A Look Inside: There is a lost art in our culture today called Slow Homemaking. We fill our calendars, rush from tasks and places, and bear the burden of it with stress. What if we focused instead on Simple Homemaking in order to direct our time and energy where we want it to go? If you’re blessed to be a stay at home mom, then you have the ability to choose your pace.
The alarm rings. It’s time to shove out of bed and get to task.
I had hit the snooze so now I’m behind about ten minutes. What do I need to do first?
I throw on a robe and head to the kitchen to start the coffee.
My daughter has to be at school early this morning so I better wake her up…we all know she needs her time in the morning. “Good morning honey, you need to get up and going.”
Now off to start some breakfast and see what’s on the lunch menu at school. Grab that coffee, quickly eat a breakfast bar, and start a load of laundry.
Let’s wake up the others, and a quick hi to hubby as he gets back from his workout.
We all rush through our morning routine.
I get frustrated that my younger two are playing instead of focusing on what they need to do to get ready to leave for school. The morning tasks eventually get checked off and get the kids to school right on time.
Onto the other fifty tasks I have in my brain for the day. Work, connection, chores, dinner, and keeping up. (Or before my kids were all in school the list would look like: Diapers, snacks, laundry, prepping the next meal, pick up, and keep up.)
Does this sound familiar to you, too? Are the people in your home paying the price for your rushed homemaking?
Alternative to the Hustle: Slow Homemaking
Let’s try that day all over again, this time with Slow Homemaking.
The alarm goes off and I get up right away, which gives me time to sit with my coffee (that I had prepared ahead of time the night before).
I read a chapter of God’s word and sit in silence for a few minutes, praying over my day…that I may give God my time, love those around me well, and be intentional with my thoughts.
I get dressed and then begin breakfast for everyone. Eggs and pancakes this morning to make sure the kids have a full belly with good nutrition.
I wake the kids, one at a time, tell them I love them and think about the blessings they are to me. I help them with their tasks so their morning feels peaceful and slow.
The younger two have done what they needed to so they have time to sit and chat, rest, and enjoy being home for a bit.
On their way out, my hubby and I remind them that God is with them and we are proud of them.
My day goes smoother because I’ve set myself up for success the night before. I have a clean kitchen and dishwasher ready to empty, a load of laundry waiting for me, and pick up the few things that got left around after our shuffle to school.
A tidy home feels so rewarding.
I worked on my to-do list yesterday, so I knew what today would hold. There are necessities and there are “want to-dos.” The house feels peaceful and quiet. I’m ready for my day and have a plan set ahead.
God can now use my time, help me to be productive, and direct my steps.
I appreciate my home more on days when I have peace.
With God’s direction and my hard work, I am ready and excited about my day. I am content with what I have, am proud of who I am, and know that all of this goodness can only come from the daily surrender to God’s word and will.
Ways to begin Slow Homemaking
When we set our minds right on God’s purposes for this life, we can feel equipped for Slow Homemaking.
Ideas Homemakers can use to slow down the pace of a busy life:
1| Start and end each day with God.
Be in the word, pray, and remember Him throughout your day.
2| Go to bed on time and wake up early.
You function better when you’re well rested. And that snooze button is putting you in a fog– stop hitting it!
3| Plan, prepare, and think ahead.
When you do these things, you set yourself up to live the life you want. You can tell your time what to do, rather than the hours getting away from you. You can say “no” to the things that aren’t in your or God’s plan for your day.
Read these Old Fashioned Homemaking Skills for inspirtation.
4| Declutter.
Do you have too much stuff in your home? Take time to minimize, pair down to what you want and need, and don’t hang onto things that just take up space.
5| Make food from scratch.
This slows down homemaking and is better for your family’s health. It makes you appreciate your food and the things God has given.
Try the NutriMill Classic Grain Mill and mill your own flour for crazy added health benefits.
6| Spend quality time with your family.
Play music and dance together. Play games inside and outside. Talk to your kids and listen to those little voices that will soon grow up.
Love each member well.
Write notes to tell your husband kids you appreciate them. Hug them and say you love them everyday, in your words and in your actions.
Do tasks together. Tackle chores, house projects, gardening, and cleaning out the garage as a family unit. Many hands make light work.
7| Decide what activities matter the most as a family.
Talk about your week ahead and help each other however you can.
8| Invest in your family spiritually.
Do family devotions and pray for each other. Serve together inside and outside of church.
9| Have hobbies you love.
Feel like yourself by continuing some of the things you love to do. These will change with the seasons of motherhood.
10| Delay gratification.
Save up for the things that matter most. Pay with cash instead of credit cards. Put money away for your future and for your kids.
Living with less meaningless “stuff” saves money and gives peace.
11| Work hard.
Slow Homemaking doesn’t mean lazy homemaking. It means you set the pace for your home and dictate the plans with God by your side.
Proverbs 31 describes a Homemaker. As you read through this Old Testament passage, you’ll see that a homemaker, mom, and wife works very hard.
It is hard to find a good wife, because she is worth more than rubies.
Proverbs 31:10-31
Her husband trusts her completely. With her, he has everything he needs. She does him good and not harm for as long as she lives.
She looks for wool and flax and likes to work with her hands. She is like a trader’s ship, bringing food from far away.
She gets up while it is still dark and prepares food for her family and feeds her servant girls. She inspects a field and buys it. With money she earned, she plants a vineyard.
She does her work with energy, and her arms are strong.
She knows that what she makes is good. Her lamp burns late into the night. She makes thread with her hands and weaves her own cloth.
She welcomes the poor and helps the needy.
She does not worry about her family when it snows, because they all have fine clothes to keep them warm.
She makes coverings for herself; her clothes are made of linen and other expensive material.
Her husband is known at the city meetings, where he makes decisions as one of the leaders of the land.
She makes linen clothes and sells them
and provides belts to the merchants.
She is strong and is respected by the people.
She looks forward to the future with joy.
She speaks wise words and teaches others to be kind.
She watches over her family and never wastes her time.
Her children speak well of her.
Her husband also praises her, saying, “There are many fine women, but you are better than all of them.”
Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you, but a woman who respects the Lord should be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned; she should be praised in public for what she has done.
Women have the ability in the home to create a loving, peaceful environment. It’s your choice whether you direct your life or life directs you.
The Beauty of Slow Homemaking
Slow Homemaking is my favorite. I love structuring my days, working really hard to take care of my family and others around me, having flexibility to do the things I need and want to do.
Can you always perfectly plan out your days?
No.
But as you focus on what matters most to you, and plan and prepare ahead, you’ll be in a much better position to choose how things will go in your home.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24
I get to set the pace and tone for my home…through cleaning, preparing, decorating, and cooking I get to decide what matters most., Ultimately, I get to have time with my family and friends, along with growing my faith, which are the most important parts in life.
So if I could encourage you today, momma, make choices in your life that provide you the freedom to do what you value. Live out your faith however God is directing you.
Even if they’re BIG changes, pursue the dreams you have (as you hold them up to God’s word).
And if Slow Homemaking is one of your dreams, then decide how you’re going to achieve it.
All of these Bible verses about Homemaking are included in our 5-Week Devotional Workbook for Women, “Heart Change”. Want a free sample of the book? Sign up for our email list below and get an instant download.
