Worth Repeating - What to Do In December when You don’t Celebrate Christmas

This item was written in October of 2015. This is worth revisiting for those who do not celebrate and would like some ideas about how to use this month when others tend to be so busy with the holiday.

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Awhile back a reader asked what their family might do in December since they were no longer celebrating Christmas.  It seemed like it would be a good subject to write about, so here are some ideas for our fellow non-celebrators.  I wrote this at the Home Maker’s Corner under the section on Christmas-related subjects.

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For those of us who don't observe Christmas, it can sometimes be a little hard to know what to do in December while everyone else (more or less) is consumed with celebrating.  We may feel alienated from our family, friends and church to some degree.  This isn't always because they don't care or are resentful (though, sadly, that does happen).  Sometimes it is simply that they don't think of it, or they don't have time to fit non-celebrators into their holiday schedules.  Being resentful or hurt about that won't help.  Since we made the choice to not celebrate, it is our responsibility to find other ways to use that time.

Here are some ideas that may help those who are still trying to figure out what to do in December.

Continue Reading.

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For those who may wonder why we don’t celebrate Christmas, here is the answer from our own personal point of view.

Evening Song - Jesus Shall Reign Where'er the Sun

 
Psalm 72:11-17 Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight. And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised. There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. 

This hymn is by special request of a reader. :-)

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The full poem (to my knowledge):

Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
Does his successive journeys run;
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more.

Behold the islands with their kings,
And Europe her best tribute brings;
From north to south the princes meet,
To pay their homage at His feet.

There Persia, glorious to behold,
There India shines in eastern gold;
And barbarous nations at His word
Submit, and bow, and own their Lord.

To Him shall endless prayer be made,
And praises throng to crown His head;
His name like sweet perfume shall rise
With every morning sacrifice.

People and realms of every tongue
Dwell on His love with sweetest song;
And infant voices shall proclaim
Their early blessings on His name.

Blessings abound where’er He reigns;
The prisoner leaps to lose his chains;
The weary find eternal rest,
And all the sons of want are blest.

Where He displays His healing power,
Death and the curse are known no more:
In Him the tribes of Adam boast
More blessings than their father lost.

Let every creature rise and bring
Peculiar honors to our king;
Angels descend with songs again,
And earth repeat the loud amen.

by Isaac Watts

Reader Comments - Dealing with Laziness and Low Motivation

Reader's Question:

I’ve been reading your blog and I currently work part time, but because of the virus, I am not technically working right now and this time has made me realize how lazy I am. I don’t want to be this way and I’m trying to change, but I feel the saying is true that old habits die hard. Do you have any tips on how to stop being lazy and get down to homemaking? Any advice would be appreciated.

Answer:

I struggle with the issue of laziness in a somewhat different way because I have some chronic health issues that affect my stamina and ability to accomplish things. In my situation I tend to feel like I'm not accomplishing enough, but when I push myself too hard I often end up with a temporary injury, a migraine or abnormal exhaustion which then forces me to slow down or even stop for a day or more. Sometimes for weeks. Finding the right balance for not feeling lazy and also not overdoing things is challenging sometimes. This is very frustrating, but it also gives me a somewhat different set of issues to deal with. For that reason, I asked my friend, Elisabeth M. to answer this question because her experience comes from a healthy person perspective. :-) I think her advice can be used by all of us in whatever situation we find ourselves battling laziness, lethargy or lack of motivation. (I'll add some more observations farther on.)

Here's what she wrote:

Continue Reading.

Reader Comments - Face to Face by Carrie E. Breck

After seeing the poem "Face to Face" by Martha Snell Nicholson a few weeks ago, a reader asked about this hymn, so I looked it up and thought it would be interesting to post it. This is an old familiar hymn to me, but some people may not have heard it before, or just need to be reminded because of the great message.

1 John 3:2-3  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

John 14:2-3  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Face to Face

Face to face with Christ, my Savior,
Face to face—what will it be,
When with rapture I behold Him,
Jesus Christ Who died for me?

Refrain

Face to face I shall behold Him,
Far beyond the starry sky;
Face to face in all His glory,
I shall see Him by and by!

Only faintly now I see Him,
With the darkened veil between,
But a blessèd day is coming,
When His glory shall be seen.

Refrain

What rejoicing in His presence,
When are banished grief and pain;
When the crooked ways are straightened,
And the dark things shall be plain.

Refrain

Face to face—oh, blissful moment!
Face to face—to see and know;
Face to face with my Redeemer,
Jesus Christ Who loves me so.

Refrain

by Carrie E. Breck

Cyberhymnal.org tells us this about Mrs. Breck -

"Carrie’s family moved from Vermont to Vineland, New Jersey, and she spent most of her life in southern New Jersey. She married Frank Breck, and they moved to Oregon between 1910 and 1920. A devout Christian, she was devoted to her husband and five daughters. She had no sense of pitch, and could not carry a tune, but she had the gift of poetic rhythm, and wrote more than 2,000 poems. She was not particularly robust in health, and had to take frequent rests while doing chores. At such times, she would sit in her favorite rocking chair, take up a notebook, and write poetry, often with a baby on her knee, or playing at her feet."

Being a person myself who is "not particularly robust in health" and has to take breaks often between things, this was very encouraging and inspiring. It reminds us that we can use those many bits of time some of us are forced to take in order to keep going and use them for the glory of God. It may not be in writing. It might be in praying or in reading to the children or in communicating with other believers in the body of Christ or any number of other things. Sometimes it must be to simply rest, but not always.

Ephesians 5:15-17  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

It is also interesting to see that she could write such good poetry although she had no musical ability. This is a reminder that just because our area of ability is not the same as someone else's we should not feel deficient. The gift or talent that God has given to each of us is meant to be used for His glory in the way He intended. Comparing one ability to another is pointless and unwise.

2 Corinthians 10:12  For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Judging, Being "Nice", and Final Authority

Jude 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

There was a good deal of contention that arose about my recent article on the Duggars. I do not usually think it necessary to defend my position on things. Usually, if I feel that I have explained myself clearly enough but readers are still tying themselves in knots over what I wrote, I figure I can't help them much more. Indeed, one lady who made comments in social media appeared to have either not read my article or she missed the point entirely because she accused me of things that were exactly the opposite of what I was trying to teach. If they write to me personally with questions I have answered them at times. I think and hope that I am following the example of Jesus Christ in this since He did not always go to the trouble of explaining Himself to the general group, even when there were people who misunderstood Him.

In this case, however, I think there are a few things that should be pointed out, and perhaps explained more thoroughly, since they are issues on which I have not written before.

Continue Reading.

Reader Comment - Condolences In Difficult Death Siutations

Question: "[Have you] ever written anything on condolences for people who lost loved ones and believe they are in heaven without a doubt, however lifestyle may suggest otherwise. However I know I can't judge anyone's heart...

Or when people say God needed that person in heave and so that is why they died...what can you say to these people? Something comforting, not judgmental."

Answer:

I have not written on this before, so this may be a good time to do so. We'll start with the what is perhaps the easier one, which is the idea that "God needed them in heaven." 

We do know that the Bible says that the death of God's children is precious in His sight. Psalms 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Continue Reading.

painting by August Toulmouche 1867

Reader Comments and Questions - About My Emails

Reader: "I was wondering why does your husband read your emails before you do ? You are plenty capable of handling a nasty email or discern if someone sends you something off? Just curious?"

Answer: This anonymous comment showed up on my blog several years ago. I am finally getting around to answering it.

First of all, let me say that while some people refuse to publish anonymous comments, I understand that some ladies want to maintain their privacy, so I don't have a problem with it. In this case I didn't because I wanted to answer it in an actual post. Of course, if it is a rude, angry or otherwise unacceptable comment, I will not publish it as all my comments on the blog are moderated by me.

The reason someone asked this question is not directly related to the blog itself and actually it had nothing to do with the post where it was made. This comment was inspired by the fact that formerly, if someone clicked to send email from The Home Maker's Corner, there was a page with the email address which also included a short message. Part of that message was that all emails were pre-read by my husband, Peter. Someone apparently thought this was weak of me. :-)

So, what was the reason behind this?

I started The Home Maker's Corner around 1995 or 1996 (I wish I'd made a record of that date). This was long before I got married, and I was still living in my parents' home at the time. Back then, what have now come to be called trolls on the internet did not have nearly as much breadth for their general nastiness as they do today. When my dad and I first started our web pages, we got "hate mail" and "flames" often enough. And, I do mean hate mail. Some of it was obscene. The vile spewings that sometimes landed in my dad's "in box" were really dreadful. In fact, he has even had a death threat and threats of personal harm and law suits in the past. Yes, you read that correctly.

Not surprisingly then, it was decided early on that my dad would screen all of the email for The Home Maker's Corner. Some of it he answered himself, especially if it was from a man or a lady who was being particularly pushy or rude. Some was simply deleted. If he thought it was something I should handle or it was a positive communication, he forwarded it to me. I did deal with some difficult questions and emails at times, because he was only protecting me from the really vile or disgusting stuff - and things from men who should have been writing to him anyway.

When my husband and I got married years later, this was still the system by which we were working and so we naturally just transfered those incoming emails over to my husband. He is not terribly diligent with he email in some ways, and I am not as diligent at answering emails as I used to be, so this was not working out too well. There were long delays in people receiving answers to their letters. Some never did get a reply, I'm very sorry to say.

But, something curious happened on the internet during that time. The trolls and ranters experienced a wide expansion to their field of activity. They now have their own blogs, other blogs where comments are allowed without moderation, Facebook, Twitter, etc. where they can dump their loads of verbal manure for tens, hundreds, and thousands of people to read. Why waste their time sending single emails to some housewife or her husband who may not ever answer it? So, they seldom do that any more. For the most part I handle the email now, but my husband is still sometimes part of the decision process if something difficult comes in.

Interestingly, even the contradictory emails tend to be more polite than they were in the past. The people who are prone to gross language and such like seem to be primarily attracted to the places where they can have a wider audience.

I think that there is also the facet of the multitude of information out there now. There are millions, billions of sites people can visit, and my little corner of the web is really not that interesting to most of the trolls and rowdies. Why rail on some "stupid housewife" when they can spend their energy tearing up the POTUS or their hated Hollywood star or some well-known Bible teacher? And since I don't do videos, I'm really pretty dull. :-)

As to my being "plenty capable" of handling nasty emails, that is debatable. Some emails that are not even nasty, but only difficult, can still cause me stress. And, with a chronic anxiety disorder [disclaimer on some content], this is something that I sometimes just can't deal with very well. It isn't a matter so much of whether or not I can handle the content or discern a problem, it's more that my mind becomes obsessively compulsive over answering such mail and this can literally wear me out mentally and emotionally. So, yes and no to being able to handle it. Sometimes it isn't a problem. Sometimes it is. Partly this just depends on where I am with my own struggles with health - both physically and mentally.

So, for whoever was wondering, this is the story behind that. :-)

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Original vintage graphic from the Graphics Fairy.

Reader(?) Comments - Corny Spam

Vintage ad from 1939.
From tumblr.


Spam is one of my least favorite things to eat.  I used to be able to tolerate it, though I didn't like it especially well.  Now half a slice makes me sick.  Blah.  No thanks.

I don't like spam in email.  It's such a nuisance.  But, I also get my share of spam comments on the blog (one reason comments are moderated).  However, I have to admit that some of them make me laugh sometimes. :-)

Here is one that tickled me:

"I have read so many articles regarding the blogger lovers but this piece of writing is really a nice article, keep it up. Here is my blog navigate..." (Obviously I'm not giving them free advertising, so you don't get the link.)

What was funny to me was that it was written on my Curried Cheese Ball post.  It is nice to know that a recipe is a "really nice" piece of writing.  :-)
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This one is funny because it looks to me like someone who used Google translate to try to get the English for what they wanted to say.  It makes enough sense that it isn't just one of those garbled collections of mixed phrases.  What do you think?

"Pretty component to content. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that I get actually enjoyed account your weblog posts. Any way I'll be subscribing in your feeds and even I fulfillment you get admission to consistently rapidly."  (Advertising blurb removed)
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Then there was this one, which was spam put up for a dancing school somewhere in the world (I checked the link).  It was posted on the the Tomatillo Salsa recipe.

"The solution to this issue is basically being aware of the issue. Once we know that feeling odd is OK, and not an indication that we are moving incorrectly, that feeling is less likely to affect the way we dance. Still, to be better partner dancers, we would rather it all feel natural."

For those readers who do not know - salsa is both a sauce and a dance. :-)  I wonder what kind of dance the "Tomatillo Salsa" is, though.
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Last, but not least, there was this jewel advertising hair extensions.  Most of it was just chatter but, the way it starts is worth a chuckle to me.  :-)

"Are you exhausted of your vintage faishon hairstyle? Do you like long hairs and your hairs are too short? Do you desire to change hair method and make them as attractive as most of the celebrities have?"

Actually, I am not exhausted of my "vintage faishon hairstyle".  I've worn my hair in the present style for a long time and since it suits me and is relatively easy, I'm fine with it.  :-)

Also, while I like "long hairs" I don't feel like my "hairs" are too short.  In fact, I could probably still grow my hair out if I wanted to, but it gives me such headaches that I am very glad that we are not expected to have "long hairs" these days.  I've often thought I would have been miserable in "the good old days" with my hair long and piled on my head, because my head does not get used to it and it goes from headaches to burning scalp.  I never kept on beyond that stage because I didn't want to find out if it would start falling out in quantity.  So, no.  I'm good with my "short hairs". :-)

Lastly, I couldn't care less how the celebrities wear their hair.  If they all started shaving their heads it would make no difference to me.  [I think it's amusing that they put in that clarifying phrase "most of".  Apparently even they don't consider all celebrities to have attractive hair.] :-)

Probably many of these blog spammers are speaking English as a second language, or in one case using a translator.  I freely admit that I would do a lot worse in their various languages and they would get to laugh at me if I tried.  But, we have to see the humor in the things that annoy us sometimes - in this case spam - or we will go rancid before our expiration date.

Reader’s Comments – Why Do Americans Spring Clean?

 

About a year ago, the following comment was made on the post “Laying Aside Weights – Some Thoughts On Dealing with Things”.

Jo from Finding Joy In the Everyday wrote:  “Clara and I were talking on Facebook about spring cleaning, we don't do it in Australia like Americans do. We wondered why , Clara thought it might be the change in weather from very cold to warmer. Our temperature is not quite as extreme. I suppose we clean our homes all year round so there is no need for special time set aside for a more in depth clean. It's an interesting difference…”

From what I understand and have read, spring cleaning had a lot to do with the seasons.  These are just some observations I could think of in relation to that.  I’m by no means an expert on this subject! :-)

Painting by Henry Spernon Tozer

1. Smoke, ashes and soot.

During the dark, cold months of winter when the houses were being heated with wood and lighted for more hours of the day with candles and kerosene (coal oil), there was a build up of ashes, soot and smut.  My own family has heated with wood in a heavy winter climate and I remember how much more dust there was during the winter due to that.  Spring would have been a good time for a good clean up of some of these problems – the ones that perhaps were hard to deal with in cold weather.

2. Dirt, mud and other stuff.

In the winter in colder climates a lot of junk can get tracked into the house.  As wood (and at one time coal) is carried in a certain amount of extra dirt and debris will come too.  Depending on where the wood was gathered it can be quite dirty or quite clean.  Also, there are thaws which can produce mud in the middle of winter, and spring itself can be very muddy in some places.

Added to that, in the past more people had root cellars and stored large quantities of root vegetables, along with apples, cabbage and other things.  At the end of winter when some of these foods were mostly or all eaten, or when the remainder were starting to spoil, there would have been a huge cleaning job to get those storage areas cleaned thoroughly.  I’ve had a little experience with that as my family also has stored vegetables and apples and we had to deal with the clean up on a small scale.

3. No opportunity to clean some things.

Also, back in the old days people had area rugs and throw rugs on their floors.  These rugs were dragged outside to be beaten and cleaned from time to time.  After a long span of winter weather when it would have been impractical, spring was the obvious time to do this.

Heavy bedding might also be saved for a good washing in spring.  Heavy quilts, blankets and such like would not have been easy to wash with limited space and drying arrangements that were common in winter in average houses.  Also, since in many households there was a limited supply of these items and they were needed every night in winter, it wouldn’t have been a good idea to wash them in a situation where they couldn’t be dry by nightfall.  Airing might be possible, but washing would be uncertain at best.

4. Once-a-year jobs.

Some jobs needed to be done once a year, or every other year perhaps.  Things like sanding and oiling the floors (and possibly walls), whitewashing, and other things.  It probably only made sense to do them when other big house cleaning jobs were being done.  Why remove the rugs more than was necessary?

Conclusion

I’m sure that a number or all of these practices relating to spring cleaning came with various people from “the old country”.  Many of them came from cold climates to cold climates, so it made sense to keep on doing those things.  Added to that, the Puritan influence was heavy in New England and they were quite obsessed with cleanliness/tidiness as an evidence of piety.  (Another whole topic evolves from that.) 

I can see how spring cleaning would not be necessary in Australia’s milder and hot climates.  I couldn’t honesty tell you if spring cleaning was practiced by the early settlers of our southwest.  They may have dropped it as well where it wasn’t necessary.

There are many people who no longer practice spring cleaning.  Our modern cleaning abilities, more comfortable homes, cleaner methods of heating (in some cases), cleaner lighting, washing machines and dryers, etc. have made it possible to do heavier cleaning projects throughout the year.  Consequently, some of us choose to do this rather than making a heavy, labor-intensive project of it once a year.  Some of us are very random about it.  (Not mentioning my anyone’s name.)  :-)

A friend of a friend was complimented once on how tidy and she kept her house.  Her reply was, “Just don’t move anything.”  ;-)

What Do We Tell Them? – Answering Questions About Christmas when You Don’t Celebrate

 

For those of us who do not observe the Christmas holiday or who don’t do so in all the traditional manner, the questions from others regarding why can sometimes be difficult to deal with, especially for children.  In this article I attempt to give some positive ways that this can be addressed, and with your children in particular.  This was prompted by a reader’s question/comment that I received earlier this year.

Proverbs 22:20-21 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

A reader whose family had quit celebrating Christmas asked me what we say when someone wishes us "Merry Christmas" or asks about Christmas.  She wondered how to help her children specifically to deal with such questions and comments.  Kids have a tendency sometimes to state the facts in a less than gracious manner, or they can be confused about what to say or to whom.

This has been one of the tough issues for so many Christians who have chosen to abstain from certain celebrations.  Whether it's Christmas, Halloween, cultural or tribal customs, or whatever, there can be uncertainty about how to answer questions.   An added challenge, at least to the Christmas equation, is that too often it's the other believers who are most offended when we choose not to participate.  Weirdly enough, unsaved people often "get it" because they are more focused on the carnal and lustful aspects themselves.  This complicates things considerably at times…

Continue reading here.