Great and Noble Tasks ~ Snippets

“I long to accomplish great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker."

~ Helen Keller

Dear reader, this delicately describes the gentle life of a homemaker. Through daily rituals of love and care, we are sending people into the world who are well-adjusted, who will shine a light in dark places, who will be peculiarly holy because you took the time to make this example in the home. You took the time to show what beautiful is, what noble is, what truth is.

Just as a “little leaven leavens the whole lump” in a negative way (Galatians 5:9), imagine what a “lot of love” can leaven in a positive way. Please don’t underestimate your sacred influence.

“If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.”

~ Mother Teresa

You are not “just” making a home but maintaining a ministry.

🕯🧺🥀 

Pictured: apple turnovers made with the apple pie filling I canned last autumn…

Ethereal Spring Cleaning ~ Snippets

Ethereal spring cleaning... 

Washing your home with the gospel... cleaning the corners of your heart... makes every aspect of life holy, every task, an art.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God;

and renew a right spirit within me.”

~ Psalm 51:10

Related Reading:

Spring Cleaning Inspiration in 10 Steps

Spring Cleaning with Children - Lessons in Home Education

The Way You Keep Your House

Hospitality During Hard Times ~ Snippets

 

"My great-grandmother used to share how difficult times were and how hard the day-to-day living was during the Civil War. There was no tea to drink, and certainly no lemons for lemonade, which was a favorite Southern drink. However, she set a fine example of gracious hospitality even then. When guests came, she would go to the well or to the spring and fetch cold water. She served this refreshment in her grand silver Tea Tipper, an ornate tea pot… The cup she offered her guest was the one without the chip on the rim. Grandma never lost her sense of giving. 

The spirit of gracious hospitality lives in each of us regardless of our circumstances. The ambiance we create for our guests is warm, genuine hospitality... not based on what we have or what we can buy."

~ Alda Ellis, The Gentle Art of Hospitality (affiliate link)

When we were living on an extremely tight income, my husband and I still desired to have company. I found that I could serve very economical food in a delicious way if I put just a bit more effort into the meal. For instance, I would slow simmer a batch of beans in homemade, nourishing stock. I would serve the beans on handmade flour tortillas with a side of shredded garden greens, freshly made tomato salsa and a bowl of hand-shredded cheese. There is something very special and delicious about a burrito (or anything else for that matter) when it’s made with from-scratch ingredients… It elevates a humble meal.

Hospitality is a beautiful component in a believer's life. So many blessings come from opening your home to others -- family bonds grow stronger, friendships are built and/or strengthened and comfort and/or joy is given to the lonely or grieving guest. These are all things that the Almighty commends.

So many people have been alienated for so long, it is time to open our doors and love one another… and be “hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy..." ~ Titus 1:8

"Do not forget to entertain strangers,

for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels."

 ~ Hebrews 13:2

🍞 🧺 🕯 

Here is my tortilla recipe and ideas with beans in case you’d like to host a frugal, from scratch meal…

A Homemaker’s Heart ~ Snippets

A true homemaker’s heart is sensitive... it absorbs every moment and sees beauty in every act. Whether it be a stack of freshly laundered linens, the dish soap (refilled and ready) or a sparkling, shiny kitchen sink. She knows her work stretches beyond the earthly kingdom and its aroma rises high up to the Heavenly one.

She knows every small act is sacred service.

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

~ Colossians 3:23-24

🤍

(Note: I'll be sharing some little "snippets" here and there from some of my more special Instagram posts that I feel some of you may enjoy that aren't on it... Painting: Autumn's Last Harvest by Daniel F. Gerhartz)

The Special Forces ( Have you enlisted?) ~ Snippets

There is a small band of women, silently building up the kingdom in their own humble homes. There is no worldly acknowledgement, glory or praise.  They are motivated by a higher duty. A higher calling.  Their leader is the King of Kings. And like the heavenly league of angels in heaven, they are silently serving with all their strength on earth.

They are a gentle band of soldiers.

"No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier."

~ 2 Timothy 2:4

🥀

(Note: I'll be sharing some little "snippets" here and there from some of my more special Instagram posts that I feel some of you may enjoy that aren't on it.. Since I have been out of town for the last month, I  hope you don’t mind these series of snippets all in a row.... I usually try to post a variety but it hasn’t been possible this month..)

Baking Peanut Butter Chocolate S'more Cookies ~ Happy Homemaking Scenes

"As you go forth into the world to begin the prodigious work of life, it is my greatest wish that you find success and happiness in creating your own home.

 

I have no doubt in your ability to accomplish this. For in all of you, I find that the great lesson I have striven to impart to you, is well learned -- 

the most exquisite pleasure in life, is giving pleasure to others. As the good Lord taught us, the finest quality of greatness is service."

~ Mrs. Dunwoody's Excellent Instructions for Homekeeping -

Timeless Wisdom and Practical Advice by Miriam Lukken (affiliate link)

rolling...

melting...

creating...

serving.

There is so much going on in the world that can distract us from our home. And when we are distracted from our duties, we are (sadly) helping to contribute to the problems that cause us grief in the first place. For it is my belief that if there were more true homes, there would be less sorrow in the world. It all begins in the home... or lack of a home. But I digress...

Baking is one such way to serve in a simple sense which brings comfort to the home. It feels safe when something good comes from the oven. Home feels cozy and secure when something smells amazing. Our homes are mini-bakeries and who doesn't love to walk into one!

These "Peanut Butter Chocolate S'more" cookies look nothing like Sally's but they are still beautiful to our household. When something isn't perfect, I call them rustic and suddenly they are perfect! 

It is also enjoyable to put your own creative spin on recipes. My special versions included using graham cracker crumbs as sprinkles and using white chocolate for half of my cookies. What would you do with yours?

(This very fun recipe can be found here.)

Homemakers are artists. Homemakers are comfort-givers. Homemakers are servers. Homemakers are ultimately... love.

"Beloved, let us love one another,

for love is from God,

and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God."

~ 1 John 4:7

Letters of Comfort ~ Sympathy Mail ~ Free Printable

"Rejoice with them that do rejoice,

and weep with them that weep."

~ Romans 12:15

Sending Sympathy...

There has been some measure of sadness and sorrow surrounding many of us in these unprecedented times. Often it’s hard to console or say the right thing. A phone call can get awkward, a text may feel cold but a letter in the mail always feels appropriate.

You can pray about the words before you write them down and it shows extra care when you take the time to send them. 

In difficult circumstances, I will often tuck a dainty white handkerchief inside, a special Scripture and even a sprig of dried lavender for an extra bit of love.

For our free printable letter inserts, visit here:

for the smaller size and here for the larger size...🤎

And for those of you who are housebound, what a beautiful blessing this can be... what a heartfelt ministry you can have! What a lovely homemaking hobby! 

"What a wonderful thing is the mail,

capable of conveying across continents a warm human hand-clasp."

~Author Unknown