffee or tea. Her last name happened to be Baker ~ and the most wonderful baking AND conversation was enjoyed at her little kitchen nook.
So many memories of receiving from parents, neighbors, relatives...opportunities of giving to others have flooded my thoughts; am so grateful for the lovely post(of many). Great things the Good Lord has done via hearts and oft even the simplest of means ~
Our pastor where we formerly lived shared once that he'd visited a home and the family was embarrassed by only being able to offer a drink of water. He said that if God was good enough to provide such for them, then it was good enough for him, too. How many times do we miss hospitality moments in a similar fashion?
Going along at times with a friend that ministered to shut-ins, I noted that she'd engage in "drawing out" conversations as to "little things" that a person missed having...and would be sure to provide with a subsequent visit. Maybe inexpensive writing materials...once a small container of Werther's originals the person hadn't bought for years being in a personal care home.
My dad's job went hand in hand with spur of the moment visits to their home, often mealtime. Once when we were having BBQ short ribs(beef), memory says was bought as a special treat being on sale. Always room for another at the table, my mother proved time and time again(mealtime, snack time, coffee or tea or lemonade time) ~ and the gentleman visitor that time teased that he didn't know things were that poorly for us to be eating bones. LOL ~ he went away filled to the rim, at the least. Can't count the times remembered hearing my dad being told he surely had married a good woman...and good-looking woman. My mother was known to cut/perm/style her own hair, sew or alter clothes from clearance sales, make her aprons(sometimes wearing her mother's made from feed sack cloth), wear a light touch of makeup now and then...she vegetable/flower gardened, sewed for herself, the home, and others ~ modest ways and means.
Hope we've been encouraged to be "rich in love and good works" by these fond memories ~ :-)
This weekend my Dad was rich in good works towards us as he visited this weekend and showered the grandkids and I with his loving attention and gifts. We are so blessed.
Many, many years ago I got out of the shower to find my small daughter entertaining guests. A good friend of mine and her children were sitting at our dining room table, each with an apple, a knife, a napkin, and a glass of water. It was all she could pull together while Mommy was in the shower. :)
I will never forget my mother creating a home from a shabby apartment which we moved to from a nice home in another state. My father's work required the move, away from family and friends. The expenses in the new state were so much higher that my parents could not afford the same type of house.
Although this was a rental, my mother spent her energy on scrubbing the hallway, sweeping steps and porches, and pulling weeds and planting pansies. Windows sparkled, clean curtains hung. Everything in its place. She bought discount paint and painted the entire inside of the apartment herself.
This was so comforting to our family! As children, the message was "You are so important, I want you to feel loved and cared for. Everything will be all right." I can't tell you the impression this made on us all. Thank you for all you do, Lady Lydia!
Lolly
Thank you for the beautiful post and the lovely comments here too. Thank you always for your encouragement!
Visiting older people - my grandmother and her friends, some older relatives in my husbands family come to mind - has always been something I enjoyed. These people poured so much into our lives when we were all younger. The littlest visit and gift can make a huge difference to them now. I am in a time of lots of little ones and I can't volunteer as I might twenty years from now, but I like to bring the children's cuteness to share with those who need a boost.
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