I Take Joy

Filling Your Soul With Love and Grace Divine

March 23, 2011 by Sally 26 Comments

Claude Monet, Woman in the Garden

“I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3

I have received thousands of responses to my blogs on child discipline lately. I see how many sweet ones there are who truly want to do the best and be the best for their children. But before I do one more post on child discipline, I just felt I wanted to tell you how very precious you are and how much your own personal life matters.

I awakened this morning with you on my heart. I know there must be many precious moms out there who are reading these articles and are feeling inadequate or guilty or condemned–or just worn out! I have been praying for you all morning.

Motherhood is very precious to the Lord. As a matter of fact, the more I mothered, the more I came to understand Him, His love, His sacrifice, His forgiveness, His patience. Motherhood is not an easy journey. I kept feeling that I needed to have more children so I could do it right at least once!

And yet motherhood is a long journey, a hard and challenging journey, that will require much endurance with grace, much forgiveness, much patience and just a whole lot of energy expended.

You are truly important to God in the midst of it all. He sees you and cares for your dreams and desires. And so I wanted to write a little post just for you.

When I had my first baby, I had never even changed a diaper. I did not know how to hold a baby. I was unprepared for the task. I also did not know how selfish and self-absorbed I was. And I have to admit that over the years, there were many times when I did not feel loving or feel like a good mother or even feel like I wanted to *be* a mother. I was always committed to my children and always committed to loving them, because I knew God wanted me to. But I did not always like them and sometimes that made me feel guilty.

I just put one foot in front of the other because I thought that is what God wanted me to do.

So if you feel that you are not a “natural” mother, or you enjoy doing things outside your home, or you have other ambitions, please do not condemn yourself. I felt all of those feelings and had to learn how to balance the different pulls on my life. But God has loved me and led me through it all.

I know that there are so many of you precious ones with deep scars. Perhaps you came from an angry family, where you were criticized or rejected. Or maybe you were ignored and you still wish someone would notice you and love you deep inside in those places that only you can feel.

Many of you made some bad choices morally that have deeply injured your own heart. Or you have a passive and indifferent or mean and abusive husband.

You are not defined by any of these things–not by what people have said to you, not by your flaws (we all have them), and not by your past failures or present difficulties. God loves you so very much. God is with you. God is your champion.

We read that when He looked out on the multitudes, He had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus sees our needs. He loves us. He cares for how each of you feel deep in your heart.

You are so very precious to God. He is on your side. He will be your warrior God in all the battles in your home. He will help you and defend you and pour out His unconditional love on you. He is the source of your strength and joy. Nothing can separate you from His love. Romans 8

There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

The only way we can truly make it in this life productively is to tend to the garden of our own souls. The only way you can be a loving mother or friend is to have your soul filled with the deep, unchanging, unconditional love of God.

I love the picture above. I picture my soul as a garden that must be tended and cultivated and watered. If my own soul is healthy, then all who draw from my soul, will receive true nurture and strength. However, I do not know of any great women who have not been very intentional about cultivating and building themselves into godly women. They invested purposefully to become who they are.

A wise woman builds her house, but it starts with a plan!

You may find criticism from the world. But in Christ, you will find love, deep, abiding, unconditional love and all that you need for your task. But you must choose to invest your time wisely.

So what are some ways to fill your own soul so that you may have strength and love to give?

1. Surround yourself with good and godly friends.

I once heard a speaker say that he will do anything to put himself in the company of people who make Him want to love God more, who make Him want to be a better person–who inspire Him. But that he would avoid all of those who spread poison or gossip or discouragement as much as possible.

I have a friend, Phyllis, who I know will always point me to God. Just being with her is like being in the presence of the Lord’s encouragement, because she walks with Him and points me to him. Gwen is such a friend, and Deb, Shelley, Lynn, Beth and Sarah and Joy, ……….I gather these friends over the years and invest in them because they invest in me.

Find those friends, challenge a friend to be a prayer partner, to study a book together, to meet with you on a regular basis.

2. Spend time every day with the Lord. Find books, resources, people who can help you with this. (Go though the Psalms and circle or underline every promise or character quality of God. Read one chapter of John or Matthew a day and write down one lesson you have learned. Read through Philippians and note all the ways Paul tells us to follow Jesus.)

3. Clean out your soul on a regular basis–get rid of the rubbish that has kept you from experiencing God’s love. (If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us from our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.) Don’t hang on to bitterness or condemnation–it will poison you. I have a friend, Sarah Mae, who is dear to me as though she were a daughter. She has recently published an ebook called Core Lies, that she is offering for free. We must rid our hearts from lies that would keep us from experiencing the generous love of God.

4. Surround yourself with books, blogs, people who feed your mind on truth, who draw you to become a better self. There are many, many women in my life who do that to me. But I wanted to point you to three of my favorites.

I love these women because they have chosen to have integrity in their lives when no one was looking. They have invested thousands of hours in the presence of God. They have chosen to love and serve Him, to always turn in the direction of faith. I know they are not perfect, but they hold fast to a Faithful God who carries them. They are also seasoned women who have chosen to faithfully love and serve their children, and husbands, even amidst challenging times. They have weathered life and from that weathering, have garnered stories of His faithfulness. Feed on their life-giving words. I do so love these women.

Brenda Nuland– a mother of two grown children, who cultivates life, beauty, goodness and faithfulness in her home.Brenda always encourages me, feeds my soul and gives me loyal friendship.

Elizabeth Foss–a sweet mother of 9 children, whose devotion to God, gentle mothering of her children, and great thoughts always challenge me. She is humble and loyal as a friend and has learned to persevere with grace.

Ann Voskamp-an artist with words and photography, who deeply cherishes her precious Lord and wants to sing his messages into the lives of those in her pathway. Her gentle, humble words are always filled with grace that she found from walking closely with Him.

5. Spend time in nature–his workshop. When I see the artistry of God, and rest in the glory of the canopy of His beauty, I find great peace. Creation was made for us. He designed the stars for us to understand His vastness–His strength and ability to be bigger than us, to show us His power. He designed color, flowers, mountains, waterfalls, snow, rain, to show us His design. When I invest time in His works of art, I am inspired to reflect His art and beauty in my home as a picture of His reality in an otherwise dark world. Creation nurtures my soul when I take time to observe it.

6. Restore, relax, recreate. Young moms need a break.(and old moms and moms of teens, and……..) They need sleep. Sometimes grumpiness or depression goes away with just a couple of good nights of sleep or time away with a friend. Moms need to have a friend who understands them and still loves them! They need to laugh and lighten up. Cultivate times of breaks in your life, times of just getting away. Don’t always be serious–it is exhausting.

Our bodies need a sabbath rest. I take my tea time every day with a candle, book or magazine. I collect videos and movies and series of stories that delight my soul. I surround myself with music everywhere–at home, in the car, at dinner, when I am in a plane. I love rhythms and movement. I make time for cherished friends. I make fun for myself with my children so that we can just laugh and play and store up humor–everyone needs a break. (Read my daughter, Sarah’s blog post from a couple of days ago–Christians need to learn how to lighten up and have fun.)

These precious ones are not just public figures to me, but in the privacy of friendship, offer such grace, humility, love and always make me want to love Him more.

This blog is way too long, but the point is, you are important. Your emotional, spiritual and physical health matters to God. If you cherish your soul and become a good steward of your needs, you will be stronger for your journey of life and more ready to meet its demands. But you are the one who must plan how to endure with grace and beauty. You must create a plan that best suits your puzzle of life. Grace and beauty and peace in the midst of it all.

Filed Under: Art, Beauty, Friends, Home, Joyful Life, Lifegiver, Mothering, Music, Nature, People, Ponderings, Relationships, Simplicity, Tea, Trust in God

Kissing the Face of God

December 20, 2010 by Sally 3 Comments

This artwork by Morgan Weistling called Kissing the Face of God evokes awe in my heart as a mother. To think of cuddling the soft, warmth of a newborn, precious from my body and to understand that this wee one is also the transcendent who cast the universe in its place. This tiny one, God, needed the kisses and love and attention of His own mother. The print is one of many that graces this frame during advent season, and it is one of our favorites.

The artist has this to say about her print…

“This painting was first inspired by a song that I heard one day. Sometimes, hearing one phrase is all it takes, and then a flood of inspiration follows. The phrase ‘kissing the face of God’ immediately struck me with this powerful image of Mary and the Baby Jesus. It is an image that we have seen depicted many times, but never simply as a mother and her child with real tenderness. I started to contemplate the awesome privilege that Mary was given, being able to hold God in her arms, but also keeping in mind that He was still her baby. This cute little child whom she bore was also God in the flesh. And yet, she cuddled and kissed Him, just as all mothers do with their babies. This thought propelled me right into this painting which I wanted to be a very human representation of divinity. My prayer is that the viewer will be struck, as I am, with the amazing way that God chose to send His Son into this world — in pure humility.”

Mary has been on my mind lately. Our pastor delivered an insightful sermon about her Sunday. Then at the Christmas Tea for my monthly Bible study, we talked about Mary’s faith. God submitted himself to a fallen, dangerous world by becoming the most vulnerable creature, a baby who required protection, nurture, love and care from one He had crafted Himself.

God chose precious Mary to be His mother, the one who would daily mold the soul memories in the life of her beloved child and creator. That she would inform His earthly tastes for living; she who would worship God, her Father daily in front of her very own infant son, to share with Him in the glory God in her own home is the miracle of God incarnate, on earth as one of us. Mary’s humble beginnings, were from a common family, and yet she and Joseph were the ones entrusted to raise the son of God.

What a statement–that a normal family could be the very place holiness would be lived out, a place competent to hold and protect and shape the human side of the son of God. And so this speaks to us today–a normal family, dedicated to His life and righteousness, the place adequate to be the home of God. But there is an attribute about Mary which we may glimpse to see just what qualified her for the task. She had invested her life engaging in Scripture, pondering it, embracing it, owning it for her own soul.

What was Mary’s response when she met her cousin Elizabeth? Her words are recorded in Luke 1:46-55. She rejoiced! She called the Lord holy. She talked about His strength, His provision, and His help. Mary knew the God who called her to mother His Son. She called herself “His maidservant.”

This Christmas season, pray daily that He would make you His maidservant. Take time to read — really read — the Christmas story with your children, the precious ones God chose you to mother! End your reading time with a gentle kiss. May you be blessed as you minister to your sweet family.

****************************

Congratulations to Heather Ashe and Stacie Nelson–the winners of the MOM HEART CONFERENCE DRAWING. We will be drawing for new winners in January. Stay tuned for the information on how you may enter.

Filed Under: Art, Beauty, Homemaking, Joyful Life, Parenting, Simplicity, Traditions

Soul Stirrings

December 14, 2010 by Sally 10 Comments

“Christmas began in the heart of God. It is complete only when it reaches the heart of man.”

The things you put in your home bring life and love to those who pass through and those that stay. We are attracted to beauty because God is the Great Artist and we are made in His image. Christmas is the perfect time to place soul stirring pieces of beauty in your home. Some of these items, like the calligraphy quote above, can be left up all year round. This was done by my sweet friend, Elizabeth of Elizabeth Metcalf Designs.

What one decoration could you leave out to remind you of the God who loves you? May the Lord show you His beauty this week!

Filed Under: Art, Beauty, Holidays, Home, Homemaking

The House is now “Christmas-fied” according to Joy

December 6, 2010 by Sally 4 Comments

Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God’s handwriting – a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The living room–the tree, wall of windows to the outdoors, lots of lights come together to make it a place of beauty.

So many words have been crafted about whether we devalue the beauty and simplicity of the Christ story through all of the contemporary ways we have marketed and made Christmas into a pagan holiday. Should we celebrate with Christmas tree and validate the pagan ways? I have prayed and pondered all of these issues over the years.

In our home, though, we use the magnificent Christmas story as one more way to celebrate God’s beauty, life, love, goodness and building memories together in our home. Home should be a haven, a storehouse, for creativity and the glory of workmanship that shows the divine spark of our ability to create an atmosphere that breathes the life of Christ. Home should encompass all that is good, inspirational, true, comforting, loving and real.

The world holds temptation and darkness. When we, as women, create an atmosphere that invites and welcomes our children, husbands and families every day, they will always see our home as a place of restoration, a haven in the storms of life. It is one of the glories of womanhood to craft, uniquely, her own home into that place that warms the hearts, stills the fears, captivates the imagination of those who live there for the glory of God.

As my older children have forayed out into this contemporary world where post modern thinking prevails, and there is temptation, darkness, cynicism on every side, they all long to come home to refuel, to find harmony with God’s design, to feel loved and to remember why they need to be warriors for His kingdom. Home art creates a legacy of memories and longings that ties the strings of our children’s hearts to our own home, values and faith, where they will return again and again to remember all that is of true value.

Creating a beautiful haven gives all who enter a place for their work, play, creating and living of life. And so, though the work is long, we seek every day, to create the beauty of His presence, not only in our words, but also in the atmosphere that supports our messages.

Child friendly–the Raggedy Dolls my mother made me as a little girl.

Swedish Elves to pull down and to pretend with on the den mantle.

A camel carrying gold, frankincense and myrrh

Interest to explore in every nook and cranny, collected and saved over the years to make this the unique, “Clarkson” haven.

Of course, beautiful books everywhere to cuddle up to read aloud together.

Beauty and candlelight adorning every available space.

A pedestal cake plate transformed into a candle-holding centerpiece.

Treasures from past days–my grandmother’s ceramic handiwork!

The nativity scene my granny hand-painted so painstakingly so long ago, is celebrated every year.

The big old copper pot on the porch that held geraniums now holds the smells and greens of the winter outdoors.

So much more, but each item lovingly placed with hopes that all who come here, especially my boys who will return home to celebrate life, will feel welcomed, embraced with the peace, beauty, and life of the Lord Jesus, who so meticulously worked to make our own home on earth such a place of beauty to behold, a soul-filling masterpiece of His own handiwork.

Peace to you this day.

Filed Under: Art, Beauty, Music, Nature, Simplicity

Developing Souls Alive vs. De-personalizing of technology

September 17, 2010 by Sally 3 Comments

Build an appetite for your children. Go outside and play!

Cell phones, facebook, blogs, websites, tv, ipods, game systems, etc.

None of these were mediums were prevalent when I was raising my three older children. They were beginning to develop, but we had one computer for the whole family and the kids could spend a half-hour a day on computer, with weekends occasionally being an exception. We had lots of family friendly videos, but used them as a special occasion, not an expectation. Couldn’t have done early life without Winnie the Pooh.

However, now, this technology has developed so rapidly, that it is literally changing relationships, brain structure. It is Joy’s world with her friends. But, it is essential to understand the ramifications of technology and the importance of limiting it.

When a child becomes addicted to these mediums, the cyberspace world becomes more reality to him than personal relationships. Children who spend time on violent video games are likely to become more violent. That shouldn’t surprise us. What we sow we reap. Guard your heart for from it flow the springs of life. Whatever is true, honorable, just, lovely, …, think on these things.

Scripture is very clear about the profound importance of being stewards of our brains. Without personal relationships, time to read and ponder, time to observe creation, we cannot as easily imagine and relate to God. When all time is taken up with media, there is not time to pray, plan, think, talk, build brain pathways.

A child’s deepest need is for love, purpose, well-being, health. A machine cannot give any child or human being these essential things. Technology can pacify temporarily, but eventually a person craves for more and more and more, more entertainment, more stimulation, more numbing of the hunger and longing that lives inside, for real life, real love, real attention and time spent.

The home should be a place of authentic life, not virtual life.

Reading out-loud a half-hour to a couple of hours a day provided lots of food for their brains. Dress up clothes from Good Will, capes, swords, provided them with lots of tools for acting out the stories they had taken into their hearts. Playing outside, hours of capture the flag, rox-a-boxin pretend cities in the back yard, writing books, playing shopkeeper, tea times, meals together, designing lego towns, drawing with colored pencils, painting with water color, shaping play dough, cooking, gardening, playing an instrument, doing chores, having lots of people over for lunch, dinner, going to concerts, hiking, and a multitude of other activities gave us as a family a foundation of health–mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally.

We shared life, discussed issues, told stories, lived fully in creativity and personal relationships. This real life tied an invisible string from one heart to the other, holding us together in a corpus of morality, faith, love, and purpose.

Now, as I raise Joy, I have to be very intentional at keeping life personal, life-giving, relational. The time it takes to provide her with relationship and life experiences, automatically means I have little time for working on my computer. But the stewardship I have for her mind, body and soul are more profound than all the ministry and influence that I can have outside my home. So my emails pile up day by day, but my family’s souls are prospering and growing.

Technology is raging because people are lonely and looking for meaning and relationship online. But it is destroying their brains, their consciences, their ability to think deeply, to build a vocabulary, to take time to be outdoors, to build a real, deep relationship with a friend by talking, instead of having virtual reality of life on a screen. The idol of technology is replacing a love for God for a hunger for those who might be looking for me or who can validate me in cyberspace.

As moms, we must protect our children from developing an early appetite for technology if we want them to have deep, healthy brains. One side of the brain is so passive when a person watches tv, that it slows down to a rate slower than when one is asleep. The brain cannot take in so many images and so it shuts down to protect itself. A brain developed over years of shut down will atrophy.

So much could be said about this, but don’t want to keep you on a screen too long!

Two interesting articles on media this week.

If your kids are awake, they are probably online!

Your brain on computers: the need for downtime.

Have a great weekend–hopefully outdoors in this lovely fall weather!

Filed Under: Art, Beauty, Child Training, Education, Family, Lifegiver, Mothering, Nature, Our Family, Parenting, Simplicity

Vienna–the home of my heart

June 4, 2010 by Sally 4 Comments

There is a physical place called home and it is the place family lives and traditions are celebrated and love and morality and righteousness taught. But then there is a home that feels like home. Vienna is that for me. It was here that I lived as a young single woman. I would board my underground or tram, walk the streets, see the flowers, buy veggies and fruit from my little market down the street and greet my little man who worked there every day. I would meet women to discuss Christ and purpose and the universe over coffee in the most delightful cafes, with little flowers on the table, usually sweet music playing in the background and always, always the coffee was served in a real porcelain or china cup. Everywhere I would walk and take in the beautiful crisp air, people would pass with a Grussgott–meant Greet God–but really meant good morning. I thought God lived in Vienna because that is where I learned to love, worship and trust Him all by myself when no one else was looking. So, going there with my sweet ones, yet one more time, and seeing old friends and old haunts was a much needed vacation for my soul. And yes, God still lives in Vienna, too.

Coffee and hot fudge cake at Heiners–an old favorite.

Coffee tastes more elegant in this the melauge or cappicino to you. And note the little flowers!

The buildings are old, beautiful, full of artistic detail, archways everywhere.

I had to take everyone to the Sacher Hotel for real sacher torte–the real one always has dark chocolate topping and apricot jam in the middle. Again, it tastes better when served in a pretty way.

We trained everywhere and took the trams and underground all over. Joel spared my ankle and carried my load. Sweet, wonderful heart. I cherish him so much and now miss him again. He was born in Vienna. Maybe that is why he is musical.

The beautiful Hoffburg Palace–the winter palace for the royalty–where Marie Antoinette and Maria Theresa her mother lived. The Hapsburgs ruled over the empire–the total rule in Europe for this great coalition between Hungary and Austria was over most of Europe and lasted for 600 years. Maria Theresa, a devout Catholic, felt it her spiritual duty to marry all of her children to leaders of other countries to promote faith.

Oh, how can one choose? I guess we will just have to come 3 times a day!

Elegance and beauty cared for with every detail.

The Gorgeous Musikverein in Vienna–an evening with Mozart and the New World Symphony with my composer son who was in heaven, the two girls and a precious old friend, Monica, from Vienna. What an uplifting evening.

The inside of the music hall looking at the ceiling.

Joy, in Salzburg, in the tombs where the Sound of Music was filmed and in the movie where the family hid!

My last meal with Joy before we joined the others and came home. Thanks so much Lord for giving me such a gift into my past with my sweet daughter and into the recesses of my soul. You are so good!

Filed Under: Art, Beauty, Family, Family Trips, Food, Lifegiver, Music, Our Family, Travel

And they’re off—London to Paris–picture this #2 and my silly and dangerous mama moment!

May 28, 2010 by Sally 3 Comments

We started off with such high hopes–my sweet baby, now 15 year old and I. She who has been dragged around the globe to conferences for families, moms, parents. She has worked and carried book boxes and run cash registers and organized registration for conferences and slept on a variety of beds and put up with all of her old siblings and their issues. Now was my time with her–all by herself–no one else to have to share me–a very rare occasion in our family.

What a precious time it was for me. Joy is so hysterical and had me in stitches a lot of the time. She was charming and grateful and such a trooper as we figured out the foreign money, transportation and walked a thousand miles. She was the keeper of tickets–subway, train, airplane, and all else. I so enjoyed her friendship, the sweet talks, the camaraderie and will cherish sweet memories forever. She is indeed my treasured friend and daughter. Thanks, Lord, for helping us make the memories!

Joy exploring the treasures that were garnered from Egypt and sharing a few opinions with this fellow! (The British Museum)

Street Mimes everywhere all over Europe–a bobbie giving her advice.

Our favorite day in London–a boat ride on the Thames, the tower of London, and the crown jewels, Phantom of the Opera, and tea to cap off the day.

tea time

After seeing all the castles, grave stones and even song at Wesminster Abbey, shops, museums, ships, places where people of renown are remembered for the profound things they did in this world, we were privileged to see Susanna Wesley’s grave, along with John Bunyon, writer of Pilgrim’s Progress–in a little unpretentious garden in a park–these who were world changers, though no one stood in line or paid money to see them.

Our kids laugh sometimes because we often have people say, “It seems like it is always easy for your family and for you as a mom.” We live in the same fallen world as everyone else and fight the same battles–but God has been so gracious. Did I forget to mention I fell the first day I was there and sprained my ankle and had multiple contusions and deep tissue damage with my ankle twice its size? My foot barely fit into my shoe it was so swollen and I had a knot on my shin bone! Yes it was sore, But, this was my only trip with Joy and I was not about to let it change any plans!

If I told you how I did it, you would laugh–it was a “mama moment”–I heard Joy yell at me from behind a subway gate because her ticket was not working–somehow I had gotten through on hers and was a few feet ahead, heading down a deep subway into never land. When I heard her voice, I didn’t give it a second thought and began bounding up a down escalator–at about the 8 step–the last one, I tripped and fell full force into the sliding stair and cut my leg and bent back my shin and ankle as I fell–it was a real picture of grace in action–you should have seen the woman behind me just trying to get on the subway! We have giggled and giggled about it, but now I am home and wearing a wrap and am on anti-swelling pain meds.

Kinda like raising children for the Lord–we do make it–but it isn’t always a pretty picture!

London at night–Thames River, Big Ben and Parliament–a lot to do in 2 1/2 days–now off to Paris.

More tomorrow.

Filed Under: Art, Beauty, Family Trips, Joyful Life, Mothering

so much fun ……

May 5, 2010 by Sally 3 Comments

Sweet ones,

So great to see the comments. We are having a grand time. Crown jewels, tower of London, Phantom–amazing! British Museum, National Gallery, high tea at Fortnum and Masons, and walking, walking! But most of all–lots and lots of precious time with my baby–never alone this much and oh so precious. I so appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers and send my love today. Many blessings to you all!

Sally the one with the scarf and hoodie!

Filed Under: Art, Beauty, Family Trips, Travel

Wall art! http://www.wallquotes.com/

March 18, 2010 by Sally 2 Comments

So happy to be home. I feel as though I have crossed a finish line of a race–5 conferences in 7 weeks, suitcases, hauling book boxes, waiting in airports, eating unusual, unfamiliar food, and dealing with hotel staff of all sorts and then of course having the privilege of being with, sharing with, speaking to hundreds and hundreds of women. Again the grace of God carried us through. And still the conviction burns in our hearts even stronger that the consequences of what takes place in the home will indeed determine the soul and character of the next generation.

And of course, thoughts, ideas, convictions are stirring in me anew–but most of all, and first of all, I get to make my home a real home again–a place of life and beauty and love and stability and refresh my sweet ones who have been working by our sides. My best work is my children and my husband and my home for others to come to and sense the life-giving, sweet fragrance of Christ in our home.

So, I am off today to regroup, have a long tea time breakfast with Joy to share hearts and ideas and make plans for the next months ahead and to declutter and to just enjoy the deep pleasures of my family

My sweet friend is such a resource of interesting places to find and use and she knows I love having pictures, prints and such on my walls. This is a great source of meaningful and fun decor you can use in your home and especially in bedrooms for your sweet ones.

I love the many designs and options.

Enjoy

Filed Under: Art, Beauty, Home, Homemaking, Lifegiver

What does your soul reveal about you?

February 24, 2010 by Sally 4 Comments

“That which we elect to surround ourselves with becomes the museum of our soul and the archive of our experience.” Thomas Jefferson

A few weeks ago, after a couple of trips and some wearying legs on an airplane, I had the privilege of attending a tea that one of my friends was holding in her home. The tables for 30 people around her living area in a modest home had been set with care. Flowers, candles, centerpieces with small art pieces placed here and there.

The fare was simple but elegant–fresh fruit–grapes, tangerines, strawberries served on a crystal dish with 3 kinds of cheese and multi-grain crackers. A scone and jam course. Finger sandwiches–cucumber, egg salad, ham and onion cream cheese and finally chocolates with petit fours.

Classical music wafted through the air as all the women present (including me and my two daughters) talked quietly–it was as if the atmosphere drew out an elegance and refined manners from all of us because we were tasting of beauty.

Between each course, our hostess showed us different Pre-Raphaelite prints from England, beautiful prints of feminine women, knights, heroes and saints who were depicted by artists in the early 1900′s who wanted to bring back the elegance and beauty into art. Alfred Lord Tennyson’s life was told in between the prints as the foundation of many of the pictures being painted to reflect his poetry–in memoriam, being one of the best. The love story of his life, his struggle to prove himself, and his faithful love throughout his lifetime.

Our souls were elevated to higher thoughts. Our femininity was cultivated and refined and we were called upon to become more intellectually adept as we pondered how a movement of idealists had in influence on their culture because of their commitment to exalt marriage, and Biblical design of men and women reflecting excellence and beauty in character.

I could see Joy sitting straighter, listening to inspiration, desiring to become more ideal. And all because a woman, who is herself always learning and studying, wanted to pass on civility and beauty to her friends. I know it was a great amount of work, but her labor exalted our souls.

And so it is, we cannot pass on civility, beauty, intelligence, excellence of mind and heart, if we do not ourselves make these virtues a goal of our lives. Whatever we pursue and cultivate will determine what we are also able to pass on to all who we encounter. As stewards of our souls, we must seek to cultivate a garden of beauty–it must be a regular habit, a discipline, to expose ourselves to great minds, the best musicians, fine artists, great theologians, wonderful biographies–so that our souls will indeed reflect a museum of His great character and nobility–that of our great king.

On to Dallas this morning and excited to pass on that which has been recently invested in my own soul.

Filed Under: Art, Beauty, Education, Food, Joyful Life, Music, Ponderings, Tea