“”If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!’”
“We smile as we read the wall plaque in the novelty store. But our smile quickly turns to a frown if truly “Mama ain’t happy.” This is because the wife and mother in a family often “sets the tone” in the home. The “tone” God wants her to set is one of joy, optimism, and a delight in the Lord and in her family. If your family were called upon to describe you, what would they say?”
~ by Martha Peace ~
“The Excellent Wife“
(excellent book - highly recommended!)
U
hhgggg! Should I really write on this one? Our home can be quite chaotic busy with ten kids, including teens and a baby that needs his diapers changed, homeschooling, the phone ringing for me, my kids AND my husband’s small engine repair business that interrupts meals, early in the morning, late at night and even Sundays (though we are CLOSED). I don’t know how many times we have sat down for dinner and someone comes up the driveway with their lawnmower. The phone is easier to ignore. It’s can be easy to mutter something about “not again” and discourage my husband’s growing business. I am working on thanking God for ALL things.
But keeping joy and peace on Sundays, can even be a harder accomplishment. This past Sunday was one of those “one-thing-after-the-next” days. I had been gone to Milwaukee for a cousin’s funeral and got back late Saturday night, so I began a load of wash before church on Sunday, since we were low on diapers and dishtowels, a necessity. We’ve had a nagging problem with our well pump - and I’ve been nagging my husband to get it fixed. If too much is running, the water stops running - no water - zip, zero - it’s gone. The washer was filling with water, one of the kids was taking a shower, and another one washing potatoes for dinner. The water disappeared. No water right before church is not a good thing. I wanted to take a shower, but that was not possible. My oldest son had an “excuse” to not shave, going to church all scruffy looking. (arrggg!) I needed to wash little one’s milky faces. Thankfully diaper wipes took care of that (but NOT my hair). So, we made it to church, late, and being late, means sitting fourth row from the front. Then I noticed at church that another son had jeans on with the “in style holes” right in the back pocket - yes, see through to the white underwear. Another, ARRRGGGG! So those two sons did get a few words from me.
We got home after church, to find a customer here, even though the sign and advertisements say “closed Sunday” and no, we don’t just quickly take in jobs, so we had to politely tell him to come back again. While I finished making dinner (without water) my husband worked on trying to prime the pump and get the well working again. We ate dinner late, but still no water. Leaving it to go to church worsened it, because it lost all it’s prime and left lots of air in the pipes. He worked on it at least four hours, and though he got it working, the pressure now is even lower. The inevitable of needing a new pump and/or well, is looming around the corner.
I was rather bummed - our Sunday majorly interrupted, and trying to keep the peace and not be muttering under my breath “I told you to fix that” was there in my mind at times, but thankfully I did not utter it aloud. If I had let my emotions control me, I may have said to my husband, “Since YOU did not fix that stinkin’ pump, YOU make the dinner without water!” There’s been a time when such a thing did happen, and the whole meal was given to the chickens to eat.
As a wife and mom and a woman with hormones, it’s easy to let situations take over and ruin a day or days. It many times takes special effort to put it in God’s hands, to know He is in control, and that He can work through my husband and kids much better than I can. Giving that soft answer and striving to be that Proverbs 31 wife is a daily goal. Instead of my family saying ‘If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!’ I’d rather be known that mom helps bring peace and comfort into the home - that when things aren’t good, mom has a way of calming things down. This is still an unaccomplished goal.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life . . . She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Proverbs 31:11-12, 26-28

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This week,
Christin is hosting “In ‘Other’ Words” at her site,
As Gold Refined. Be sure to visit her site and the links to the other women who have shared on this quote.
Be blessed.