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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / inspiration / Faith / Soap suds and long-lasting comfort

Soap suds and long-lasting comfort

July 2, 2020 · 6 Comments
Filed Under: Faith, lifestyle

My eyes close for just a moment. I’m brought to a quiet place where the garden blooms are full outside my kitchen window. This is a slice of happiness, as my mind and body are weary. The color of the blooms are both bold and delicate, unmatched to any Crayola crayon we own. There are birds fluttering within the bushes and branches, synchronized in their flight.

Nothing outside appears dirty or noisy, though I know in my mind beneath the garden blooms are worms, wet dirt, and decomposition, and inside the bushes is squawking and wing-flapping.

Beauty may exist on the outside, but peace that exists on the inside is far better. 

My hands are deep within the wash basin as I scrub and rise our dishes. The room is unkempt from where I stand, yet as I look out the window at the flowering containers I know the view looking in to our home looks entirely different as well. After all, honest perspective provides a different type of lovely.

Beauty here and beauty there, too.

I appreciate a kitchen that works hard, one that stores our plates and silverware, one that holds dutch ovens and mixing bowls and colanders, where the fridge keeps the produce fresh and the water cool. But, I long for a kitchen large enough that when I move around to grab the next ingredient I don’t bump into little ones or step on toes, causing both of us to lose our balance and patience.

Small spaces have the ability to develop good character and mold hearts. Am I choosing the right character?

I take a deep breath. My children run to me so I can resolve their troubles. They share their joys, I help them with creative projects, and the effort needed to parent well is sometimes too much to bear. Abide, I remind myself. I continue to keep bearing.

Even so, in this closed-eye moment at the kitchen sink, no one complains that the day feels too hot, nor the night too cold. Life isn’t lonely, but rather steadily enriching. Later on, my soul is hopeful as the moon appears in the dark of the night. I don’t long for what I don’t have. Abide.

When I open my eyes and re-focus on the suds within the wash basin, I realize I have all these things I daydream about, including so much more.

None of these special moments come to me all at once; no. What long-lasting comfort would come of that? Instead, these heartfelt moments come steadily, at their own pace, just as I need them to. In between them, I’m met with earthly aches and hurts and toiling. But in my heart, I rest in His deeply-rooted comfort. In my heart, I know He always provides.

There is great joy to experience in the morning, as the mourning fades away.

The loveliest of daydreams are right in front of us, in between the soap suds and the birds squawking and flower blooms. Do you notice them? Today, yesterday, and tomorrow; they are with us. Nothing that causes our wings to flutter can’t be soothed by Christ, for we are fed and cared for by Him. Under His wings we abide. This is not too much to bear.

xx, Maggie

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RECENT POSTS BY MAGGIE:

Our summer schedule with young children

The steady rhythm of slumber

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The secret to staying calm

3 questions to ask your family…

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6 Comments
Filed Under: Faith, lifestyle

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Comments

  1. Megan says

    July 2, 2020 at 12:17 pm

    Absolutely love. Thank you for this.

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      July 3, 2020 at 7:21 am

      Thanks for chiming in, Megan! xx

      Reply
  2. Sierra says

    July 3, 2020 at 6:54 am

    Beautiful! Loved your ending remark about under His wings we abide as I’ve been meditating on Psalm 91:4 lately. Love that picture of being covered by Him no matter what big or little trials we face in the day as mothers and women.

    Reply
    • Maggie Whitley says

      July 3, 2020 at 7:22 am

      It’s quite the comfort :) And I love that chapter of Psalm, so many comforting thoughts. Thanks for sharing your thoughts this morning, Sierra! xx

      Reply
  3. Elizabeth says

    February 20, 2021 at 2:33 pm

    Beautiful reflections!

    Reply

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ABOUT MAGGIE WHITLEY DESIGNS:
Maggie Whitley weaves her writings around joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith, and simple living. She homeschools her children, enjoys a quiet room while reading, and roars with laughter over the challenges & delights of motherhood. Maggie and her husband, along with their four young children, live in metro-Detroit. She has been writing online since 2008.
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maggiewhitley

JOY in motherhood & homemaking 🧺🌿💓✨

maggiewhitley
Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect o Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect on the moments I’ve felt my mind spinning, my emotions swirly, it’s almost always when I’m not feasting on the word of God. Not that reading scripture is the cure for anxiety —no! Rather, it’s hard to worry when we’re worshipping.
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#womenintheword #wearethehomemakers #scripture #dailyintheword #titus2woman #healthylifestyle #mentalhealth #anxiety #anxietyawareness
Current backyard status: stunning in wonder ❄️ Current backyard status: stunning in wonder ❄️✨
A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is hot, and the whisper of a page turning. ♨️☕️📖 // We are breaking from school this week, my plan is to read a lot, walk a lot, and rest a lot. How about you?

#mothersofinstagram #tea #winterreading #hygge
I fought every internal comment I could think of a I fought every internal comment I could think of and took my kiddos for a looooong walk today before dinner. ❄️✨ There’s just so much work required to raise children! I’m feeling like a tired lady. But sunshine & fresh air are good companions to keep around. 

We came home and I made “the best dinner ever”. Max specifically announced, “it’s so great you’re launching new meals to the world”. LOL— kids! 🤣👏🏻💓
How about a little Wednesday night introduction? 😘Social media sure has changed over the years and we don’t always SEE who we’re following or remember WHY we’re following certain accounts. 

So, hello! As you can gather, my name is Maggie ;) 

I started writing online (almost 13 years ago) to share the handmade products I was sewing. My shop was called Gussy Sews. ✂️👛I love the community that has grown from sewing & sharing online.

Let’s FFW to today: Zack and I live in Michigan and have four young children (2 boys & 2 girls). I slowly left the handmade industry and walked right into homemaking, homeschooling, and encouraging women through writing. 💕📝

Motherhood has been very hard on me. (And not just because of how close in age our four children are.) It’s been hard for me because I fought for years to accept that *it’s supposed to be hard*. 

I mean, how do you effectively teach another person to know and love the Lord? Bc that’s how I think of motherhood: a calling to nurture others by studying the One who nurtures me. So I gotta make the first move: study the Bible and seek Him first. As my friend Autumn reminded me, vulnerability births transformation. 

(I’ve had to be really vulnerable!)

So, yes motherhood has fully transformed me. But even more so, Christ has fully transformed me. My list of “all that He’s done for me” is off to a beautifully long start.

Something else I want you to know about me: I stalled for years before acknowledging I have anxiety and depression. It’s hard to talk about this because of course this isn’t forever “my hardship”, but rather because acknowledging this means to heal I have to work through some really difficult things. ✨

But my friend Jesus walks alongside me. He’s already done a mighty work in my heart, including helping me process my anger in healthier ways. I’ve also adopted a heart for sisterhood, mothering, and Titus 2 mentorship.

Sometimes our greatest losses are our greatest gains? That’s what I’m clinging to!

How about you? Tell me something about yourself so I can get to know you on a deeper heart level. 🖤🖤
How do you play in the winter? // We had a really How do you play in the winter? // We had a really great time visiting family in northern Michigan. On my blog I share a few ways we played outside, plus I describe a memorable childhood game ❄️☃️. Did you play it as a kiddo?
We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens in the morning (HGTV), playtime before lessons, and not enough quiet time after lunch. This made for a really, ummm, unenjoyable learning experience. 

But today! Today we reset the rhythm, and we have had a much happier home & time learning together. 👏🏻
Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — t Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — think outside the box in terms of how you view the definition of “motherhood” 💓😘 (also: look at my little friend, she’s sooooo snuggly)
It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hop It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hope to bundle up for another family nature walk, knowing the fresh air sweeps out any & all frustration, inviting inspiration inside. ✨That’s something we all need more of.
seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming the Laundry Beast (as a family of 6). Who wants the inside scoop? ✔️🧺👏🏻
Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomo Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomorrow :) small celebrations like this are very life giving! PS. thinking of starting a zoom book club — I need more sisterhood in my life. 👏🏻📖
The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are turning. The tea is calm. 🖤☕️🧺📖
Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his ful Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his full costume and laser blaster and of course the Buzz action figure he flys around 🌟💚💙💨someone has discovered a superhero crush! #joyinmotherhood #slowmornings #surprisedbymotherhood // Landon @ 2.5yo
Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to read this year. Plus my reading goal for the year. And a few practicals ways I fit in reading as a mama of four young children & homeschooling them. Basically, all the good stuff ☺️💓📖 #maggiewhitleydotcom #readersofinstagram #read #readmorebooks
It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the fu It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the furniture as we took the tree down Tuesday midday. Def one of my fav things to do.🎄👋🏻 We made it through our first week back to school since mid-December! It was rough to begin but ended with high fives. ⭐️✏️This morning I zoomed with a mama friend and I’m impressed with the many topics we covered. Sisterhood is sooooo necessary! ☕️👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏼

Just a few cheery memories from my week! How about you?
Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activiti Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activities. I finished my last book moments before 2020 ended, which brought my started list to a close. Small joys add up to big joys ;)

What are you reading this year? Currently?

How many books are you planning to read? What’s your goal?

I’ll share what’s on my list for 2021 soon as I received some nice titles at Christmas. 📖✨🤍
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