I've been doing a lot of thinking about how complicated we tend to make our lives sometimes and that there is not really such a need to do that. I've been reading a series of Amish books by Samantha Jillian Bayarr. It was a series called Jacob's Daughter. How simple their lives are. The things that are important to them are so often forgotten by us. Things like spending time with family and helping family members - all of them not just immediate family but big get togethers to do things like baking, canning, quilting etc. They meet in each others homes for church services and then feed the entire community. They make their own clothes and make their own furniture.
Have you ever spent any time in Amish Country and seen their goods. I haven't been to an Amish area myself but I know friends who have and I have seen the things that they make. Believe me, a bookshelf made by them isn't going to be made of pressed cardboard like the stuff we buy in the stores! When a baby is expected the family stops most other things and spends time preparing for that child. A cradle is made and quilts galore are made. Things are passed down through their families and those things are important to them.
Yes they live by strict guidelines but most of them are Biblically sound - at least from all of the books I've read I gather that. I cannot say for sure because I've not looked into it but I'm interested in doing so. I know that the Bible is very important in their homes and prayer is a big part of their lives. They have Sunday night singings which is where the young people go to court each other. Imagine us 'courting' our beloved by taking them to a Sunday night singing - you can be sure that the songs aren't off the top 40 hit list! They are likely old hymns I'm guessing. Again they are are community events - all those of 'courting' age are welcome.
I may not have all of my facts 100% straight and I know that not everything is rosy and fantastic in their lives as the books portray them to be but that isn't the point of this blog but rather to bring us back to simplicity, family, community, doing things together, making our own things etc. instead of running out to the store to buy everything - making life more simple. We rarely think of making our own things anymore except a blanket here and there or for someone who loves woodwork, making small furniture. If I were healthy I'd make a lot more of my own things than I do now. I used to sew some of my own clothes and I always was crocheting something. I loved to cook and bake. I wasn't so much into cleaning but give me a nice warm spring day and open the doors, turn on my CD's and sure I'd even enjoy cleaning. I did take pride in keeping my home neat and tidy and clean even if it wasn't my favourite chore.
There are still things we can do even for those of us who aren't well. We can write a card and pop it in the mail to a friend just to say 'I care'. If we are able to do crafts of any kind like knitting or crocheting or needlepoint, we can make things for our friends for gifts. I love to do scrapbooking and have moved on to doing digital scrapping now that I can't sit at the table and work at it to do my traditional scrapbooking.
I made calendars this year for my family members using photos of my son and my niece and nephew and gave them to all of my family members at Christmas time. I can't crochet a lot anymore but I did crochet kitchen towels and gave them to a few friends. It felt good to make my own gifts. Simple! Even fun!! I had a blast looking through photos and scrapbooking them and then putting the scrapbooked page on the template for the calendar. No, I didn't print them myself but I did everything else. I had a sense of accomplishment; something I haven't felt in a long time.
Anyhow, I know I'm going to try to take more time to think about simplicity in my life and not wanting things so complicated. Being satisfied with what I have, being happy watching a movie with my husband or family, visiting friends when I am able to, sending cards to friends or going for a ride in the van to enjoy the world God has made for us. Hopefully I make a difference in my life and in the life of someone else. I'm thankful to the Lord for the gifts He has given me and I need to spend more time using those gifts for the betterment of the lives of others.
Are you a reader? Probably yes, if you are reading this blog. Do you like to laugh? Get a copy of one of The Bobbsey Twins books from your attic or a garage sale or download it for free on your Kindle if you have one (you can download one onto your PC or Mac or a tablet for free at Amazon.com). Talk about a fun read and simplicity! That is what I am currently reading and I'm doing a lot of laughing! Life was so different years ago than it is in our now fast paced world!! Enjoy life! It's too short not to enjoy :)
Heather, I enjoyed reading through this posting. It evoked many memories.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I read ALL the Bobbsey Twins books when I was young ( and there was no TV during my younger years ). It was a simpler time when our family all sat down to a meal together every day and our recreation was playing outside or being involved in sports or with friends.
I love the Amish. I spent a week in the areas of Lancaster, PA the summer of 1990 gathering information to write curriculum for my classroom. Truly, it is a beautiful area and there is much that reflects what we read about in books and see in photos. I loved the people I met.
I think we tend to romanticize a simpler way of life for we mostly hear about it or read about it and we don't navigate through the harsher times that also are a part of adopting it - harsh because we have become used to our comforts. I have often felt the same way about, "Oh, I would have loved to live in the colonial times." Then, a time comes when my power goes out and I am in the dark and realize that I love my comforts!
I do come to your conclusions, however, that we can adopt a simpler approach to the way we live. It seems simple already for those of us so homebound - even frustrating. But we can get too busy even within that framework if we let it get us down or fuss about the limitations.
For sure, you make a lovely difference in the lives of any you touch - be it in person, online, in an email. I have been a recipient of your love and friendship for a time now - so I speak / write from a credible place.
Much Love -
Lynn
Lynn, I too read all of the Bobbsey Twin books when I was a kid. (and Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys as I grew older) We had black and white TV but it was a big treat to watch it. We spent our time playing outdoors games or inside with Barbies or making crafts on rainy days. I wrote to Pen Pals and did so many different things than what todays' kids do. We always sat down for meals as a family.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that happens so much these days as everyone rushes around from one thing to the other (organized sports and things like dance class etc.) and with 2 parents working, possibly different shifts. There is a fine line between organized events and so many of them that family time suffers, I think.
I agree with you about liking my comforts though. I can handle the power being out for a short while but not too long, thank you very much! lol
Thanks for your lovely comment about me making a difference in the lives of those I touch. I am glad to hear that I do make a difference. That is my goal; I just didn't think I was doing a great job of it.
Much love back to you,
Heather
Heather, first of all, let me say that I agree with Lynn's response. You have made such an impact in my life. Even being so far away, I feel you're always such a close, shining light.
ReplyDeleteI love this post! I do love my 'comforts', but I do enjoy the more simple things these days. It seems that my family has also started to do the same. In the last year, we seem to really enjoy the time when we can all gather around the table and talk and laugh. We've also been sitting around playing board games and laughing until we cried. Such fun!
I've also noticed our children's generation reaching out to the community. More and more, you see them helping their friends and church family by helping them renovate a house, cooking meals, babysitting children.... I wish I had been more like that when I was young and physically able.
Have I told you that Spencer's family is Amish? He was not raised Amish, but his dad was (and possibly mom, not sure). His dad, and of course his grandparents, still speak some Dutch. Kelly talks about how precious his grandparents are. She just came back from Florida with all kinds of yummy baked goods from the Amish cafes and from his grandmother. Spencer's mom is always reaching out to her neighbors, visiting them and doing things for them. She has the right mindset of a Christian, simple life, remembering what is important.
Thank you for this post. Time to reflect and read those two books I just downloaded on the Bobbsey Twins! :)
Hi Shari
ReplyDeleteMy fibro brain missed this comment when it was left and I'm so sorry for that. I'm so glad that I found it now. Thank you for your kind words.
No I didn't know that Spencers' family background was Amish. How neat is that and how timely is this blog when Kelly just came back from a visit with his family and brought back yummies from the Amish cafes and from Spencers' grandmother.
Love ya girl!
Gentle hugs,
Heather