Comments on: Diligence http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/05/02/diligence/ Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:09:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.5 By: Valerie (Kyriosity) http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/05/02/diligence/#comment-126 Valerie (Kyriosity) Sun, 06 May 2007 01:39:02 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/05/02/diligence/#comment-126 Thanks so much for your thoughts, Mrs. Wilson. I've been mulling them over yesterday and today, and I think that's at least a piece of the puzzle. I love beauty, but not enough. And more to the point, I don't do the flip side and hate ugliness near enough. I'm too content to live with too high a degree of chaos. I also need to learn to really believe 1) that a clean and orderly house really is a matter of beauty, 2) that it really matters to God, even on the majority of days when only He and I see it, and 3) that it's really worth the effort to make it happen. I think I'm already on the way to getting these things right in my thoughts and actions, but, like so many other areas of sactification, it's taking some time. You've mentioned 2 Peter 1 in a couple recent posts. Back in college (~20 years ago) I was really struck by verse 8 in the NIV: "For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." Dunno if it's a particularly accurate translation, but the phrase "in increasing measure" jumped out as I realized I didn't have to expect to get it all right at once. Anyway...sorry to blab on so long. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I realized that there's not a magic motivator switch that's going to transform my homemaking in an instant, but that the Lord has been bringing about that transformation by sanctifying me slowly but surely in many areas of life over the years, and I'm happiest (and holiest) when I'm content with that. And as for "Your theology comes out your fingertips," I don't think there's a quote from your husband that my elders are more fond of repeating! Thanks so much for your thoughts, Mrs. Wilson. I’ve been mulling them over yesterday and today, and I think that’s at least a piece of the puzzle. I love beauty, but not enough. And more to the point, I don’t do the flip side and hate ugliness near enough. I’m too content to live with too high a degree of chaos. I also need to learn to really believe 1) that a clean and orderly house really is a matter of beauty, 2) that it really matters to God, even on the majority of days when only He and I see it, and 3) that it’s really worth the effort to make it happen.

I think I’m already on the way to getting these things right in my thoughts and actions, but, like so many other areas of sactification, it’s taking some time. You’ve mentioned 2 Peter 1 in a couple recent posts. Back in college (~20 years ago) I was really struck by verse 8 in the NIV: “For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Dunno if it’s a particularly accurate translation, but the phrase “in increasing measure” jumped out as I realized I didn’t have to expect to get it all right at once.

Anyway…sorry to blab on so long. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I realized that there’s not a magic motivator switch that’s going to transform my homemaking in an instant, but that the Lord has been bringing about that transformation by sanctifying me slowly but surely in many areas of life over the years, and I’m happiest (and holiest) when I’m content with that.

And as for “Your theology comes out your fingertips,” I don’t think there’s a quote from your husband that my elders are more fond of repeating!

]]> By: nancyannwilson http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/05/02/diligence/#comment-112 nancyannwilson Fri, 04 May 2007 15:54:00 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/05/02/diligence/#comment-112 Valerie, A couple of thoughts. If you cultivate a love for beauty, the natural result is a desire to have your surroundings beautiful. This means that you won't enjoy yourself nearly so much in a messy house as in a clean one. A table covered with papers and dirty coffee cups is not nearly so lovely as one with a vase of flowers on it. This could mean some paint and some new throw pillows, etc. But our homes reflect our worldview whether we like it or not. We can't export a reformed culture if we don't have a healthy one at home. And as my husband is so fond of saying, "Your theology comes out your fingertips." What we believe about God is seen in the way we keep our homes. That is where you need to start, and then you'll have use for "helpful hints." The reformed community is generally very eager to pursue truth and goodness; but we lag behind in the pursuit of beauty. Women get to explore this in their homes, and once we have learned it there, we will have something good to spill out into the community and the world. Valerie,
A couple of thoughts. If you cultivate a love for beauty, the natural result is a desire to have your surroundings beautiful. This means that you won’t enjoy yourself nearly so much in a messy house as in a clean one. A table covered with papers and dirty coffee cups is not nearly so lovely as one with a vase of flowers on it. This could mean some paint and some new throw pillows, etc. But our homes reflect our worldview whether we like it or not. We can’t export a reformed culture if we don’t have a healthy one at home. And as my husband is so fond of saying, “Your theology comes out your fingertips.” What we believe about God is seen in the way we keep our homes. That is where you need to start, and then you’ll have use for “helpful hints.” The reformed community is generally very eager to pursue truth and goodness; but we lag behind in the pursuit of beauty. Women get to explore this in their homes, and once we have learned it there, we will have something good to spill out into the community and the world.

]]> By: Valerie (Kyriosity) http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/05/02/diligence/#comment-111 Valerie (Kyriosity) Fri, 04 May 2007 13:42:49 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/05/02/diligence/#comment-111 Any practical tips for getting and staying motivated to be diligent on the housework front...especially for those of us who live alone? I can spend all day at a friend's house, working hard and staying on task and pushing myself to get just one more thing done. But at home, where there's no external accountability, I just plain <i>forget</i> to care what the house looks like unless there's company coming. Having company more often is therefore one obviously good motivator, but I find I need more help with self-spurring in the lulls between guests. Any practical tips for getting and staying motivated to be diligent on the housework front…especially for those of us who live alone? I can spend all day at a friend’s house, working hard and staying on task and pushing myself to get just one more thing done. But at home, where there’s no external accountability, I just plain forget to care what the house looks like unless there’s company coming. Having company more often is therefore one obviously good motivator, but I find I need more help with self-spurring in the lulls between guests.

]]> By: Kendra http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/05/02/diligence/#comment-110 Kendra Thu, 03 May 2007 20:42:47 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/05/02/diligence/#comment-110 Mrs. Wilson, I just love how you write with such thoughtfulness and authority. I have been increasingly convicted of the need for more diligence in my household, but I am so quick to offer excuses for myself. Thank you for this admonition to press on joyfully. It is satisfying to have a clean house and laundry done! Mrs. Wilson, I just love how you write with such thoughtfulness and authority. I have been increasingly convicted of the need for more diligence in my household, but I am so quick to offer excuses for myself. Thank you for this admonition to press on joyfully. It is satisfying to have a clean house and laundry done!

]]> By: Natalie Short http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/05/02/diligence/#comment-108 Natalie Short Wed, 02 May 2007 19:09:57 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2007/05/02/diligence/#comment-108 That's something I constantly need to hear. Thanks for posting this. That’s something I constantly need to hear. Thanks for posting this.

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