I got up this morning, and the caring for physical bodies began. 1st, however, my java had to be acquired. Thankfully, dh, takes care of that for me and all I have to do is pour, add Splenda and 1/2 and 1/2. Knit a bit on Keepsake Shawl. Then, breakfast for the masses. Spin a bit. Then, off to school. By the time I was in the bath getting my own body ready for the day, it was 11am or so.
I even splurged a bit on myself and pumiced my feet, used a scrub and after I made lunch formasses, applied the toenail polish you see here. The scrubbing is quite necessary because of the winter dryness. The pumice reveals much nicer skin.
The conveniences of modern life give me the ability to live in quiet luxury. Luxury? Surely not, you say. Well.... consider if I was born 100 years ago, romantic thought. I would probably have 10 children ( no bc not to mention the afore said children born at home with no pain killers, horrible thought) by now, and if I was a typical middle class gal, would have to do all the cooking (from scratch), make all my clothes ( I don't sew), and who knows what else. Ask Robin, she is a reenactor, she knows all about what a typical woman's life in some yesteryear was like. I would think that playing that way would be fun for a while, but Claire Randall and Jamie Frasier, I am not.
Think of all the work that has already been done for you. Just to rise and shine. Water-pumped right into your house, and away too!!!! Food-conveniently packaged and kept cool (no killing or harvesting by us necessary). Warm h20 for a bath. Hair dryer, makeup, deodorant, creams for every type of skin ailment-they work most of the time. Clothes-premade, usually. Knitting needles-standardized sizes. Computer-connect to the masses. Phone-talking to friends, no travel required. Yeesh, I could go on and on. My beloved grandmother saw the dawn of each of the modern conveniences.
Much to my shame, I don't really like doing all the niceties of caring for the body. They just take up too much of my day. The cleaning and grooming are a pain not to mention if you want to be stylish. And I do. I would rather be reading, spinning, knitting, playing with kids outside, or talking to you.
Even with all of these wonderful things, I still worry that I don't have enough. That my kids aren't healthy enough. Where will my kids go to college, will they measure up? Will I be able to care for my mother if she moves to Roanoke? How can I repair my relationship with my brother? Goodness, the 'what if's' are enough to have me running to the MD for some Xanax. That's why I like Jesus.
Jesus is one of those people I wish I could have followed around for a while. He sure got peoples attention. Dropped 'bomb' like statements that got people all stirred up all the time. Yet, he was a joyful man. All were drawn to Him. People don't like sour pusses. Masses of people followed Him around. I'll leave you with this quote, by the Man Himself:
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet y our heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin......"
Sermon on the Mount, Jesus
Matthew 6:25
FYI: my homeschooled girls have just caught honeybees in Mason jars. Gotta go rescue the honey makers!!!!
3 comments:
Great post Catie! No doubt about it...life was rough! But a woman with painted toes & fingers would be thought of as...well, a...use your imagination!
Cute Toes!
:)
Sometimes it takes a trip to a third world country for Americans to appreciate anything! We will never recapture the simple life and that's unfortunate. We could become a recluse maybe or at least live on a bit of land and try. I'll take a trip on a time machine anyday!!! And yes, Jesus is the one getting me by in life I know that without a doubt.
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