Comments on: Mrs. Tittlemouse and a Song of Ascents

By: Lanier Ivester

Lanier Ivester — Wed, 26 May 2010 16:06:22 +0000

Thank you, Josie! Yes, it did make me smile, as much for the gesture as for the story. What a gem…

By: Josie Ray

Josie Ray — Tue, 25 May 2010 22:55:22 +0000

My apologies for an inefficient link. Here's an effective one: Mrs. Tittlemouse's Madcap Cousin, Take II

By: Josie Ray

Josie Ray — Tue, 25 May 2010 18:25:26 +0000

Here it is. One mouse deserves another. Perhaps it will make you smile.

Mrs. Tittlemouse’s Madcap Cousin

By: Josie Ray

Josie Ray — Tue, 25 May 2010 17:16:02 +0000

How very sweet. Those are such dear little pictures, so perfectly placed! Their timing in your prose just made me laugh out loud at times. And I have a mouse tale from my childhood about housekeeping that is always in my head on cleaning days…aaah, nevermind. It doesn’t go well into the telling. I’ll go blog it for you. Back with a link soon.

By: A Crazy Week « Hope Scribbles

A Crazy Week « Hope Scribbles — Mon, 17 May 2010 12:04:57 +0000

[...] Mrs Tittlemouse and a Song of Ascents [...]

By: Sharon Whitehurst

Sharon Whitehurst — Wed, 12 May 2010 16:47:31 +0000

What a lovely and thoughtful piece of writing. If I had to choose only one book of the Bible it would be The Psalms.
I tend to be a “perfectionist” when I’m stitching a quilt, writing an essay–not too much with house-keeping, though I take great joy in making bread and pastry and good soup.
Your exploration of the word “vain” in this context has me thinking of a term which I’ve encountered in older stories: “house-proud.” I think its meant to convey a compliment to a woman who takes great care of her home and possessions, but perhaps there is the hint of of the wrong kind of “pride” there?
Re Beatrix Potter: I just discovered the series of very gentle mysteries by Susan Wittig Albert in which Miss Potter is featured. There is also a sleuthing cat called Crumpet The first book has provided a calming retreat this week in the midst of on-going house renovation, unpacking from a 1500 mile move, starting a huge garden. Sometimes I need to sit still for a bit and ignore the piles of books and the boxes of crockery that haven’t found a place. I may have to employ the Kentucky phrase new to me last week when someone said, “You’ll just have to look over me!”
Thank you for sharing your exploration of a familiar text and for illustrating it with Beatrix Potter and her creatures.

By: Marie

Marie — Wed, 12 May 2010 16:23:46 +0000

Lanier,

Thank you very much for your blog. Whenever I read your words, I feel very close to you, even if we don’t know each other. I too love God, my husband, books and everything british.

A dear friend used to call me Mrs Tittlemouse (Madame Trotte-menue, actually, because I am French… and apologizing for my mistakes). I have always loved this little character, though I am not perfectionist at all. I wish I were sometimes… But you are much wiser than me.

There is something between perfection and nothing, something better: everyday work made with love, each little thing for His Glory. It’s not the quality of our work that matters but the purity of our heart. I can do things perfectly only to please myself. But what is the point?

I am a primary school teacher and every morning, I pray with my pupils, asking Our Lord to make of our day together “something beautiful, something perfect” (which means exactly the same for Him). We try to remember that it’s Him who makes perfection while we offer our classwork to Him, and we try to do our best.

Thank you again, God bless you,

Marie

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 10 May 2010 20:32:32 +0000

Wow…thank you. The struggle with perfectionism is something I’ve dealt with all my life and through various circumstances it kind of came to a head in the last week. As such, the topic has been on my mind a lot, so this post was very timely. It reminded me yet again how serious it is if we try to take things into our own hands when we need to leave them in God’s.

Now that I finally have my own little house to keep (which, I should point out, is the perfect spot to stay if you want to see Yosemite, etc. ), I can completely relate to the struggle to “prevent order and beauty from slipping over into perfectionism”…the line between the two seems so thin at times. Which, yet again, brings us back to the One who we ultimately should be keeping our houses for anyway.

By: Michelle Vantrease

Michelle Vantrease — Sun, 09 May 2010 01:16:51 +0000

Dear Lanier,

Wow, I feel we are of kindred spirit. Thank you so very much for sharing your thoughts and the beautiful talent for writing that God has given you.

I can relate so well to your struggle with perfectionism. You are right, it doesn’t exist outside Jesus.

I don’t get to read your blog as faithfully as I wish I could. Time constraints greatly limit me. But thank you, thank you, thank you again for sharing.

Also, yours and your friends’ voices are absolutely pure.

Blessings I pray upon you and yours,
Michelle

By: Ashleigh (Heart and Home)

Ashleigh (Heart and Home) — Sat, 08 May 2010 05:33:38 +0000

The boys and I have been reading The Tale of Benjamin Bunny before naps this past week and I’m falling in love all over again with every bit of the beauty in these stories.

“Perfection or nothing…” I’m afraid it’s a constant struggle for me to remember that perfection doesn’t exist outside Jesus. He doesn’t expect it from me. He expects me to follow, closely, intimately with Him and obey His voice… in every way, even the ones that seem “mundane.” Beautiful, beautiful words here, sweet friend.