The Family: Home-Making

This is my all time favorite book!!! I read it in college, and two years after graduating have gifted it to another friend, who is recommending it to her own! It’s not just a gorgeously written book, but it’s one that I find myself rereading and studying to one day build the home that will bring glory and honor to God. And now, as an engaged 20-something yr old woman, I have rebought the book and still read it for self-edification, timely advice, and beautiful inspiration. I haven’t found a book like this one, which focuses on the role of the husband, the wife, the home-life, parenthood, brother and sister dynamics, and more. It’s an 11/10! Not a single regret buying this one random night, even thinking about the book lifts my heart.

This gives good advice for families. My Pastor's wife recommended it.

DON'T LET THE TITLE FOOL YOU! It's not another how to wash the dishes or how to keep a cleaner house,but rather a guide for every family member to do their part in making the home everything God intended it to be. It has the following chapters: The Wedded Life (perfect for those engaged, so they know what they are committing to); The Husband's Part; The Wife's part; The Parents' Part; The Childrens' Part; Brothers and Sisters; The Home-Life; Religion in the Home; Home Memories. Each chapter deals with a different person in the home...one excerpt says, "In home-making each member of the family has a part, and the fullest happiness and blessedness of the home can be attained only when each one's part is faithfully fulfilled. If any one member of the family fails in love or duty, the failure mars the whole household life, just as one discordant voice in a company of singers spoils the music, though all the others sing in perfect accord." It's an amazingly awesome book and is written in 19th century poetic style, making it very enjoyable to read! I was extremely impressed, as was my husband. The wisdom within the pages of this book are priceless and what's amazing, is that it is still relevent for today! However, it does raise the bar and will challenge everyone within the family. (It really zones in on how to treat one another) It's not too demanding, but very scriptural, the same standards that are in the Word of God. It will inspire you moms, and will show you the eternal value of raising your children...it's uplifting and made me (as a mom) feel like I'm doing a more worthy job than leading a corporation, or being the Queen of England! I only wish I had read this book 15 years earlier, when my kids were very little.

Home-Making is such an eloquent, endearing gem in these modern times. I have just purchased my second copy. The first copy was actually stolen, it is that good!It describes what each family members contribution of love is. Every one should read it.It makes a beautiful gift to any one.All my children will own it someday. It teaches, poeticly, what is truly required of the heart of a person,what love really is, the expression of love, and the bonds of love. It would make a great hope chest gift. There are so many people that do not truly know what love is. They are still looking for that special, missing gift in their life. This book will redirect you on to that beautiful path!

Don't be fooled by the title of this book - this is for husband, wife, and children! Not to mention those who are single! This book is very attune to the heart of Scripture, seeking to glorify God to the highest and impart to the reader the deep responsibility and beauty of fulfilling each family member's God-given roles! Quite the refreshment! Must read for engaged couples, invaluable resource for those married.

After I began to read the first chapter from this book, I began to feel a lump in my throat. Emotions lay just under the surface. Perplexed, I wondered where these feeling were coming from. Then I realized that these feelings came because, for the first time in my life, I was reading about the best of once was--what should be a high standard for today's culture. Surely, this vision of the family is nothing more than a faint and burning memory on a firey ash-heap! Is there any hope left of resurrecting this vision for our families? If, one-by-one, American families began to hold on to this vision for their own families, hope exists! J.R. Miller wrote this book with extraordinary skill, using poetic and metaphorical prose to weave a dream that would have the staying power to mold and influence a family to work toward seeing the dream become a reality. It is a book that every family member should read: mother, wife, father, husband, brother, sister, child. It is a book that will utterly inspire you!

This book is a gem.Written in the 1880's, this book illumines the poetic life of the family.Would it be controversial, if published now? Absolutely. It devalues autonomy, assumes the existence of absolutes, and certainly leads the reader to think that real poetry in life is found through surrendering autonomy and embracing your husband, wife, children, brother, sister.It's classic romance, but without fluff. The level of prose transcends anything published these days -- be ready to enjoy the english language at its finest. And be ready for a truly refreshing introduction to life as we should know it. Less harried, less materialistic, less self-introspective, and more appreciative of the things that give life meaning -- the people directly around us.This book teaches brothers how to care for sisters, and vice-versa. It teaches wives how to help their husbands become their best, and how men can bring out every facet of their wives' beauty. It even gives parents perspective in dealing with the loss of a child. This is not pop-psychology.This is wisdom.