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housekeeping;
cleanliness her second, which is like unto the first in importance.
She lets extra rooms, furniture and fallals go until she can pay well
to have them cared for. The same rule obtains in her kitchen and
her personal dress. The wise woman
thinks of comfort and allows time for the joys of life, wherefore all
her life is a pleasure. The foolish
woman is ground under the wheels of routine. To her, housework is a
stern "duty" which comes first, and to which body, mind, personal
appearance, happiness, the joy of living, all must be sacrificed. Lastly,
firstly, and all the time, the wise woman is guided in what to do and in what
to leave undone, by the Spirit of Love; whilst the foolish woman
is guided by the Spirit of Appearances. Note the order
in which I have written these needs of life; an exact reversal of
the usual order. Housework last, and the Spirit of Comfort first. The
tendency of every woman is to lose herself in troubling over the many
things of her household. If she would be happy, useful, young and
growing she MUST turn her life the other side up. The best way
to begin, the only successful way so far as I know, is by MAKING time
for the hour of reading and meditation and silence. She must take the time,
by sheer force of will - take it until it grows into a habit which
takes her. Out of this hour will come first peace and self-control;
and gradually she will find unfolding out of this peace and control,
the wisdom to know what to do, and how; and what not to do. From this
unfolding comes the ONLY power which can make new thought practical to
the individual case. Are you
satisfied with yourself and your condition? Then pursue your old ways. Are you
dissatisfied with yourself and surroundings? In order to change them YOU must
change - that which was first with you must become last AND THE
LAST MUST BE FIRST. Be still and
know the I AM God of you; and, lo, all things shall be added. But the
things must be last, not first. Seek ye first
the it; and all
things shall be added. All things shall be added to YOU, not to other
things. Be still until
you find yourself - your wise, loving, joy-giving Self which dwells
in the silence and is able to do whatsoever you desire.
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