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Titus
2:4
If any man thinks housekeeping is easy work
and not all a woman
How do I respond to those who disapprove of me?
Going
Home Qs & As About Earning from Home
Ways
to Become More Hospitable Also On this page: The
Last Laugh
A few months ago, when I was picking up the children at school, another mother I knew well, rushed up to me. Emily was fuming with indignation. "Do you know what you and I are?" she demanded. Before I could answer - and I didn't really have one handy - she blurted out the reason for her question. It seemed she had just returned from renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office. Asked by the woman recorder to state her "occupation," Emily had hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is," explained the recorder, "Do you have a job, or are you just a ......?" "Of course I have a job," snapped Emily. "I'm a mother." "We don't list "mother" as an occupation..."housewife" covers it," said the recorder emphatically. I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high-sounding title, like "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar." "And what is your occupation?" she probed. What made me say it, I do not know. The words simply popped out. "I'm....a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations." The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in mid-air, and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pompous pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire. "Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your field?" Cooly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research (what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters (the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother care to agree?) and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are in satisfaction rather than just money." There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door. As I drove into our driveway buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants---age 13, 7, and 3. And upstairs, I could hear our new experimental model (six months) in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt triumphant. I had scored a beat on bureaucracy. And I had gone down on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another......" Home...what a glorious career. Especially when there's a title on the door. (author unknown) Editor's note: Are you working on your degree? Titus 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. What's the pay? Proverbs
31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; Women's
Liberation A paraphrase of a Bible parable for today's prodigal women.A certain man had a wife and three children. The wife becoming dissatisfied with being a mother and doing housework and coveting the money and material belongings of her neighbors, said to her husband: "Secure for me the social security number that falleth to me, divide unto me thy wardrobe of trousers, and I will go out into the world and seek a man's job." With reluctant heart the husband granted her desire and divided his wardrobe. Not many days later the wife donned slacks and with a tool box took her journey far across town and secured a man's job. She made big wages but she associated with the wicked and listened to the vulgar stories that they told. There was a mighty spiritual famine in the land, and she grew lean in her soul. The children turned loose at the mercy of the neighbors, soon forgot they had a mother. But the husband fondly remembered how it was in the home when the wife had been there and wished that she would return. He dined on cold lunch meat while the wife tried in vain to fill her stomach with the husks of cheese crackers that fell from the vending machine. And no man gave unto her the respect due to a lady. One day at rest period as she sat engulfed in cigarette smoke and smutty stories, she came to herself. "Here I sit surrounded by vulgarity having sacrificed the respect due to a lady. At home is my deserted husband, and roaming the streets unrestrained are my children. The money I make seems so small when compared to the peace of mind and soul that was mine before I left home." In vain she did try to smother her conscience with thoughts that she was contributing to the family's economic welfare. However, it was in vain. Therefore she said to herself, "I will arise and go to my husband and will say to him, 'Husband, I have sinned against heaven in neglecting you and the children in this way. I am no more worthy to be called thy wife nor mother to thy children; make me thy hired housekeeper.'" So, she gathered her tools and started home. While she was still a long way off, the husband saw her and ran and clasped her in his arms. And the wife said, "Husband, I am not more worthy to be called thy wife, nor the mother of they children." But the husband said to the children, "Run and bring hither a dress and the best apron. Rush to the market and get a steak off the fatted calf, and let us have a hot meal once more. For this thy mother was lost but is found, so rejoice and be merry." Proverbs 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies...28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Highways & Hedges Tracts Comment: Editor: Steve Van Nattan-- Mom, there is no more noble work than keeping the home as the Apostle Paul commanded you. Think of this. You work at keeping records and books for some company. Those books and records go into a file drawer or onto a hard drive, and in a maximum of seven years, they are burned or deleted-- your hard work becomes pointless. That trinket or object you help to manufacture-- how long before it is in the rubbish on the way to the city dump? But, how long will your zeal and love last in the heart of a young boy who has the discipline and encouragement of his Mom as he leaves for school and as he comes back home? How long would your life invested make a difference if you stayed home and home schooled? Even to wives who have no children-- think of the work a godly woman can do for the local church in visiting the sick and helping the older women cope with life. Many godly women are sorely missed when they finally die and go to be with the Lord because their cozy afgans and quilts will no longer go all over the world to missionaries, and their wisdom and comfort will be greatly missed by the young wives. These acts of love last for eternity. Keep thinking-- That's right-- You will get it right soon :-) Acts 9:36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. 37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. 38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. 39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. Many times when people find out that we have seven children they will say, "Oh, you poor woman," or to my husband, "Oh, your poor wife." And many times I find myself giving myself a pity party, "Oh, poor me! I never have time to do anything. I don't even have time to do anything for the Lord." But is this really true? As I dwell upon this thought many times, the Holy Spirit deals with me severely. Many Scripture verses come to mind and I have to bow my head there and say, "Lord, forgive me. I'm so selfish. I'm so unworthy of the precious children You've entrusted me with. Help me to do Your will." And what is the Lord's will for the Christian mother? 1 Timothy 5:14 says, " I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house..." The Webster Dictionary has this to say about "guide:" "Guide - implies the showing of the way by one who is thoroughly familiar with the course, and connotes his continuous presence or direction along the way." Many Christian women will argue with the verse in Titus 2:5, using the same tactic of Eve, that of changing the Word, by saying, "I can keep my house as clean as anyone and work a job too." And maybe you can. But you can't be "...keepers at home.." and you sure can't "... guide the house..." and work a job, too. Notice that definition of guide: First of all we have to be thoroughly familiar with the course ourselves before we can guide the house. Then our presence is needed continually along the way. This is the will of God. When we "guide the house" we are doing something for the Lord. We are obeying Him! Isn't that all He requires? Isn't that what pleases Him? I believe, in guiding the house, this would include the regular duties of the housewife such as cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing, etc., as well as teaching these things to the children. But even more we should guide them (speaking mainly in regards to the children) in spiritual matters. Proverbs 22:6 gives a promise that if we do - "Train up a child in the way he should go:" then "...when he is old, he will not depart from it." What a blessed promise! But what does the word "train" imply? Is it to just take your children to Sunday School and church and see that they say their prayers, as many Christians seem to think? What does "train up a child" involve? Again we look a the Webster dictionary. "Train - to guide or control the mental, moral, etc. development of." According to this verse we are to guide (show the way) and control (exercise authority over; direct; command) the mental, moral, etc. development of our children and our continual presence is needed to do this, as the word "guide" implies. What responsibility lies upon us as mothers. This involves much more than taking them to S.S. and church. It involves our lives, day in and day out, twenty-four hours of every day. Sure, this calls for sacrifice on our part, but what greater reward could we want than to spend eternity in heaven with our children! Or what a greater sacrifice it would be to lose our children to the world and the devil and an eternity in hell! Mothers, let's be as the wise virgins and wake up and trim our lamps in this area of "guiding the house" for "...Behold, the bridegroom cometh..." [Matthew 25:6] Let's go out to meet Him with our children! - Written by Kathy R., now the mother of eight. [Editor's Note- How can you guide your children in this Biblical manner if they are attending a public or even a Christian school? A "continuous presences" cannot be obtained if the children are spending the majority of the day away from their mother. And what is even worse, is when that time is spent with unsaved, ungodly worldlings and/or with carnal Christians that rejoice in destroying your children! Psalms 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Are you being faithful with the hertitage God has given you? Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.]
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