Ever since I was a little girl entering first grade, I was often taunted with the question from teachers, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” After my answers, “a teacher” or “a police woman”, I was given the lecture of empowerment of how I can be anything I wants to be and the, “yes, you can,” pep talk. I grew up believing that she had to do something outside the home to be someone important. Being a homemaker is out of the picture. Who wants to be just that? The idea was greatly devalued. Now, when I am filling out some paper work and the dreaded question of “occupation” comes up, and I answer “homemaker”, most think of washing dishes, mopping floors and changing diapers. Somehow people truly believe anybody can do that. The truth of the matter is that women are able to be homemakers, but now a day, not every woman is capable of being a homemaker. It takes training to prepare for such a profession.
It is hopeful to see that more and more women are realizing that real freedom lies in staying at home to raise their family. Even if the family is grown, the woman’s home ministry continues as an older woman teaching the younger ones as stated in Titus 2. Living next to me is a very nice lady who works sometimes up to 130 hours in two weeks. She is away from home through the night at times. Her husband is home sick and she doesn’t have the privilege to nurse him. She doesn’t “like” it but, like most in her situation would say, “you gotta do what you gotta do.” She is the one brining in the paycheck and her husband stays home. What slavery! She is not free to plan anything because she is always on call to go work even on her one day off.
In contrast, keeping home is the opposite and very rewarding. You are building a home for God’s glory and future generations, not some man’s business idea. What a difference in eternal meaning! Staying home is not boring at all, or frustrating, not even just mundane. Many woman in the workforce, now envy the homemakers. “You get to stay home with your kids?” The young lady cashier would ask me, “you’re lucky”.
But staying at home is not just taking care of your children. The opportunities for achievement are really unlimited. Our home is filled with new ideas almost everyday of how to further the Kingdom of God in business, in ministry, in media, education, government, food industry, missions, marketplace through creative and innovative ways. I have known of doctors and lawyers who are now envying the profession of a homemaker!
The homemaker is not the romantic picture of perfection painted by Jane Austen. Although, that time period had distinctive femininity and domesticity, it is not what I am attempting to bring alive here. But rather, what does the Bible say about our homes and about the homemakers. The home is also not the Martha Stewart type or the Home and Garden magazines kind and homemakers are not to be the perfectionist -I-have-it-all-under-control type of woman either.
The home was not always devalued. Pastor Steven Wedgeworth describes the home in this way:
“The home used to be a center of agriculture, economic affairs, and education. For the woman to be a “homemaker” was to be an executive over the central nervous system of society. It was to be a master of arts. It was to be a farmer. It was to be a maker. It was to be a temple, a sacrament, a superlative.”
Pastor Wedgeworth compares the home to the body’s nervous system. If it is injured, or if the wife is not in her post, the body will start decaying, by developing diseases. Damage to it could end up in paralysis, and even death.The body is made up of many other important parts or professions. But we can’t argue that these other parts are more important than the Central Nervous System, for without it, they cannot function properly. If it is broken down, church and society suffer.
God desires for women to embrace this holy mission. We will never be complete and satisfied unless we undertake the call to "build our homes (Proverbs 14:1).
We will very briefly look at what the Home and the Homemaker should be. This subject is so extensive that I will only describe some of the main components that make a True Home.
So join me this month as I dedicate it to enticing many women to embrace the true meaning of their homes. As we celebrate our homes and families in the perfect love of God, they will shine bright to the world. I hope to turn hearts to our Creator by our example of love and joy. The world is always watching and learning. What an opportunity to teach by being godly women who love their husbands, children and keep our homes in wisdom and Christ-centered.
What about your home? How does it look like right now? What is it's culture?
The Home - Part 2
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