Michimomto3

• Jan. 19, 2006 - God's ways are not burdensome....

I read this today in an article that was talking about doing everything from scratch. I've really been contemplating that thought. It's so easy to be overwhelmed with homeschooling, homemaking and homekeeping, doing things from scratch, and the list goes on. But this person is right. God's ways are not burdensome. However, does that necessarily mean that His ways are easy, or without effort? I'm sure the answer is no, but I'm going to have to think a bit on how to tell when I'm "burdened" or when I'm just tired from an honest day's hard work. One thing I am finding, as I strive to live "the simple life" is that simple does NOT equal easy. Simple also requires that I buck the culture more and more. It's almost like a "reprogramming" of living a fast-paced lifestyle where you are dependant on others (i.e. retailers) to provide for your needs, to one where you stay at home, and learn to meet your own needs. (i.e. your son needs a new winter hat because he outgrew the old one, so instead of packing up the kids and heading to Target and spending lots of money, you sit down and knit one in 2 afternoons. I just did this. Yes, it "took me longer" to knit the hat and it took me a week to knit one for each child, but it was far "less stressful" to sit on the couch for 30 or 45 minutes each afternoon and have the chance for my brain to actually rest and THINK while I knitted away. I guarantee you a trip to Target with 3 children in tow would have been far less restful!)