“Scripture is the basis for my commitment to being a homemaker, and if I never saw any other reason to love it, never saw the fruit, never understood the importance of the role, that should still be enough. Paul lays out the importance of older women teaching younger women to be “self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled” (Titus 2:5). And Proverbs 31 describes a glorious picture of the woman who is clothed in strength and dignity as she gives herself to the needs of her household.
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Is there any other work I could be doing that would be this exponentially fruitful or influential? A hundred years from now, I hope there are people who do not know my name or remember me, but nevertheless carry about with them seeds of faithful living that were first planted in the soil of this home.
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May God give us all eyes to see it, and hearts to imagine it. The end of all our small daily plantings may be a harvest of staggering beauty.”
Rachel Jankovic
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-harvest-of-homemaking
Today was a great day of encouraging my life long delight of God’s call on my life to be a wife, mom, and keeper of our home.
While attending to chores and accomplishing some crafts this morning, I watched short inspirational videos and listened to conversational podcasts by this writer, Rachel, and her sister, Rebekah Merkle.
Their encouragement reminded me of an earlier season of my life when the LORD called me out of the workplace to come home to accomplish His purpose, which happened to be an answered prayer of mine.
Resigning my employment was bitter sweet, but I never doubted our baby was the new and greater purpose for my days following that season of work.
The night I went into labor was the early signal that my next day’s work responsibilities would come to a close. I’d planned to begin working half days that week. Instead, that day the LORD satisfied the deepest longing of my heart by giving me the first of four babies to dearly, deeply love and enjoy. I was given soo much more to treasure and thank the LORD for!!
This was not a matter Mark and I ever doubted was right, nor needed further discussion about! Before we ever seriously dated, I clearly remember the evening we sat in Pizza Hut after work when he asked me, “What do you want to do with your life?”
I immediately replied, “Ultimately, to one day become a wife and stay at home mommy.”
I do not recall any concern for his reaction. I was encouraged he asked, but did not think anything more about his interest. Later he told me, “That night I knew I wanted to pursue you, and I had a great appreciation for your aim in life. I’m thankful I asked you that question.”
I don’t recall when we discussed my reason for such a desire, but eventually that conversation happened.
My mom was always the inspiration and joy I experienced for returning home from school everyday. Our home was always clean and ordered, there were after school snacks which sometimes was more than enough delight for my senses: homemade cookies or orange glazed donuts were some of the special treats we enjoyed. There were also the really special discoveries of homemade clothes, a redecorated bedroom with freshly painted pink walls and multicolored floral floor length curtains (made from sheets) and a newly painted (re)salvaged wicker desk. Mom enjoyed sewing and decorating, so my bedroom was redecorated more than once. I was amazed by my Mom’s inspired enthusiasm for making our home so homey, welcoming, and enjoyable. There was the time when a reupholstered piece of furniture was completed and added to the family room for extra comfortable seating. My mom was very crafty and skilled with her hands; she was very project oriented. She oft set up a work space in the garage to refinish furniture. She was hospitable and enjoyed hosting dinners and parties. She never seemed to mind preparing food for her family, washing clothes, ironing pillow cases (or boxer shorts 😂) and our clothes, cleaning house, or accomplishing her own personal crafts and goals. She delighted in having a place in our home to thrive and accomplish God’s call.
I admired so much about her, especially her uncanny ability and resourceful ways to make something old look beautiful and useful! Not only was I attracted to her industriousness and creativity, she was actively involved with my Girl Scout troop activities, and was willing to help me earn more badges.
Mom could do everything!!
She once preserved the lives of four puppies and their young mom who surprisingly and quietly birthed 7 puppies on the concrete floor of our double car garage on the coldest night of the new year. She was good at providing care for our pets on numerous occasions, rehabilitating our dachshunds for weeks at a time in a baby play pen because they were good at injuring their backs. They mattered also!
Mom had patience to tolerate my beginner driving excursions, braving trips to Arlington to take me to weekly music lessons. I’ll never forget the time the power steering fluid leaked out while I was driving, and we ended up, mid turn, in the front yard of a house on the corner of a street (nearby, actually) because I was not prepared for such a surprise, nor strong enough to complete the powerless steering wheel turn. 🙈
My Mother Dear lived out an active strength and beautiful presence in my life and in our home that I still greatly treasure and admire!!
Her dignity represented her love for the LORD, my dad, and our family, extending to generations of those to whom we were and are related! Because of her place in the home, she could love many individuals and families, selflessly. She served our church and our neighbors/community. I neglected to say she gave of herself to a Sunday School class of 4 1/2 year old preschoolers and the ladies who served there together each week. I also neglected to mention the numerous years she served as the Girl Scout Cookie Chairman for my troop which required filling our garage with hundreds of boxes of Girl Scout cookies each year.
My mom was and is the heart of our lives, and our home was the nest from which her love and gifts were demonstrated and extended to the lives of many others.
My mom helped to give me a vision for being H❤️ME!
It encouraged me to know Mark had given thought to why he desired his future wife to be a keeper at home. Eventually, it encouraged me to know he had a personal desire and commitment to prioritize and sacrifice of himself to provide the kind of upbringing for our children that I enjoyed and treasured as a child.
Today my nest is nearing empty.
This season has been a hard adjustment for me. John remains, and works long hours many days, but is still a delight to love and serve. I consider it an honor to be his mom. I enjoy the privilege of washing his fishy-smelly clothes (because he works in a fishery business) and prepare his meals for the time he remains.
Today I’ve enjoyed cleaning up the remnants of hosting a Bible study here last night. What a privilege!! Because I was home alone, I could listen and watch how the LORD uses the wonderful gift and means of technology to deliver wise counsel from [younger] ladies to encourage my spirit.
I pray my vision and place of influence here will one day bear fruit of the Holy Spirit’s work to regenerate many more hearts and families that will live to seek the LORD. I pray education in the homes of our children will become a limitless place of learning who God is, that He is the source of all wisdom and practical, principled living. If that is not His will, I pray He will guide our adult children and grandchildren on the path He has ordained for them, however different. I pray our grandchildren will be disciplined and nurtured in God’s Word and perfect ways, encouraged by His faithfulness, held by His steadfast love and mercy to thousands who fear Him and live to please Him. I pray He will give them sincere faith and boldness to answer His call on their lives, for His glory, so they will know His Word is living and active, true, of greatest value, above all, to be most treasured and trusted!
I am thankful for the faith and ministry of wives and moms whose calls include working from home to encourage others to be simply and obediently H❤️ME, where God has called and equipped them to love and serve Him, and the families He’s gifted them!
I have known this JOY!
I am thankful!
