This post is written as part of Ruth Soukup’s Secret 13 Blog Tour, which I am excited to be a part of along with many other inspiring bloggers. 🙂
She works hard day and night, the first awake and the last to bed. Preparing three home cooked meals a day, attending to the mounting laundry, cleaning up after nine people, finding some quiet moments to spend with a cup of tea and her bible, a little mid-day job to go to, food shopping, taking care of the dog, never forgetting the needs of her aging Mom who lives under the same roof, gearing up the Mom mobile to get everyone to after school activities. A whirlwind of activity before the kids rest their heads to sleep, clean up, a little time to herself, and a little time to spend with her husband.
Get up and do it all over again.
Get up and do it all over again.
Living on a budget, making ends meet, cleaning a home, caring for six kids, a husband and her Mom, ministering to others, building lasting friendships, striving to be a godly woman.
The kids are grown now and starting families of their own, the house downsized, feeding only her husband and herself, barely any laundry, no dog to care for, her Mom in a nursing home slowly fading away from Parkinson’s, and heading out to work each day.
Spending time with a cup of tea, her bible, her husband, her kids, and her friends are things that she still does.
She knows contentment, she loves the simple things, there’s always enough to go around, giving of herself is just her way, and she knows true joy. There is something that I knew already in my heart, and now that I am a Wife and a Mom taking care of a home and a family of my own I know it’s true.
My Mom knows the secret of contentment! She knows how to life the good life. She has set the example and has shown me through the life that she has led what it means to live out Proverbs 31.
Reading Ruth Soukup’s book Living Well Spending Less-12 Secrets of the Good Life just brought to life what I already knew in my heart to be true.
Reading Ruth Soukup’s book Living Well Spending Less-12 Secrets of the Good Life just brought to life what I already knew in my heart to be true.
My Mom pictured here with my blonde sweet girl!
I do not know how else my Mom could have done it without knowing true contentment. She cooked every night, mopped the floor at midnight, stayed up for late night chats, worked outside the home, date nights with my Dad, taking care of Gram, and still found time to spend in God’s word and to pray each day.
In chapter three of her book Ruth talks about finding your sweet spot, your passion, and to work at it. She encourages us that we all have a sweet spot using Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
My Mom’s sweet spot and her passion was and still is her family and caring for others. Even though we are all grown she still cares for us by talking and praying with us, supporting us, babysitting our kids, and spending time with us. She cares for others daily talking with, sharing, listening to, and praying with all the residents of the nursing home where she works and my Grandma lives.
Ruth’s book is filled with so many great words of encouragement, advice, personal stories, scripture verses, and life lessons learned. She shares with us her own journey of finding the good life and the 12 secrets that she has found to be the key.
In chapter two Ruth shares that contentment is a choice, choosing to have an attitude of gratitude for all the things that we have both big and small. Recognizing that we have been abundantly blessed when we stop and think of all that is made available to us like running water, food, shelter, and medicine. Finding the good life in all things.
In chapter two Ruth shares that contentment is a choice, choosing to have an attitude of gratitude for all the things that we have both big and small. Recognizing that we have been abundantly blessed when we stop and think of all that is made available to us like running water, food, shelter, and medicine. Finding the good life in all things.
Many of these things I have learned from watching my Mom, and some of these things are a work in progress as I walk along my own journey as a woman of God, a wife, and a mother.
Ruth has captured words that I have thought myself and has given me affirmation that I am not alone, hope that my goals can be achieved, encouragement that true contentment can be found, and the excitement to live the good life.
It’s a journey that I plan to walk as well, won’t you join us?
Discover your own secret of the Good Life in Ruth Soukup’s new book, Living Well Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life. Through personal stories and practical action plans, she will inspire you to make real and lasting changes to your personal goals, homes, and finance. It is real, honest, and speaks to the heart of the matter—how can you live the life you’ve always wanted?
Proverbs 31:26-29
“She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
“She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
