You Need a Refuge

Matthew brought home a new phrase a while back, from old Scotland. 

“Hurkle durkle,” he said. “It means to lie in bed, without guilt, long past time to get up.” 

This has now become a common expression in our home. It didn’t help when I put a new cozy blanket on the bed. It is way too soft and warm and heavy enough to hold you down when you really wanted to get up, intended to get up. And the house is cold in Montana in the morning, so to hurkle durkle is almost self preservation.

Last night we went to the Whitefish Christmas Stroll, which was so fun. It had all the Hallmark movie vibes, with streets filled with vendors, Clydesdales you could pet, a dogsled team poking their heads out of a truck, fires placed every so often along the street, to warm your back side for a minute, live music, dancers, a tree lighting, and for me funnel cakes. Garlands of Christmas lights were strung above our heads. And a woman dressed in a Christmas costume was sitting on the overhang above the sidewalks, with a microphone, singing Christmas music while dangling her feet over the edge. It was delightful, but there was a crushing amount of people. We live in Montana, so we rarely experience a crushing amount of people. I slipped my hand through the crook of Matt’s arm and never let go.  

In Psalm 11:1, we read, “In the LORD I take refuge.”

I don’t know how better to describe taking refuge than to help you imagine a good mash up of hurkle durkling and taking a strong man’s arm in a pressing crowd. 

Warmth.

Strength.

Comfort.

Safety.

Coziness.

Protection.

Calm.

Security.

Warmth.

Strength.

Comfort.

All things homemaking is my new focused theme in writing (maybe not new?) I’ve made lots of lists to talk about, regarding cooking and cleaning and organizing–the usual homemaking stuff. But taking refuge in the Lord is really the crux of thriving as a homemaker. The job is so hard and can be indescribably lonely and stretching and seemingly impossible at times. More than any new habit I could recommend to you, becoming adept at slipping your hand into the crook of God’s arm all day long is the number one most important action I could tell you to take, if you want to create a beautiful home. 

Fold the laundry right away? Great idea. Gather more nutritious recipes? Absolutely. Take some excess stuff to the thrift store? Do it. 

But before any of that, lie in bed under a warm blanket and pray a little longer.