A few days ago I stumble across a woman's blog that I had never seen. As I scrolled down the page her words caught my eye and tore a gaping hole in my heart. She told how she had spent several months "working" as a stay-at-home mom. She commented that she knew there were plenty of women who love being a stay-at-home mom full time, but that she was not one of them. "Don't get me wrong", she said, "I love my husband, my kids, and my dogs, but I don't like feeling like a servant."
I was stunned! I suppose I am so distanced from such environments that I didn't realize anyone felt that way! First of all the way she expressed "working" carried a note of, "Working...well, if you can call it that.". But what really astounded me was how openly she stated that, "I don't like feeling like a servant." My jaw hit the top of my desk!
I know the feeling of picking up someone else's belongings for the one hundredth time and swallowing a sigh as I put it away. At other times I have picked that same item up and unlovingly thrown it out the back door (shame on me!). Yes, the same old tasks tend to get a bit tiresome. Washing dishes that never stop coming (as long as you continue cooking), the laundry that neverendingly needs washed, the floors that constantly need sweeping (especially when your Husband keeps tracking mud across your floor), and the lifelong list goes on...
If anyone would like to know, yes I have a career. My lifelong career is this:
"Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored." Titus 2:3-5
As a side note, I am so thankful that God gave us His word to direct us in all of life's situations. Really, I truly am! Some of my favorite times are when my Husband sits down and opens his Bible, reading to us a passage from God's word that helps us grow in knowledge, wisdom, and Faith. With the direction of God's word and the Holy spirit we can live a life full of purpose!
Okay, back to my lifelong career. First I must learn to love my husband, to love my children (when they come), to be sensible, pure, a worker at home, kind, and to be subject to my own husband.
As I grow older I must be reverent in behavior (not disrespectful), I must refrain from gossip, I must not be a drunkard, and I must teach what is good so that I may encourage other young women to love their Husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own Husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored."
Ahhhhh, it's as simple as that, and there is such peace in knowing exactly what I am to do with my life! Now that I am married the rest of my direction will come from my Husband as he seeks God's will for our life.
Please don't pity me because of my life of service; it is what I chose and I love it!!! I love my life!!! I want to serve my Lord, my Husband, and everyone else that I come into contact with. I enjoy working in my home!!! When I get slack and let things fall into shambles around me it is not so enjoyable, but as a whole I am so thankful that I have a Husband who works very hard so I can stay at home where he wishes me to be. I am thankful that I can help with our finances by spending less and finding creative ways to do with less.
Don't think that I live as a slave to my Husband, in misery all my days. Quite the contrary!!! My Husband cherishes and loves me! I am his best friend and he is mine! As it says in Song of Solomon: "I have found the one my soul loves!" My Husband is a Godly, generous, caring, compassionate man who cares for me as though I were his prized possession. When I express a need or even a desire he is quick to find a way to provide for me. He is truly a man among men and I am blessed!
As part of our income my Husband gives music lessons; piano, base, guitar, banjo, etc. One way that I help him is by going to our family business Providence Prairie during lesson times. I take calls and help with scheduling, act as shopkeeper in the shop, etc., while he gives lessons. I enjoy talking with the nearly 50 students that come each week and how wonderful it is to share a hug or kiss with my Husband between lessons! Or even a smile through the window of his studio door! I knit or crochet items to sell in the Peddler Shop during slow times. You see, being a worker at home does not mean I never leave the house! It means that my home is my first priority above anything else. If I begin feeling stressed by outside things or begin falling behind in house work that means I had better scale back from whatever it is that is keeping me from my first priority: my home, my Husband, and someday, when God blesses us, my children.
I pity the woman who wrote those empty words. I hope that one day her eyes will be opened to the blessings that come from being a "worker in the home".
God bless and may you be encouraged!!!
