an anachronism

Contentment Cottage is an anachronism…something located at a time when it could not have existed or occurred. It is written by someone (me) who seems to be displaced in time; who belongs to another age. But that’s alright…since my goal is to fulfill Apostle Paul’s instructions for the older women of the first-century church where Titus acted as Pastor.

Bid the older women likewise to be reverent in behavior, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be sensible, chaste, domestic, kind, and submissive to their husbands, that the word of God may not be discredited. Titus 2:3-6 RSV.

Let me take a few moments to address each directive:

To love – Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him. _1 Corinthians 13
To be sensible and chaste – What matters is not your outer appearance—the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes—but your inner disposition. Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in. The holy women of old were beautiful before God that way, and were good, loyal wives to their husbands. Sarah, for instance, taking care of Abraham, would address him as “my dear husband.” You’ll be true daughters of Sarah if you do the same, unanxious and unintimidated. _1 Peter 3
To be domestic – She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing. She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day.
She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden.
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking.
She’s quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor.
She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear. She makes her own clothing, and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.
Her clothes are well-made and elegant, and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive. _Proverbs 31
To be kind – Kindness is the sign of a loving heart, one of the greatest of all virtues. A kind person is pleasant, good, gracious—always appreciated. There’s a lot of talk these days about “random acts of kindness.” Maybe this is because we live in a society starved for good deeds. God is our model for kindness. The kindest act ever committed was God’s sending his own Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins so that we might live forever in heaven. God also showers us with kindness each day, sending sunshine and rain, food and friends, comfort and encouragement, boundless love and wisdom. We should be kind to one another _Ephesians 4:32
To be submissive to her husband – an unpopular idea in 2015. Often misinterpreted, and misrepresented submission is not a suggestion, but a command from God himself; a command he presents with good reason. Modern women (young and old) stubbornly resist the idea of submitting. Stubbornness comes out of pride—we think our way is best, or at least we want others to think that, so we refuse to give in. Stubbornness is not a respecter of others’ thoughts or ideas. When we know what God wants and refuse to do it, we show our stubborn rebellious nature against God. Stubbornness is being, unyielding, refusing to move, refusing to change. It is hardened resistance to another, or to God himself. Not only that, stubbornness usually keeps us from doing what is best for us and thus in the end we hurt ourselves. _Proverbs 13:10

If, by the grace of God, even one of the visitors to my blog is influenced in a positive way by what is written by this older woman then I have been successful. And to God be all the glory.