On September 30, 2007 the world lost an amazing woman. My grandmother was a prime example in my life of the "Proverbs 31" woman, and I was chosen to read that passage at her funeral Mass. This passage has been in my life for a long time. Upon first encountering it, early in my adult years, it was very intimidating. I wanted very much to emulate this praise-worthy woman, and yet most days I was lucky to get dinner on the table while nursing and changing the current baby. Of course, I had limited help and 3 children under 5 at that point, and always felt consumed by the baby's needs. Even now, with much more willing help (albeit limited by available time), I find I struggle with accomplishing all I feel I need to in order to be that Proverbs 31 woman.
After a few years of feeling intimidated by this passage, a particular phrase struck me: She orders her handmaidens. Ah, a revelation... no wonder I couldn't do it all by myself! The P31 woman didn't either - she had household help! And this became almost an excuse for letting things go when I was tired after working out of the home all day after my divorce. Rather than properly training my own force of handmaidens (and handgentleman), I "rested" from my daily labors, leaving the bulk of the housework to the weekends, and thus never feeling caught up.
Now, I find the passage a challenge. And I have learned that this intense period of baby needs won't last forever, so it's ok to have things not quite as I'd like them (although I'd like them a little better than they currently are today, however, the Princesses and Prince - *my* handmaidens and handgentleman - have been quite unwilling to do their chores of late, and I feel that if I cave and do them for them, I will only be reinforcing that), and in this apartment I know that unless I go out to the laundromat laundry will never be caught up (6 people full-time + itty bitty apartment-sized washer/dryer + dryer that doesn't dry in less than 2 or 3 cycles = Mt. Laundry the Unending), I am challenged to do better with creating HOME for my family.
While looking for a blog title that would encompass all I want to be able to do with this blog (there are myriad topics I want to be able to cover - crafting {especially crochet and fiber art}, homemaking/organizing, green/sustainable/frugal living, my faith/purposeful living), I returned to that passage. Since my favorite craft is crochet, and I'd love to learn how to handspin my own yarn, the phrase "grasp the spindle" jumped out at me from it. That phrase conjures for me the image of taking something unfinished and making something beautiful and useful from it.
I can't promise to post daily, or even weekly sometimes. I have 4 children living with me full time, one of them being only 7 weeks old. I will also be returning to my "day job" of teaching in an inner city school come May 1st. Since I want to strive to be a better homemaker, my blogging will have to take a back seat to other tasks.
I hope and pray that I am able to use this blog to help me keep focused on being that Proverbs 31 woman, just like my grandma was. I love and miss you Grandma!!
Blessings to you,
1 comment:
Milady !
Yesterday morning, as I was traveling northbound on the former Route 4 Parkway, I passed under the Pascack Valley Express E-Z Pass, and remembered that besides my sister, brother-in-law and their family down on Rte 22, with whom I, my two brothers, two other sisters, and several other family members, spent most of Sunday, I also had a couple of other on-line sisters I know from AAPD and CPS in Kearny, and Washington Township and nearby.
When I tried to log on to Heaven on Earth later that evening, I was not sucessful. Now I know why! God bless you in your new blogadventure! God bless your family!
And, thanks for including Bear Witness on your list of faves!
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