Homemaking is a gift. It's a way to express love for your family and home, and yourself, too. It's a sacred calling and a worthy, important line of work. It is a lifelong career and a pleasure. Yet, lies from the enemy and our culture tells us that homemaking is a burden or curse. That is it a waste of time and only fit for a brainless woman. The truth is, it's the complete opposite of that. It is far from a waste of time and it is a most worthy career choice. It is not a burden or curse, but a blessing and a gift and a joy. And, finally, those who delight in the work of homemaking are intelligent, creative, resourceful, clever, imaginative, among many other traits.
Homemaking is something that is near and dear to my heart and I am incredibly passionate about the work of making, keeping and tending a home. On top of that, I believe that the home is the center of the cozy life. I believe there is tremendous joy and beauty and wonder to be found in the world of home. I believe that the work done there is sacred and important and necessary and beautiful. And I wish to encourage fellow homemakers in their calling.
In living a slower, softer, gentler life, you quickly find that when you slow down and do things in a gentler manner, not rushing about or hurrying about, you will actually get far more done in the long run. It is only when you slow down that you can actually get anything done well. When we are trying to do ten things at once and are hurrying through each task, nothing is getting done well. And there is little to no delight to be found when one is rushing about. But when you take your time and are present with the task you are working on, you not only get it done well, you can actually find delight, even in the most "mundane" task.
The slower, gentler way brings change to the way you clean and tend to a home in that way. But it also brings change to the way you prepare food and enjoy a mealtime around your table. "There is something so sacred about taking the time to prepare the food and making a whole ceremony out of it. There is this notion that we have to constantly be on the go, always busy, chasing this or that all the time, but we can't realize or appreciate the simplicity of just simple, everyday living. And then making that simple, everyday living quite unique and special."
Living slower and gentler affects every aspect of your life. You are able to truly see, taste, hear, feel and smell everything that is around you. It is only when you slow down that you can become alive to the beauty, wonder and splendour of the world. "We are doing so many things and multitasking, but we're not actually efficiently doing one thing. Say no. Focus on what you're doing in the present moment. You'll actually be doing the things better when you slow down and you'll be able to see more clearly." The secret to truly living is to slow down and savour, to live gently and to notice, to live softly and be kind to yourself and others. This is also living simply because you are only saying yes to the things that are worth your time and energy and only those things that are lifegiving and important and meaningful. When we say no to all those other things, distractions and temptations, we can truly and fully invest in that which is good and beautiful in our lives.
Homemaking is one of those good and beautiful things. One of those things that we should want to heavily invest ourselves in. And it doesn't have to be something you dread or think of as a burden. When we root ourselves in gratitude, our hearts change and our perspective s are refreshed and we see, even the cleaning chores, as a blessing to our family, ourselves and our homes. I once heard that cleaning and tidying a home is self-care to the home, and I really liked that perspective. Cleaning doesn't have to be a chore; instead, it can be something that you are grateful you get to do. It can even be relaxing and peaceful if it is kept simple and done gently. "Be grateful instead of looking at it as a chore or burdensome task. If you do a little bit often, you'll have much less work to do than if you let it go and get out of hand. It's not about how clean your house is or how much you clean the house, but about the care you put into what you do in your home. Be present and give thanks as you go."
Dear ones, may you see homemaking as the gift it is. May your slow down and savour and live gently so you can notice the beauty in front of you. May you see the value and purpose in the small things you do in hidden corners. May you plant your hearts in gratitude so they can be transformed as you go about caring and tending to your home. And may you find delight, pleasure, magic and wonder in the grand world of home!
♥
*Quotes from Niamh of Fairyland Cottage.*