(Image from Just a Family)
As a keeper of home–a guard (according to the Greek connotation in Titus), I need to be reminded of my guarding responsibilities. There is much to guard in my home, and much to guard against.
Perhaps every generation has its own unique challenges, its own unique enemies of home.
And while we could make a never-ending list of things against which we must guard, often the little things are the biggest things.
This generation is noisy. So noisy, we don’t even notice the absence of it. Until the power goes off and then we start threatening the power company to “give us our life back”. Lately it has been heavily on my heart that I need to guard against this noise and carve out “quiet spaces” in our lives.
My husband just changed cell phone companies. The new company boasts better signal coverage and delivers. But guess what? Anyone can reach him at any time of the day, anywhere he is. The phone rings early in the morning, late at night and during dinner time.
That’s normal for most families. But more and more I wonder how much we miss by trying to organize our lives so that we don’t miss anything? Do you know what I mean?
Yes, cell phones are progress. I’m glad to be able to call and have him pick up bread on the way home. But almost every form of progress brings with it an element of hindrance, at best, especially if we don’t deliberately keep it in check.
I remember reading to my children a story about the introduction of the house phone in the author’s family. The father was adamantly opposed to such an intrusion, thinking the ability for people to be able to reach you within the privacy of home was preposterous. It’s almost laughable to read it now, but it’s a glaring look at how easily we’ve accepted more and more intrusion, to the point we’re addicted to it.
And why the need for quiet spaces? To think, to listen, to connect with those closest to you, to retain the really important, hard-to-touch sentiments of family life.
The television, the computer, the telephone, the advertisements, the constant stream of information screaming at us and every moment of the day–it is a realistic part of our lives. And it can be a tremendous advantage. But I am challenged to keep it in check.
I want to guard the quietness of our hearts more carefully.
21 comments
Great post!! Too true. so easy to have no “quiet spaces” without even trying! i really need to be more intentional about this. Thank you!!!! blessings, Jen in al
I know so many people that keep the TV on for “background noise”! They are so used to noise that they are not comfortable in silence. We don’t have TV, but for a while I found I was turning on the radio as soon as I made my way to the kitchen. I don’t do that anymore. I enjoy the silence of being the first to wake.
The TV is the noise maker around this homestead. Every chance I get, I walk by and turn it off. I have been tempted to remove the cable, but DH trumps the idea. My battle continues (Mom VS. TV). lol… I love the silence of early morning and late at night.
“But almost every form of progress brings with it an element of hindrance, at best, especially if we don’t deliberately keep it in check”
Love this post! Deliberately keeping it in check…that’s the key!
Our 5 kids are enough “background noise”. I cannot stand the TV either. We do like to watch movies as a family on family nights, but as far as TV and radio…no way. I am very selective of the times we listen to these things. DH is not as selective…frustrating.
Love the quiet times, too, but do not like it all day. This past Saturday, it was just the two little ones and me almost all day. I was so relieved when everyone got home. I realize this is not what you are talking about, Kelly, and I do cherish the quiet times I have with the Lord or those I love. Saturday did give me the opportunity for some one-on-one time with my 4 year old. It was priceless!
BTW, my oldest dd is named Kelly and the younger kids have come to my computer several times recently and saw your name and picture and have been confused. “That doesn’t look like Kelly”, they say. Then I get to explain who you are and have become to me. I appreciate your nuggets of truth and look forward to reading your posts! I just have to limit my time reading all the old posts as well!!! 🙂
Oh yes… cell phones can be good… but you don’t want me to get started about how everyone thinks if you don’t answer your phone… they have to call your cell and if you don’t answer right away… where were you and what were you doing????? Deep sigh…
I love peace and quiet too! 🙂
“I just have to limit my time reading all the old posts as well!!!”
Me too! I found this blog about 2 weeks ago and I have already learned so much. Thank you, Kelly!
Regarding this post, I am remind of what my DH always says…. Technology is not neutral. That’s one reason why we have chosen not to join Facebook, despite enormous pressure from friends and family. They all argue that it makes sharing photos, news, etc., so easy and fun, but then turn around and complain about how much time it takes up. I always say, what’s wrong with that old-fashioned form of communication called email?
Amanda–“I always say, what’s wrong with that old-fashioned form of communication called email?”
LOL!!!!
I completely agree with you, technology is a curse and a blessing at the same time. It’s good to be contactable at all times when emergencies happen, but sometimes it would be lovely to not be contactable and have some quiet!
I think mobile phones are the worst in some senses – people assume you are always available. In fact, I have some friends who get quite paranoid if I don’t answer my phone and assume I’m ignoring them when in fact I just decided to put my phone on silent for a bit of peace! We’re going on holiday to a remote part of Wales next week – no phone signal, hurray!
Oh, wow, this post is like a breath of fresh air! I’m getting tickled at what you all are saying about the cell phones being annoying b/c people think you should always be available. So true. Our family members call and call, and then text saying “I called you”. Sometimes I want to remind them of their own words…you know..how “crazy” I am for my three children born in three years. Ha! Most the time I can’t get to the phone just for wiping something…counter tops, bottoms, noses! 🙂 I don’t like most “new” technology, nor do we use it. Email is new to me! Ha! Twitter, facebook and who knows what else is totally foreign to us. We are such old foggies…at 25/26years old! 🙂
good reminders!
BTW–Amanda and Niki–you’re so welcome.
Oh, I WISH we had a quiet place! But unless I am the only one here, there is usually a noise maker (or two!) going. Right now the biggest racket I hear is the computer fan whirring 🙂 I so wish we could get rid of our television…or at least our satellite use. There are a few shows I would miss, but I could always get the dvd set for those…but overall, it’s all so depraved anymore. Alot of the time my anger and heart rate is stirred up by the trash that passes as entertainment now.
Kelly, I have a question: how do we guard our homes, as keepers, without being overbearing and bossing our husbands? I have a hard time not being a nag over the things brought into our home, but there seems to be no conviction that purity in EVERY area of life is more important than entertainment. I guess that would be my biggest issue right now…it is so so hard for me to keep my mind and words pure and be able to spend time with my husband in the same room. I need to be respectful, and I only word it like this because I don’t know how to put it any other way but: how am I supposed to guard our home from the outside world and the cancerous evils it parades when the captain of the house is bringing it in himself?
My in-laws can’t stand to have the TV off. It’s on first thing in the morning til they go to bed. It’s so distracting to us since we’re no longer used to it, and even if they’re watching something descent, the commercials are horribly offensive.
I tried myspace & facebook, but quit because they’re just so time consuming and it looks like everyone just carried all the drama from highschool into their adult lives.( And I really don’t care for 200 people I went to school with but didn’t really talk to knowing so many details of my life.)
As for the blogs, well, it’s a struggle to prevent them from becoming an idol in my life. While there are so many wonderful blogs out there, I had to decide which would be most beneficial to spend my time reading and delete several others. (This one made the top of the list.):) I would like to blog someday, but am waiting until my littles get a little more self-sufficient.
Emsue,
Hurrah!!!!!
Excellent post! I just have no idea how to impliment it!
Dear Ladies (esp. those who want to Implement this excellent post but have no idea where to begin as you drown in maddness of modernity),
A word from a wise old gal like me (who’s barely in her 30s:). Throw out your cellular phone, tv, radio (except for the old hand crank am one), and high heels (bad for your back anyway and not practical for baby wearing). Grab some cast iron, a few chickens, some non GMO seeds, and load up the truck like the Clampits with your shot guns and rocking chairs- only head for a good piece of land not the hills of Sodom:)
Yes, it’s truly dark at night (no light pollution to disturb the Circadian rhythms) and yes, His Majesty speaks in the stars, an eternity of breathtaking brilliance on those clear quiet nights. Crickets, remember them? The deer and the antelope and the woodpecker…they play and play. Somewhere in all that’s quiet, you pause barefoot in the grass, smell the lilac in bloom, stoop to roll a pebble through your fingers, and Alas!!! the rocks themselves cry out in worship….
Dear ones, if “it” takes precedence over the Lord and Savior, than “it” is an idol. And “It”‘s gotta go! Let’s get back to worship. …I set before you this day life..Duet 30:15
Walk in His ways. Your relatives can send you smoke signals. And you can dig deep in the mud from whenst you came and to where you will one day return and thank the Almighty Maker of heaven and earth and all that in them is that as for me and my house we shall serve the Lord like never before:)
P.S. Husbands can commute til you’re really living of the land.
P.P.S. Tents are acceptable living quarters til the log cabin is built.
P.P.P.S. You really don’t need ALL THAT STUFF!
Much Love and wishing I was more like John the Baptist(anyone out there ever tried Locust?), MML of Locust Grove, the old homestead, a work in constant progress
MML…I am so there! In my heart at least 😉 Patiently waiting for some sort of help with my situation ( I know I can’t be the only one with this issue!)
Dear Mrs. Hester, I understand your heart’s longings… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also Matt 6:21.
But don’t despair; keep looking to the hills-
I lift up my eyes to the hills- Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip –
He who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you
The LORD is your shade at your right hand;
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm –
He will watch over your life;
The LORD will watch over your coming and going
Both now and forevermore.
Psalm 121
My thought goes to 1 Peter 3:1-2 Wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
two wrongs don’t make a right, eh? Being overbearing and bossing is contrary to being a keeper of the home- the keeper keeps peace- keeps her speech chaste…Just as much as the durn TV can be an idol to some- we can make the idea of not having cheap entertainment that would defile us be an idol… am I making sense??? Don’t let the thought “Oh, he shouldn’t bring that mess here to my sacred place” override the biblical instruction to be in subjection and to honor the head. The TV isn’t going to jump out and rip Christ out of your heart- but the constant conflict between you and your husband- now that is the real harm.
Pray. Pray. Pray. God ALWAYS provides the Lamb. You’re on my heart. Maybe the TV will break:)HA!!!
Thanks you so much, MML. I truly appreciate it.
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