My mom found a great yard sale last weekend and brought me home some vintage trim treasures and this beautiful piece of smocking was in the bag. It’s been sitting on my desk for a few days and I keep thinking about how lovingly someone made it—stitch by stitch. It’s like everything we sew—stitch by stitch.
And then I read this quote and thought it was so apropos.
“Just as a little thread of gold, running through a fabric, brightens the whole garment, so women’s work at home, while only the doing of little things, is like the golden gleam of sunlight that runs through and brightens all the fabric of civilization.” ~Laura Ingalls Wilder
She is so right. It’s the little things.
One story….
I remember a time when I was in middle school coming home from school one day to a bowl full of neatly cut up carrots floating in a big bowl of ice cubes. They were waiting for my sister and brothers and I to get home from school. Ordinarily, this wouldn’t have been a big occurrence, but you see my mom was working full-time then. My dad had lost his job and my mom was supporting us during that school year.
I don’t remember why she was home that day, or even any other circumstances surrounding that occasion—but I remember knowing that by cutting up carrots and putting them in ice water for us—that she was showing her love. It was a little thing. But to me it wasn’t, it was a big thing.
So, for this week my goal is to do a “little things” for each of my kids (and hubby too)–so that they will absolutely know how important they are to me.
I guess I just needed the reminder this week that it isn’t the big things—it’s the little ones that matter.
~Elizabeth
ah, thank you for that story – I’ve also grown up with a mother always doing little things to show us she loves us!
So sweet! Moms are the best, especially when they touch our hearts with gestures like that. I loved reading this post!!!
I love that qoute and so timely as my 10 year old just did a “Famous Missourian” project for school on Laura Ingalls Wilder. She has been reading the books and loves them stating “life seemed so simple, classic, and refined”. Too cute. And it is the little things–always. My favorite times are being at home with the family doing basic things, together, having fun, being happy and healthy. And I am happy I have chosen to do the little things for my family as my “profession” as I believe the little things are so much more than that 🙂
What a lovely post! I love the smocking, quote, and story about the carrotts. I feel very inspired.
That is machine smocking, not hand smocking. Just so you know.
Beautiful thoughts, Elizabeth. So often we got caught up doing the gray of the day that we totally forget to make a golden day, thanks for the reminder.
With Love,
Scary
So timely! My husband have been taking this series of Lectures by John L. Lund, on marriage and relationships. At this weekends class, they talked about Love Languages, and while I thought my husband was just lazy for wanting me to pack his lunch in the morning, turns out his love language is acts of service. He feels loved when I make his lunch in the morning, and at noon, when he heats it up, he thinks of me fondly… Who knew! It is the little things…
I love this, thank you for sharing. =)
I agree with you, it is the small things that mean the most. Thanks for sharing your sweet memory and for the reminder of what is important. Hope you are having a great day!
Ok, I need to think about packing lunches like that!!! Awesome thought…
What a nice story. You just never know what little thing will leave a lasting impression of love.
Amen sister! Ps. I recently stumbled upon an already made dress at an estate sale, size 2T (my daughters size), minus the buttons and a finished hem and thought about the woman who did the brunt of the work, thankful for those dear women and great finds! My daughters already worn it 🙂
This is so wonderful post, I love the smocking, quote, and story about the carrotts. I feel very inspired. thanks for sharing. Painters