Aug. 17, 2007 - Visions of Loveliness
As a little girl, I had many visions of loveliness that, when put together, created my imagined future. My visions usually involved being a feminine, delightful woman married to a masculine bread-winner of a man. I imagined that I would wear long, flowing dresses and skirts that trailed behind me as I flitted about my lovely home, dusting this and pressing that, humming along the way. I even went so far as to clip long strands of yarn to my head and pretend that it was my delicious head of long locks, crowning me with softness and glorious womanhood! As a little girl, I had my family all created, seventeen children in all, each with a carefully selected first and middle name. I would stand in front of the mirror in my bedroom and pretend to introduce them all to an eager crowd of people. Even in my pretend world, I felt a maternal pride at my large brood. I invisioned that my home would be filled with laughter (surely, with 17 children, a child's laughter would be an ever-present melody!), with fresh air, with treasures and beautiful things, with cleanliness and organization, with sweet smells and soft linens, fresh flowers and home-grown vegetables, warm fires and ice cold sun tea and and on my little girl list went.
I was recently pondering these visions of loveliness that I once had. Many of these visions have become reality. For example, I am so very blessed to be married to a masculine (in every way!) man who takes great pride in being the sole provider for this family. Some of those visions will likely never become a reality; my husband would most certainly develop an ulcer at the thought of having 17 children! But the rest of these visions of loveliness have been put up on a shelf, where they have collected dust and cobwebs, where they are stored for a day, a moment in time, when life is still enough to get them down and put them to use. Why are they up there? What a waste, isn't it? I have a head of long hair but I don't enjoy it as I once invisioned that I would. I pull it quickly up into a pony-tail almost daily, just to get it out of the way. Where did my vision of loveliness go? Nearly every day, I pull out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, neither of which portray my once invisioned graceful and feminine attire. Where did my vision of loveliness go? And my home is a wonderful and safe and warm and dry. But practicality and busy-ness has shrouded my visions of fresh flowers and warm fires and sweet smells.
A little girl has no clue what it takes to be a vision of loveliness, really, nor what it takes to transform those visions into reality. She does not know that fresh flowers, at times, may need to relinquish their position on the bedside table to a puke bowl. She does not know that her long locks of golden hair will, at times, smell of spit up and bacon grease. She does not know that her visions of a clean and tidy home will have play doh, chicken poo on a forgotten boot and dog hair on its floors to sweep and mop up, fingerprints and face prints on the windows to wash off, and a fresh pile of laundry to greet her every single morning. A little girl does not know that someday, her visions of loveliness will collide with cosmic force into her reality.
And so what does one do? I have been too quick to give precedence to reality. Reality exists, certainly. As the baby onesie says, "Spit up happens". But I would like to put more effort into complimenting my reality with the visions of loveliness that I once had, that still exist within, that beckon me and draw me in. Jeans are fine, pony tails serve a purpose, and puke bowls are essential. But they don't eliminate the need for, nor the desire for, loveliness. Could, perhaps, reality and childish visions walk hand in hand? Could the puke bowl and fresh flowers co-exist? Yes, they can. What one will get is a very lovely reality! Yes, its my new endeavor!
Comments
Aug. 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by stillgrowing
You know, I really believe that your little girl fantasies can be a reality, co-existing with your daily life. You can buy some skirts and comfie dresses, you can wear a headband instead of a pony tail every day, you can get a little bigger bedside table so that the flowers and the vomit bowl can be side by side.......I pray I don't step on your toes, I just want to offer ideas. The main things of your dream did come true.......
do you really want 17 kids? Maybe if you snuck them in slowly, hubby wouldn't notice, and I bet he'd love them!!! LOL!
My dreams that have come true cannot even hold a candle to the imaginings of my girlhood.....THANK YOU, FATHER!!! I never had the types of visions you did, I never imagined long hair and fresh flowers and beauty all around. I imagined brief cases, career wear and fancy lunches out. But God has given me a life that I love, and I never, not even for a moment, want to go back. I'm so glad to be who He made me, and I'm so glad He wants to keep working on me!
I love your blog. You're on my friends list now....so now you're just a click away!
Do you live around Longview WA???? I noticed the coast pictures, and we're only an hour away from Long Beach.....just wondering!
Leanne
Aug. 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
You are still lovely!
Thanks for sharing...Michelle
http://strivingforproverbs31.blogspot.com
Aug. 18, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Rebeca
Good thoughts.... it really is easy just to get sucked into the practical and forget about loveliness and those extra touches that make things not just ordinary and functional, but special. Have you read Edith Schaeffer's The Hidden Art of Homemaking? (Sometimes just called Hidden Art.) If not, I'd highly recommend it. She talks a lot about bringing beauty into our lives, and offers many practical suggestions too. Hmmm, I think I may need to reread it myself.
I think too, it may be something kids could get on board with too. It seems that even boys like to pick flowers or could be in charge of making a little centerpiece for the table with treasures from the outdoors.
Keep us posted on how you bring beauty into your home- maybe we can spur each other on!
Bless you, and thanks for sharing these thoughts.
Rebeca
