I was watching an old episode of The Waltons, late yesterday afternoon. I loved to see their large old house and how productive everyone was at home. There was cooking and baking, mending and sewing, cleaning and gardening. There was always so much to do and so much excitement with a house full of people.
Then I heard thunder outside. A large storm came in and took away the power in our house. This is not normal. We rarely ever lose power, here in the rural mountains of Vermont. Even in the midst of a snowy blizzard, we usually keep our power. It was a little shocking.
The evening hour was fast approaching. Things were getting dark. Mister set up his old lanterns at the parlour table. We sat in the old antique chairs and visited while we waited for our kitchen to start working again. One cannot make tea or treats when there is no electricity for the stove.
As the hours passed, some of the children played cards by candle-light. Grandbaby was tucked into bed for the night. The entire town was quiet.
The sound of the rain was pleasant, but the thunder and lightening was a little frightening at times. Some of us wanted to read, but the dim lights would not give us enough light to see. Someone stopped by to visit. We heard work crews out behind the property. There was some excitement for a little while.
At some point, many of us went to bed. It had been a tiring day. There would be plenty to do in the daylight, even if we didn't have power. Somehow, during the night, it was restored and all was back to normal.
This morning, as I listened to old gospel on my kitchen radio, and worked about the house, I was grateful for our electricity. Yet, sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have all the comforts of electricity, without the dependence on television, computers and radios like we have today. Perhaps that is something that each family can work on, to set rules and limits on their use.
The Amish have rules for the way they live, so that the modern world does not seep in and take away their simple life of service for the Lord. They have boundaries and limits on what they will allow into their daily lives. This reminds me of the resolutions great ministers used to make years ago - Puritan Jonathan Edwards and John Wesley come to mind. They set up plans for their daily actions and lives and resolved to do them. This is what is missing in many of our modern lives. This, to me, is the lesson of the loss of electricity, for those few evening hours. Many of us need to decide, much like the Amish, what will be best for our own homes. We need to find a way to keep resolutions for a godly home, and decide what that means for each us.
Blessings
Mrs. White
From the Archives:
Called Home to Heaven? Come home to Suppertime - Real Old Fashioned Suppers.
Life for the Working Class - Living without Credit Cards.
The Sweet Notes for a Clean House - Chore Letters for My Children.
Order My Books:
For Home-keeping Inspiration, - For The Love of Christian Homemaking.
A 90 Day Bible Study, inspired by John Wesley, - "Early Morning Revival Challenge"
To Encourage the Mother of Waywards - Mother's Faith.
The incredible life and marriage testimony of Connie Hultquist - Dear Kitchen Saints.
An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.
(based on the Amish book by Beverly Lewis.)
by Melody Carlson