The Milkmaid
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The Simple Life.

What do those words bring to mind for you?

Growing up in the 80’s and early 90’s in the Christian circles,the simple life was a buzz word in many churches.  Everyone looked on the simple life as the goal of every Christian family.  I remember the simple life was almost used synonymous with godliness.

My sister and I would excitedly run back from the mailbox and plop down on the couch with my mother in the middle and read Gentle Spirit for hours, absorbing in and being enthralled by going back to the “simple life”.

I mean who wouldn’t think that a godly homemaker would bake her own bread, grow all of her own food, make all of her own clothes, and raise as many animals as you can?  If you were REALLY dedicated, you might even try to save money by cooking over a woodstove once in awhile.

Returning to the simple life was the goal.  Or was it?

Don’t get me wrong.  I LOVE homebaked bread!  I just planted a fall garden.  We are raising chickens for eggs and rabbits for meat.  We live on land and love to have the open spaces for the children to truly enjoy their childhood.  We have a wood stove that we enjoy sitting around in the winter.

But is this the definition of godliness?

What if I were to move into the suburbs with a tiny yard so that we can be near Daddy’s work and spend 2 more hours a day with him?

What if I bought my clothes at Walmart so that I can spend time looking into my newborn’s eyes?

What if I purchase my bread at Bi-Lo so that I can sit and read Female Piety
with my girls and engage in heartfelt training of their little souls?

There are times when the simple life may not be so simple.

If I am spending every moment filling my days with projects and the “simple things” and have no time for heart religion…it profiteth me nothing.

Reb Bradley has a wonderful quote…‎”A friend of mine, a homeschool mom, just passed away of cancer. In the week before she died, I asked her if she had any regrets in her life. She told me she wished she had baked less bread – she said if she had it to do over again she would buy bread and spend more time with her children. She had invested time and energy in pursuing the “path” because she thought it was part of the spiritual homeschool package…”

So the question is..

Are we making the simple life our religion?

Are there areas I need to simply from the simple life?

Women Living Well,  Raising Homemakers. Women of Noble Character, Soli Deo Gloria Sisterhood, Simply Homemaking, Titus2sdays, Teach Me Tuesdays, Domestically Divine, Womanly Ways Wednesdays  

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