I love to discover new words. In fact, I quite like making up new words. Sometimes we must find new words to describe very special and beautiful things. Here are some words to fill your home.
Recently I read the book, “A Severe Mercy” by Sheldon Vanauken which also includes 18 unpublished letters by C. S. Lewis. It is the true story of Sheldon and Davy’s romance and life together. They lifted love to a new plane and called their love relationship “inloveness.” To them it was “the greatest glory ever known.” A lovely word to aspire to in our own marriage relationships.
Awhile back I read another new word in one of George McDonald’s books. He talked about “homeness,” picturing the warmth, love, and joy of home. I love this word too. It takes thought, time, love, and prayer to make our home a place of “homeness,” doesn’t it? It’s never wasted time. It’s a beautiful thing. Can we experientially add this word to our vocab?
Let’s keep going. What about “wombness”? Yes, there’s such a word. It’s not some imaginative word. It’s a reality. It’s very much part of who we are as women. In fact, you would not be a woman if you did not have a womb!
However, did you know that that wombness also applies to God? The Hebrew word “racham” is used in the Bible to describe the literal womb of woman, and to also reveal God’s compassion and tender mercy. It is translated “mercy” 32 times. When we embrace our wombness, we reveal the compassion and mercy of God.
The meaning of “feminine” in the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary is as follows: “The first syllable is probably from womb . . . The last part of the word is probably from man, quasi, “femman,” womb-man. To be feminine is to be ‘a womb man.’”
And what about all the other beautiful “ness” words which should fill our home? Don’t gloss over these words, but think about which ones you need to incorporate more into your home life.
Amiableness, availableness,
cheerfulness, cleanliness, courteousness,
faithfulness, forgiveness, fruitfulness,
generousness, gentleness, godliness, goodness, graciousness, greatheartedness,
heavenliness, helpfulness, holiness, humbleness,
joyfulness,
kindness,
loveliness,
meekness, mercifulness, motherliness,
nestingness,
peacefulness, positiveness, prayerfulness, pureness,
respectfulness, restfulness, righteousness,
selflessness, steadfastness, submissiveness, sweetness,
teachableness, tenderheartedness, thankfulness, thoughtfulness, truthfulness,
uprightness, usefulness,
virtuousness,
willingness, and you’ll think of more.
Why not write out in BIG LETTERS the words that speak to you and pin them up in your kitchen and other appropriate places in the home. Change to different words each week. They will inspire you and your children!
Love from Nancy Campbell