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Many years ago--when our oldest daughter was six weeks old. We moved to SD. It was there that we met a lovely young lady named, Jodi, and her family. Jodi inspired me then as a young lady and continues to inspire me as a loving wife and mother. She is a dear friend and a worthy woman. Her blog today moved me to tears...she shared her heart in such a lovely humble way.
Inspired by this lovely
mother's blog, I am sharing an article written by our eldest daughter last week. Honestly, I was just not sure if I should share it or not due to the sensitive subject matter. Of course, I agree wholeheartedly and gave her my blessing. Hannah, who will be sweet sixteen in five days, wrote this article for a FaceBook study group. I am so thankful to be her mother. She is a godly young lady, a talented artist and an inspiring writer. I am confident that she will one day be a godly wife and mother.
If you have something entirely postive to say...you may certainly leave a public comment here for Hannah (I'm afraid she's an expatriot and has defected to Facebook). I will share them with her...luring her to pleo ;)
If you have negative things to say you may do one of two things: 1.) Message me privately to complain about what we've taught our daughter 2.) Keep them to yourself.
I realize this is rather unfair of me, but life is not fair and--though I love to dicuss these topics--I don't wish to put my daughter in the line of fire. So far the feedback she has received has been wonderfully encouraging!
I should add that I cannot count the number of times that we've visited places (even Bible classes) and my girls have been the ONLY girls to say
homemaker, wife, mother when asked what they were going to do when they grew up...their answer usually drew silence and it always puzzled me!! We've never discouraged college or higher learning...I want that to be clear. We've never encouraged it as a 'just in case' thing either. I loved college and I easily transitioned into full time homemaking--I've never looked back. But, over the years, I've seen more and more women unhappy in their role at home...after studying for a degree...and unfortunatly many of these women were not happy being *just* a wife and mother.
I believe in homemaking as a career. There is nothing *just* about it.
Sally
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Homemaking: A Career Option
“So, where are you going to college?”
“I’m not planning on going to college. I actually want to be a homemaker. It’s career enough for me!”
“Oh, really?”
I’ve gone through this many times. On most faces there is surprise. A few have been downright disapproving. And some are interested in this “new” concept of homemaking. In Proverbs 31:10-31, we read of “the virtuous wife,” also known as “the worthy woman.”
“Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
She perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp does not go out by night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes she reaches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants.
Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her:
‘Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.’
Charm is deceitful and beauty passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
Give her the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.”
In Biblical times, women rarely had a career in addition to homemaking. These wives and mothers had plenty of household responsibilities, choosing to labor and serve instead of eating the bread of idleness. In these passages, we see that this woman literally worked from the home. She made clothing for her family and others, planted a vineyard, and made tapestries. All the while, this wife cared for her own family. Being a homemaker is having a career at home.
Society today does not approach homemaking as a career option. Instead, most mothers do the bare minimum of housekeeping, seeking to fill their time with activities outside of their homes. It’s nearly unheard of to call homemaking a career. Homemakers are rarely ever considered “professionals.” Most people cannot even comprehend what a woman would find to do at home all day.
Not only can you keep a beautiful and clean home, if given the time and effort, but you can serve in various capacities (visiting the elderly, cooking meals for the sick and shut-in, helping the needy, and reaching out to believers and unbelievers alike.) With so many women working outside the home, and hardly having time to cook for their own households, hospitality has become a lost art.
Choosing not to go to college is not a backward step, as some might think. If a girl were to go to college for four years, and come out with a degree, what would be the next expected step? It would be to go out into the world as a successful “career woman.” However, if a girl went to college for four years and came out with a degree (that could not be used from the home), and then proceeded to do nothing with it, she may have just wasted four years, and a great deal of money. In addition, the debt resulting from this may be a large burden on her family. The fact is, many career women are completely content with their career, and are not interested in homemaking. Having found such “fulfillment” in their careers, they have difficulty finding fulfillment in their own homes.
Choosing not to go to college may allow a young lady to use those years to prepare for eventually keeping a home, and family. There are many hobbies that can be found for a woman who keeps her home (writing, art, music, photography, teaching her children, etc.). “Higher degrees” are not necessary when it comes to being a professional and fulfilled homemaker. With wise council, and good planning, many women with children have been able to continue homemaking, and have not been forced to abandon their homes, even in the face of tragedy— the loss of a husband to death or desertion.
We need to be teaching our daughters that homemaking is a valid career option. Whatever the world might expect, our daughters should be comfortable and assured in making the decision to stay away from the temptation that a “professional” college degree inevitably brings— the temptation to go out into the work force, leaving their husbands and children to fend for themselves.
Homemaking is not about dirty dishes and loads of laundry. It’s about creating a clean and comfortable atmosphere for your family. It’s about giving yourself and your family a haven. It’s about having the time and energy to dedicate yourself to being a godly helpmeet to your husband. It’s about being a happy and available mother to your children. It’s about fulfilling the purpose that God gave woman. It’s about being a worthy woman.
Hannah Perz
I completely get why Josh would ask about company. It seems your house has been filled with trips and/or company lately. One group after another. I'll never know how you do it all back to back like that, but stay blessed to have them.