Yesterday in my Bible time I was reading I Timothy 5. I love the verses about the appropriate occupations of a woman who's been widowed, which we can apply to all of us. . ."Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach." (v. 14)
It's an interesting phrase, "keep house."
(break--had to go refill the waffle maker, and saw that I'd forgotten to put the bacon IN the oven, LOL!)
When I think about the word "keep", I think of it in terms of holding onto something; not throwing it away. I'm sure some of us would consider ourselves TOO proficient at "keeping" things in our houses, anyway, by that definition! I looked up the cross-reference to this verse and of course it was Titus 2:5, "to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored."
(waffle flip; reheat coffee 
)
The word "workers" (as in "workers at home") is Oikouros, and the primary definition is ...
- caring for the house, working at home
- the (watch or) keeper of the house
- keeping at home and taking care of household affairs
- a domestic
I love the idea of being the watch-er of my house. One of the words that this word "oikouros" is derived from, oikos, means "to watch or be aware." "Aware" is defined as . . .
- Having knowledge or cognizance: aware of the difference between the two versions; became aware of faint sound.
- Archaic. Vigilant; watchful.
a·ware
ness n.
Synonyms: aware, cognizant, conscious, sensible, awake, alert, watchful, vigilant
These adjectives mean mindful or heedful: Aware implies knowledge gained through one's own perceptions or by means of information: Are you aware of your opponent's hostility? I am aware that the legislation passed. Cognizant is a formal equivalent of aware: Our research indicates that the nation's youth are cognizant of the law (Jerry D. Jennings). Conscious emphasizes the recognition of something sensed or felt: an importance... of which even Americans are barely conscious (William Stanley Jevons). Sensible implies knowledge gained through intuition or intellectual perception: I am sensible that the mention of such a circumstance may appear trifling (Henry Hallam). To be awake is to have full consciousness of something: as much awake to the novelty of attention in that quarter as Elizabeth herself (Jane Austen). Alert stresses quickness to recognize and respond: I remained alert to career opportunities. Watchful and vigilant imply looking out for what is dangerous or potentially so: the watchful parents protected their toddler. The fireman has a watchful eye for forest fires.
Wow. Looks like a tall order, to me. It also looks like a full-time job! Our homes--our FAMILIES-- need someone who is aware, cognizant, conscious, sensible, awake, alert, watchful and vigilant. It's more than just getting them dressed in the morning, driving them to lessons, and sending them to Sunday School. It's more than loading and unloading the dishwasher, scrubbing the floor, and folding the laundry. It's even more than teaching them Latin, or math, or a foreign language. It's wholeheartedly accepting our responsibility to be constantly AWARE. Watching for attitudes, for hurts, for dreams. Nurturing the little flickers of effort at kindness and diligence and compassion. Snuffing out pride, selfishness and indifference. It means someone has to be on the tower at all times. And that someone is you.
(I, however, have just missed being vigilant with my waffles; they overcooked and just got sent to the trash. Whoops! Thank goodness for extra batter! And I'd better go check the bacon, before it joins the waffles on their way to the dump!)
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