We had bad news yesterday. Our son John was to start his job at Applebee's yesterday and they are just goofin' off with him. Told him to come back in a week for orientation. John had worked for Applebee's for 7 yrs in Missouri and was making good money as a cook. He hasn't been out of work since he got married, so this is kinda scary for him. He and Christine will look for work today. Christine has only worked a few days at a time. Some weeks not at all. But, anyway, I will watch Romeo today so they can look for work. It's scary for them, as they just got here and moved in, and John was sure counting on his job. But they are going through what we did. These places just mess with ya.
Yesterday MaryL gave us a lot of deer meat and fresh beef. So, of course, we will share this with John's family. I think, "Man alive what next?"
We offered John a little money and he doesn't want to take it. "Thanks, Mom, but no." I know John feels bad. I pray that today he will find a good job. They won't go under. The Lord will come through for them. The Lord will give them a miracle.
It's a season of miracles. Jen, I fully expect Richard to walk again. And for all the wayward husbands on here to come home. It's heartbreaking but I mean it. "If ya don't give up, you will see His glory."
These days remind me of the Depression Era. I mean, hard times in the country always hit the poor first. They feel it first. But what comes around goes around. And, ya know, MaryL was telling us about this woman who is handicapped and has diabetes. She couldn't pay her heat bill so they shut her gas off. Jim says, "Well, doesn't the state help her?"
I said, "No, Honey, they don't do that anymore." I mean, I know you can get some help from the state with the heat bill, but it isn't much. So, anyway, some folks got together and gave this woman a few electric space heaters for her trailer. I hope she won't freeze to death. And ya think that is just one woman we know of. But folks can't pay those high heating bills. And the state can't take care of that many people. So what are they gonna do? Shut hundreds and thousands of people's heat off this winter?
This is what I was saying in an earlier writing. We have to trust in God! Even with two incomes, it will be hard for some to make it. It would be better to just obey God. The wife and mother should just stay home and mind the house. Wisdom is a trade like money. I mean, for a mom to stay home and to create peace. To make her own soap with what she has.
To wash clothes in the bathtub if the washer breaks down? That takes a lot of patience. But if a housewife can just put her heart into making it, she can get her clothes clean in the bathtub until the Lord provides a new washer. I did blankets and sheets and all in the bathtub if my washer broke down. Then, of course, I got a wringer washer and that worked good. I had to make my laundry soap. Someone gave me some lard and I made soap with it. And if I had to do it again, it wouldn't bother me a bit. Well, heck, it's honest work. Nothing to be ashamed of. I did cloth diapers, too, for the babies.
I mean, ya do what ya gotta do to make it. It's better than going to a homeless shelter. But just make your own bread and cook from scratch. Now, I did all this, so I know it works. I never worked but maybe part time once in a while. Nothing full time. But the Bible says that there is profit in all labor. And there is. God will pay you if you work. We have to drop back and trust in Him.
This was Mary's message to me yesterday. Mary is the older woman in my life at age 74. She says, "Connie, this is the name of the game. Trust in God."
And ya know? Shooot, there were times when I didn't have any soap at all to do the wash. The bath towels, I washed in vinegar. Well, ya know, often the rinse cycle don't get all of the soap out of the clothes. So if you have to wash them without soap a few times, it won't hurt 'em that much, as they still have some soap in the cloth. I mean, you can't do that often, but once in a while.
In the old days, when the children were home and we were having a hard time, I got up in the night and wrote a prayer to the Lord. I was so pressured and so fearful that we wouldn't make it. The prayer went like this. "Lord, I am so tired of washing my clothes without soap, and I barely have a washer. I am tired of making dinner without any food." And the writing went on. It was hilarious! I have that writing someplace and have to read it again.
I mean "It ain't a sin to be poor but it's mighty uncomfortable." But I mean, ya know? Ya do what ya gotta do to keep the family going. And don't ever let the devil see ya sweat. No one has to know you have to do the laundry without soap. Or that you have to do the wash in the bathtub until better times come. A woman of dignity is a woman of dignity, with or without her money.
I was raised in the 1950's and had more materially than most of the kids around me. Dad had a good job and we did the family vacations, etc. But ya know? God has called me to a life of somewhat poverty. Well, that doesn't change who I am. A woman of virtue is virtuous on the inside. No one can take that out of her. As Christian wives and mothers, we are the King's daughters, all glorious within. We are content wherever God calls us. If it is to a life of riches or to poverty, we are the same.
The word virtue means morally strong. A morally strong woman will do what it takes to keep her family safe, warm and well. God has given her a houseful of children and she honors God by caring for the children. She respects the head of the home, their Daddy. And in this way, she shows her children how to not give up. And how to honor and respect their Father God.
MOTHER'S HEART
Mother is the star of the home. The Queen of the Home.
Mother sets her heart on victory and doesn't look back. When all hell comes loose about her, Mother remains quiet and in faith. She doesn't have to preach it. She only lives it in silence. Mother holds her peace.
She makes a meal for the family. A warm soup with vegetables. A soothing meat broth and a hearty bread.
In Mother's heart and in her soul, all is well. Mother has said her prayers and is up for the day's work. In the night, she prayed and settled her fears. Like Jesus, she prays at night and works all day.
In Mother's heart is the Kingdom of God. And His will is done in heaven as it is done on earth, her earthly home. She is believing God that all is well. And if Mother has a vision in her heart of victory, then the victory will come.
As Mother doesn't give up and she sees her children and her husband through the eyes of faith, then a miracle will come.
Mother is sound and strong and doesn't waver. Her trust is in the Lord.
