Robert Thegerstrom; Lattja
This picture makes me long for a mountain breeze, a deep hammock, a cup of tea, an engrossing book and an open-ended afternoon.
I can probably swing one of those, the open-ended afternoon being perhaps the most elusive of the four. But one can dream!
In many ways these beautiful classic art pieces are evidence of ideals I have in my own life. Perhaps they’re indicative of the way I wish life were, more often than it actually is. Perhaps you, too find yourself longing for life to be more settled, more peaceful, more predictable, more tame than you find it.
As I wrote several years ago in my book, The Mom Walk …
“I am a deeply romantic woman, always yearning for a picture-perfect home–fires on the hearth with feasts and laughter nearby, pleasant and gracious conversations, an ambience of beauty and peace. I write about my ideals. I breathe my ideals in the secret moments of my life. I want a picture-perfect marriage where I am adored and appreciated. I want my children to be healthy, happy, and harmonious. I want strong friendships and a stable community with friends. I want an extended family to be close to us and to provide my children with love and support and lots of godly input. I want there to be money for all the bills, a home that isn’t always exploding with messes, and time to sit and read a good book and ponder life.
These longings are not wrong. Ideals and the desire for beauty are simply the echoes of God’s design in our hearts. He was the one who designed the world to be a masterpiece of wonder and life. The yearning for peace, health, and comfort is natural to our souls and comes from the depths of our hearts where we can still feel and imagine what God created life to be before the fall.”
I think God is the biggest Idealist of all. He created everything in a perfect state, and someday He will “restore all things.” (Acts 3:21.) I think He understands my heart’s longing for a beautiful life and fulfilling relationships.
I think He feels just the same way I do. When I long for life to line up with His ideals, I reflect His own heart. When I create pleasing settings, soothe ruffled feelings, play beautifully crafted music, offer grace to a tired and cranky child, or prepare a hearty meal that fills stomachs and enriches souls as we share ideas around the table, I remind those who share in the moments with me that we are, indeed, sons and daughters of a King, meant for more than workaday life in this broken world.
How can you remind those around you, today?
i LOVE how you put this! I never thought before that my longing for things to be a certain way…comfy, cozy, enjoying life…is actually God’s idea of a perfect world too…AND IT”S NOT WRONG TO FEEL GUILTY! Thank you for sharing sally! God didn’t WANT life to be complicated…sin has made it complicated. I love when God opens my eyes to another truth that hadn’t yet sunk in quite as deep
How great a God we serve!!!
Your perspective here spoke to me in a big way. Thank you so much
I’m a homeschool mom of three teens (one college sophomore, one high school senior, one high school sophomore) and I’m menopausal … yeah, ‘perfect storm’ conditions rise up between us sometimes … actually, often it seems! And I’m a results oriented, approval seeking, insecure type who tends to measure my success in the micro- & macro-decisions my children make & how they will turn out. I know it’s a heap of pressure put on myself. What you wrote here is quite eye opening for me — thank you. It’s like I want/need to stay still for a while and let it (your words that point me to God’s perspective) soak in me & undo the pressure valve so that all that’s been stressing me out can dissipate & evaporate … (is that even possible????). Just wanted you to know how much this writing blessed me in a timely way … but then, God’s timing is always perfect 
Thank you again.
My previous comment was actually meant for your Aug 8th writing “Obedience is the Pathway to Maturity and Faith”. Not sure how I messed up and it posted on your Aug. 10th article. And I don’t know how to remove it from here and repost it in the correct place.
no worries–isn’t this a picture of our days–one step forward, several back and some noise in between!
be blessed.
“Sons and daughter of the King…meant for more than workaday life in this broken world” – isn’t that a comfort.?
The disconnect between the lovely imaginings (that reflect God’s ideals) and the reality of here and now often makes my heart ache – but His promises are sure (an eternal home in a place of beauty and peace) and I love that He allows us a peek at that – in moments of deep connection within the family and when, ever so fleetingly, we create a beautiful space. It helps to keep us awake to what He has in store for us.
Thank you for this post, Sally. As I set to the tasks of the day, I will be mindful that my desire for order and beauty, and meaningful conversation with each family member is God inspired.
Blessings on your day too.
Your post reminded me about some sweet treats I have been saving for a surprise snack for my littles. I’m going to set the table, play instrumental music, and serve them up a plate of goodness while creating another memory. Thank you for your inspiration!
I just have to tell you again what a difference your voice, your books, your shared wisdom, has made in my home and in my heart, and most importantly, in my walk with God. So grateful to have come across your blog.
Sally,
I feel that if I were to meet you, we would be instant “bosom” friends like in Anne of Green Gables. Even though your children are grown, and mine are babies, my heart feels so encouraged and resonates with your posts. I can tell that after I have started reading your books and reading both this blog and MomHeart, that I do not get as discouraged, I don’t get so frustrated when things don’t go my way, and I offer more grace to my babes. Thank you!
Beautiful as always. I too was longing for one of those days today. Deep breath!
Oh how this reaches a spot in my heart this morning. It’s finally cooling down after a steady stretch of temps in the 100′s for weeks. I think these thoughts all the time and then battle the disappointment to follow when things don’t play out as I had imagined. I love the reminder that God is the original one with the “idea”. I love the reminder of His care for mine, and the longing for heaven.
Thanks for sharing!
I’ve always been told that I am, and have recently begun to think of myself as being to idealistic. Thanks for this blog post; it makes me think being idealistic is a good thing – especially like when you said our ideals line up with God’s. I guess I don’t have to “feel bad” about having opinions and being idealistic. I just want what God wants for me – ideally it would be great if I always did what He wanted! I’m going to keep seeking after Him!
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Amen amen – I have a constant longing to have and creative a simple, peaceful life; clean house brimming with fresh flowers and the smell of freshly baked bread lingering in every room…I ‘sometimes’ get there and everyone enjoys my efforts…I love expressing the Fathers heart for my home, family and community, even if it’s only in ‘moments’! Thanks Sally x
Come one over! Well, I’d wait til spring. We’ve got hammocks up all over around the farm and the kettle rarely cools.
Our tough thing is to stop working long enough to enjoy what we have!
This whole post speaks so to my heart. Especially, this day after Thanksgiving day. My longings and reality butted heads yet again. I really tried to have a servant’s heart about it all and be like Jesus in your post yesterday. But I find myself sad and a bit bitter from having done it all all by myself again. Well, my six YO son set the table.
I sigh, and ask forgiveness from God, and beg Him to make my heart more like His.