Thank you for stopping by our 17th week of Blessed At Home. Please visit the Contributor Page to read more about this excellent ministry from some of your favorite homemaking bloggers.
Today's featured contributor is...me!
I’m Sarah Coller, just a regular girl saved from her sins by the Lord Jesus Christ. Married to Jamie for 15 years and mother to nine sweet blessings, ages 13 down to newborn, I stay busy homemaking and homeschooling. My passion is creating a comfortable and peaceful home for my husband and children. From focusing on having the house clean and beautiful, to making sure the kitchen is stocked, to preparing yummy meals at mealtime, I know my role as a homemaker is very important. More than all that, though, my main focus is cultivating a sweet spirit, a kind tone of voice, and a heart willing to bless. In addition to creating fun and useful things with my endless stash of found items, I also enjoy reading classic novels, thrifting, tea, and all things British. Thankful for God’s saving grace, I hope to leave a legacy that reflects His faithfulness. I blog at Hope In EverySeason.
HopeIn Every Season started out as a cheeky response to friends who were harassing me to start a blog. In fact, it’s original name was, I Don’t Wanna Blog. Over the last five years, it’s grown into a wonderful ministry and a springboard for many great friendships. I feature Biblical devotions, vintage and antique finds, crafts and DIY, book reviews, and fun glimpses into the life of our happy family.
Today's topic is, Blessing My Family
Sarah, Hope In Every Season
I have seasons where I feel super crafty---I feel like baking and decorating and doing the awesome homemaker thing.
Then I have other seasons where it's all I can do to get the dishes, laundry and garbage taken care of and provide something edible for my family to eat.
This yo-yo homemaking style used to really get on my nerves, until I finally understood what it means to be in a season of life.
What's really important to remember about blessing my family is this: my husband and kids desire a sweet spirit, a kind tone of voice, and a heart willing to bless, above everything else.
If I can focus on making sure I've got those bases covered, the rest will fall into place as it's supposed to!
Christy
It feels good to bless others. If someone wants to do something nice for you, I think you should let them bless you and accept their act of kindness with a smile and a thank you. I also think it is unwise to expect those blessings without returning a few yourself!
I have been married to a sweet, considerate man for almost 20 years. He consistently does something nice for me every day. I used to feel like I was not giving my share back because I was busy working a time-consuming job as a store manager and because he is a hard act to follow!
Now that I am a stay-at-home wife, I have more time to do little and big blessings for him. My mind is now on my home and family life, instead of my stressful job out in the big world!
This lifestyle change is good for me and I know that my husband appreciates the many things I do to bless our life together.
"Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." ~Philippians 2:3-4
Jennifer, Mama Economics
Misty, Simply Helping Him
Over the years I didn't think about how I was blessing my family through the many things I did for them throughout each day. I was often just doing what needed to be done. It is such a blessing when an older woman can come along side us and lift us up with encouragement. That is what I want to do for you today.
There are ways that I can bless my family even though, soon enough, they will all have fledged the nest. Today, I am going to focus on how I am blessing my family while I still have my two youngest at home and those years when everyone lived under the same roof.
I hope that you will see how you are also blessing your family.
Here are five things I did for my family of nine when we had a young family:
I madeall almost all of our bread.
On Saturday and Sunday I made something like pancakes or French toast (it offset the weekday oatmeal).
I made homemade strawberry preserves after we had a wonderful time picking them.
I made homemade cookies especially around Christmas time.
I homeschooled them all from start to finish.
I took them for walks along the river at the end of our road.
I took them to parks where we could hike, picnic, and play.
Here are five things I do for my shrunken family of four:
I have been focusing on my dear husband by making his lunches as interesting as possible, baking him good things, going on errands when he needs it, rubbing his feet, and whatever else he needs.
Make lunches for three.
Keep comfort food available whenever I can ($$).
Stop and LISTEN whenever my children talk to me (I just love it!!) because my youngest two won't be here forever (that much I've learned!!)
Overlook the two most important things I taughtwanted them to do (knowing it will all come back to them someday).
Do what used to be their chores because I am not busy homeschooling anymore and they are super busy working crazy hours and online college for my daughter.
Just remember that whatever mundane repetitive tasks you do each day, month, and year blesses your family more than you'll ever know. It doesn't seem like you are blessing your family at the time, but you are!
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I have seasons where I feel super crafty---I feel like baking and decorating and doing the awesome homemaker thing.
Then I have other seasons where it's all I can do to get the dishes, laundry and garbage taken care of and provide something edible for my family to eat.
This yo-yo homemaking style used to really get on my nerves, until I finally understood what it means to be in a season of life.
What's really important to remember about blessing my family is this: my husband and kids desire a sweet spirit, a kind tone of voice, and a heart willing to bless, above everything else.
If I can focus on making sure I've got those bases covered, the rest will fall into place as it's supposed to!
It feels good to bless others. If someone wants to do something nice for you, I think you should let them bless you and accept their act of kindness with a smile and a thank you. I also think it is unwise to expect those blessings without returning a few yourself!
I have been married to a sweet, considerate man for almost 20 years. He consistently does something nice for me every day. I used to feel like I was not giving my share back because I was busy working a time-consuming job as a store manager and because he is a hard act to follow!
Now that I am a stay-at-home wife, I have more time to do little and big blessings for him. My mind is now on my home and family life, instead of my stressful job out in the big world!
This lifestyle change is good for me and I know that my husband appreciates the many things I do to bless our life together.
"Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." ~Philippians 2:3-4
Family is a gift, not a guarantee. The family is an institution quickly dissolving in our modern culture. The God-given roles of husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, and children are being confused and abandoned. This week's Blessed at Home topic asks: "How do you bless your family?" The only way a person can be a blessing to their family is to first acknowledge the true gift of family.
A family does not simply consist of a group of people living under the same roof. A real family is a group of people where each individual is actively contributing to the dynamics that makes their family function. No two families are alike and what works for one most likely won't work for another. There is only one common denominator that each family should have; a unified effort to love, honor, and serve God. Without God each family is doomed to fail.
"Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except theLord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." ~Psalm 127:1 (KJV)
After my salvation, my family is the greatest gift I've ever been given. Through five miscarriages and years of secondary infertility, I have become acutely aware of the treasured gift I have been given to be a wife and mother. The role of being a wife and mother has often brought me to my knees where I have had to humbly pray for deliverance from my inadequacies in being the godly woman my family deserves. It is my earnest desire to be a treasured blessing to my family, but in all honesty, most days, I fail miserably. Through the examples detailed in the scriptures, the Lord has shown me three areas in which I can strive to be a blessing to my family:
- To forgive unconditionally. It goes without saying that we all sin. God says if we confess our sins to Him, he is faithful and just to remove them as far as the east is to the west (Psalm 103:12). When one of my family members hurts or offends me in some way, I purpose to forgive them as Christ has forgiven me.
- By practicing mercy & grace. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Grace is getting what we don't deserve. Because of our sins we deserve eternity in hell, but because Jesus paid the debt for our sins, we are given the opportunity of salvation and the gift of eternity spent in heaven. Even when we don't think our family deserves our love, devotion, and service, we should be surrendered to them anyway.
- To accept each family member for who they are without reservation. Praise the Lord we are all uniquely made, but the Lord knows each of us intimately before we are ever formed in the womb. God loves us so much that He gave His only son to die for us so we could spend eternity with him. He welcomes and accepts us with open arms no matter how broken and tattered we are; ready to forgive, comfort, and encourage us to be His faithful servants. It is my goal to accept each of my family members as special individuals created by God; with the hope that they may aspire to be all that God has called them to be.
The family was created by God when He made Adam and Eve and commanded them to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28). How great it is to have the opportunity to be part of a family, something that God designed as good and perfect. Let us not forget God's role in the family as we purpose to be a blessing to our family.
May we always recognize the precious gift of family, die to self, and ultimately live by the golden rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
May we always recognize the precious gift of family, die to self, and ultimately live by the golden rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
With love,
Jennifer
I love my kitchen, I love to bake and cook. This is how I best love to bless my family.
Recently I felt like God was asking me to "fast", but He didn't direct me to give up food. Instead He asked that I bless my family with time, and honor His holy day.
So a few weeks ago I began. Sundays are now family days, with zero computer time for me.
It was nice having a day without having responsibilities online. My kiddos loved having time with mommy uninterrupted.
I'm looking forward to continuing to bless my family with my undivided attention, and many other ways!
I know this is something my family desired, as much as God did.
Has your family asked you to do something different?
It just might end up being a blessing to you and them if you try what they've asked! It was for me!
Judith, WholeHearted Home
Over the years I didn't think about how I was blessing my family through the many things I did for them throughout each day. I was often just doing what needed to be done. It is such a blessing when an older woman can come along side us and lift us up with encouragement. That is what I want to do for you today.
There are ways that I can bless my family even though, soon enough, they will all have fledged the nest. Today, I am going to focus on how I am blessing my family while I still have my two youngest at home and those years when everyone lived under the same roof.
I hope that you will see how you are also blessing your family.
Here are five things I did for my family of nine when we had a young family:
I made
On Saturday and Sunday I made something like pancakes or French toast (it offset the weekday oatmeal).
I made homemade strawberry preserves after we had a wonderful time picking them.
I made homemade cookies especially around Christmas time.
I homeschooled them all from start to finish.
I took them for walks along the river at the end of our road.
I took them to parks where we could hike, picnic, and play.
Here are five things I do for my shrunken family of four:
I have been focusing on my dear husband by making his lunches as interesting as possible, baking him good things, going on errands when he needs it, rubbing his feet, and whatever else he needs.
Make lunches for three.
Keep comfort food available whenever I can ($$).
Stop and LISTEN whenever my children talk to me (I just love it!!) because my youngest two won't be here forever (that much I've learned!!)
Overlook the two most important things I taught
Do what used to be their chores because I am not busy homeschooling anymore and they are super busy working crazy hours and online college for my daughter.
Just remember that whatever mundane repetitive tasks you do each day, month, and year blesses your family more than you'll ever know. It doesn't seem like you are blessing your family at the time, but you are!
Meghan, First Comes Love
If you had told me over twenty years ago when I was married that eventually I would look for ways to be a blessing to my family, I would never have believed you. But the Lord has worked wonders in my heart, and now I actively seek to bless my family through my words, actions, and attitudes. When we are a blessing to others, it, in turn, is a blessing to us. But how can we bless our families? Here are just a few ways:
- Respecting my husband – giving value to his words and opinions
- Listening
- Words of encouragement
- Smiles
- A touch on the arm
- A batch of chocolate-chip cookies, maybe even double :)
- Teaching my children about the Lord and how to live a life of faith
- Practicing frugality so that my husband’s paycheck is stretched as far as it will go
- Disciplining the children
- Spending devotional time with the Lord every morning
- Praying for my husband and our children
- Praise of both my family members and the Lord
- Keeping up with the laundry
- Flexibility
- Saying thank you
“Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her.” ~Proverbs 31:28
Her husband also, and he praises her.” ~Proverbs 31:28
