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Wednesday, August 19, 2015

The Blessings of Old-Fashioned Work ~ Part Five


“Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success.” 
~ Louisa May Alcott, Little Women



Dear gentle reader, we can not end this series on "The Blessings of Old Fashioned Work" until one more thought is conveyed. Old fashioned work is NOT a blessing when you over-tax yourself. Your family needs a strong and capable woman to manage the home. Not only to physically prepare the meals and clean the messes but to be strong in mind and spiritually sound. We can't wipe ourselves out from so much work that we don't have patience for those precious children in our care and the stamina required to be a godly helpmeet to our husband.


We must leave time in our schedules to study the word of God so that we may influence our home in His guidance and direction. We must allow time in our day to hug our children and kiss our spouse. We must carve out time to lift our feet and rest our weary bodies in order to maintain our invaluable health.


"Work is not always required.
There is such a thing as sacred idleness."
~ George MacDonald


If you feel unproductive when resting, read something of use (some of my favorites are here), pick up a needle and thread and work on your mending pile, embellish pieces with embroidery to feather your cozy nest, or place a hook in your hand to craft blankets and other items to bless the home.


"...a prudent wife is from the Lord."
~ Proverbs 19:14b

"PRU'DENT, a. Cautious; circumspect; practically wise; careful of the consequences of enterprises, measures or actions; cautious not to act when the end is of doubtful utility, or probably impracticable.
The prudent man looketh well to his going. Prov 14.
A prudent man foreseeth the evil and hideth himself. Prov 22.
1. Dictated or directed by prudence; as prudent behavior.
2. Foreseeing by instinct; as the prudent crane.
3. Frugal; economical; as a prudent woman; prudent expenditure of money.
4. Wise; intelligent."



Remember, it is not a workaholic wife that is a blessing, but a prudent woman. One who knows when a task needs to be done and when a child needs to be held. One who knows when to refresh her body instead of tackling another project. There is a balance. And I pray for wisdom that every one of us can find that balance and be a true blessing to our home, by practicing the arts of old fashioned labor while caring for our family and being good stewards of our health.

"Her children arise up, and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Give her of the fruit of her hands;
and let her own works praise her in the gates."
~ Proverbs 31:28, 31


"The noblest thing in the world is honest labor. It is the very preservative principle of the universe. Wise labor brings order out of chaos; it turns deadly bogs and swamps into grain-bearing fields; it rears cities; it adorns the earth with architectural monuments, and beautifies them with divinest works of art... Work, therefore, with pride and gladness, for thereby you will be united by a common bond with all the best and noblest who have lived, who are now living, and who shall ever be born."

{See part one part two, part three and part four of this series.}

19 comments:

  1. JES what a beautiful and inspiring post. I adore the pictures too. I particularly love the part where you highlighted the difference between a prudent woman and a workaholic wife. Self care is so important. We are nothing without our good health. Love, Mimi xxx

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  2. Thank you, dear Jess!
    This series are very good!
    I want to print all part's, and add them to my household planner.

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  3. What a beautiful post. Recently the words prudent and diligent have become favorite words of mine. I never really even understood prudent as it is seldom used now. But I love it and the more I know the more I love it.
    Now I say it so often that the other day a friend wrote to me and she said "I hope you are having a prudent and diligent week" un a sweet nod to my love of these.
    When I sit down I crochet or embroider unless Im sick... mostly I like to be working on something but it is still restful. Also I have found that by pacing myself I overall do more and get sick less than my past full on, crash and burn ways! I have really enjoyed this series. xxx

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  4. You have no idea how much I needed this post today. I have been so busy in the past two weeks trying to make sure everything is done that I have forgotten that we must find a balance between work and rest. Thank you!

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  5. Lovely post, JES! I agree and enjoyed the paintings. They're gorgeous.

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  6. What a wonderful post my darling JES !!!
    I do love the quotes you always choose and the paintings of Arthur John Elsley, well, for me they're the most beautiful about childhood that have ever been created !
    I've devoted him a post last year I entitled 'BLESSED CHILDHOOD' :)

    Thank you so much for how you care your lovely blog, it's charming more and more to me

    with all my heart
    Dany

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  7. I am a new reader, and have enjoyed these posts. The accompanying pictures are lovely. I've added you to my blogroll, and look forward to reading more.

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  8. I love your writing! I so needed to here this! I am always on the go go go,trying NOT to be lacking or eating the bread of idleness. But there is more! Its not being lazy when you are being a mother and a wife and playing with your children and spending time with your husband in a manner that is needed.....and wanted! I come to your blog almost daily to see what Titus wisdom you are giving!Thank you for sharing!!

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  9. Out of all the "Christian Woman" blogs out there, yours is the only one I keep coming back to. It refreshes like no other I know. Your words ring with gentleness, contentment, love of the home, humility, and compassion.

    There are others that are hailed as the top "frugal" blogs, but you can FEEL the busyness in their writing! They may as well have a full-time job. And you can also FEEL them trying to pull you to buy from their affiliate links. You know that you are a customer to them and the prime purpose of their blog is monetary. I think us Christian wives would do well to cancel our subscriptions to the others and simply be encouraged and refreshed by Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth.

    I once told a young wife that a prime way to discern a good mentor is to ask yourself if you feel more "in love" with your husband and children after talking with her or not. If you do, then she is a keeper. If not, run!! Regardless of what is said, no matter how accurate, if it is not imparted in a spirit of high regard and tender devotion to the home and family, it will still eat as a canker sore in the heart of a young wife.

    I have ALWAYS come away with a greater appreciation for home and family after reading your writing. There is NO self-help course or 30-day program that can make me LOVE taking care of my home like your "Proverbial Homemaker" series! You can even take something as mundane as zucchini and make it motivating! I'm not really a roll up your sleeves and get dirty kind of gal. I like my air conditioning and don't like the frizzy head effect of the humidity on my hair. But I can read an article of yours and am almost persuaded to get out there - almost! Lol!

    I guess the best word to describe your writings is "winsome". I wish my words were more like yours, for they certainly do minister grace to the hearers. I know this all probably makes you uncomfortable, but I feel it needs to be said. You have blessed many, many women and you are a very special gift of God in our lives.

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  10. Yes yes yes! I feel exactly the same about this site!!! I actually did remove myself from everything except this site so funny you mention it. I don't waste my precious time anymore. Even though there's loads of good blogs out there. My time and family are entirely more important. JES you get it all only now ;) Boy Candi you nailed my feelings too, thanks!

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  11. You have such a lovely way of expressing yourself and finding the right paintings to combine with them. Have a lovely Sunday!
    Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage

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  12. Oh JES...this was truly the most beautiful series...thank you for sharing your wisdom in such a lovely and gentle way... I love the pictures you shared in the last part...imagine having these framed around your home as inspiration!
    Blessings to you and much love...
    Kelly-Anne

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  13. Jes I ave so enjoyed this series! Thanks for all you post. I love reading anything you put out there!

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  14. Lovely JES, what a delight it was to read this post. Many have commented that you ave a special way of expressing yourself and I wholeheartedly agree, my friend. Your blog is always so refreshing to my heart.

    Enjoy the remainder of your week. Hugs!

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  15. What a wonderful post! I think each of your points are so timeless, yet also inspiring and full of truth! It's interesting how we get so far away from some of the simplest things these days. Yet, there can be a life lived well even if done simply, or at least we think so! :)

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  16. This post is as pleasing to the eye as it is absolutely true.

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  17. I love this! Goes right along with the philosophy that we were made to move God's way! I'll admit that I've fallen into the trap of overworking though and am recovering from the consequences of that health wise now. There is definitely a balance to be found. Thank you for sharing. Blessings!

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  18. This was a wonderful series. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts (and all of the AMAZING artwork) with your readers. I truly believe that the lack of manual labor is the reason that the world is falling to pieces, but I also have to admit I loll in leisure much to often.

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    1. Yes, I think many of us are guilty of lolling in leisure! I also write these things to encourage myself to continue on! :) Thank you for sharing here today Rachel!

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