Kris wrote a very insightful comment about vintage homemaking:

I think the thing that stuck with me the most was one blurb about them not having time to socialize except on Sunday’s…every other day they expected to be *tied* up with their homemaking chores. At the time it really blew my mind because it really sounded like they just didn’t consider doing anything but their *duty* during the week/Saturday. Such a difference from our current culture’s frame of mind. I think Anna has hit upon something that a lot of women don’t realize ( or don’t want to realize) that homemaking takes ALOT of time ( especially to do it well). It isn’t drudgery, just using your time to bless your family instead of buzzing about here and there and leaving it undone ( or half done).

I have thought about the same things many times. That same conversation came up this past week with our older sons. We have been talking a good deal about work ethic and going the extra mile versus just doing the minimum. We talked about going over and above and doing every job with equal gusto, not just the ones you like best. We talked about proper ratio of work and play in life and pointed out that God gave us “a” day of rest. For most of us, that means that, if we are doing things right, we will be doing them the better part of most days. Rest will come in fleeting bits through the week but we can look forward to Sunday to thoroughly unwind.

If your recall the Amish book mentioned waaaay back one of the things the author learned was that for the Amish the work wasn’t drudgery because each job was valued equally. Therefore there was no gritting one’s teeth through one job so as to get it done or get to a ‘better’ one. No putting off the ‘yucky jobs’ while reading email. The secret to their contentment was that they had learned to make peace with each activity and give it the same attitude as they will the one to come. This has the two-fold blessing of making tasks more pleasant and also keeping one focused and out of trouble.

I think so often about 1 Tim 5:13

And withal being idle they learn to go about from house to house: and are not only idle, but tattlers also, and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

What so often happens in our free time is generally not a blessing to ourselves nor to others. We don’t live in close knit communities anymore where we linger over the fence while hanging laundry. We do have the internet however and the phone. We can go ‘from house to house’ in seconds without even the commute to slow us down.

I know, for me, it is much better to remain busy and spend more time caring for home and family than chattering about my fellow man – or woman. I so easily fall into that when idle. Maybe that is just a personal vice. I am coming to realize it is a blessing and not a curse to have my days spoken for. Housework and childcare are not burdens to be freed from but unparalleled opportunities to grow and develop character. What a shame they are so quickly shaken off in favor of words.

Now, lest you think I am insufferable lecturer I am going to print this off and paste it to my forehead. You know by now, I hope, that I talk to myself here first and foremost.