Cindy at Ordo Amoris is hosting a read-along book club for the next twelve weeks or so to read Edith Schaeffer’s beautiful book, The Hidden Art of Homemaking. I call it a “beautiful book” because it’s all about beauty and creating beauty in practical ways in your own home. She doesn’t advocate the Better Homes and Gardens kind of decorating beauty, out of my price range and beyond my abilities anyway, but rather a simple effort to use one’s God-given talents and abilities to serve the family and make our homes a beautiful place.
I was inspired by Ms. Schaeffer’s book a long time ago when I read it as a young wife and mother. Now, I am a “more mature” wife and mother, and some of the lessons I learned from Mrs. Shaeffer’s book have been absorbed into my lifestyle other have been abandoned in the busyness of my life and need to be relearned. I’ve recommended The Hidden Art of Homemaking to other moms, young and old. I’ve given it as a part of a wedding gift or even a baby shower gift. I’ve had my daughters read it.
I’m looking forward to reading and discussing with others how the inner beauty that God commands us to have expresses itself in outward ways making our homes and our service to our families and others beautiful also.
I Peter 2:3-4 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.
I forgot that I’m supposed to be introducing myself in this post. I’m Sherry. I have eight children ranging in age right now from 11 to 27. My husband is an engineer at NASA. I read a lot. I have lots of ideas. I try to put some of those ideas into practice. I love the Lord Jesus Christ, and I am deeply thankful for His mercy and grace in my life.
I don’t always have a gentle and quiet spirit, and my home is not always beautiful. My home is full of beautiful people, and I need to remember that more often.
Is that enough introduction, ladies?
Oh, thanks for the heads-up on this. I’ve been wanting to revisit this, and what a perfect opportunity to enjoy it with others.
I’m reading this one for the first time and plan to play along.
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I’m joining in!
🙂 I do want to read this book, but don’t think any of my libraries have it…so it will need to wait.
Looking forward to your thoughts!
Sherry,
Thanks for sending so many people my way. I am always happy when you pop in. I know exactly what you mean about not always having a lovely home. Sometimes we just have to compartmentalize our environment. I rarely go downstairs to the boys’ room. That keeps me more pleasant at least until I do go down there and then there can be fireworks but it is the dance we do.
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