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Friday, February 8, 2008
Confessions of a Distracted Housewife
Back in my "single" years when I read the commands to wives to "respect their husbands, love their children, and be workers at home" I would think how easy it sounded to answer that charge. I prayed, pined, and whined for the days that I could be a wife, homemaker, and mother. Now that I fill each of those roles I can say wholeheartedly that I love my life, I am thankful for everything the Lord has given me, and that I was a complete idiot to ever think it would be easy.
1 Corinthians 7:34 says "The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord,
that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world--how she may please her husband."
My advice to the unmarried . . . Make every effort to grow in the faith, develop homemaking skills, and serve in the Church. I had so much time to study Scripture, read theology, fellowship/serve within the Church, and to learn how to manage a home while single. I wish I had spent more time devoted to these things! On a financial level I would also encourage young women to use their earnings (and only if they are debt-free!) to buy lovely home furnishings and decor for their home and begin to practice the art of homemaking.
Once married, I had nine months and one week as a stay-at-home wife before our first child was born. I worked hard to learn how to iron, clean, cook, and make our little apartment a lovely home. My husband enjoyed at least one new recipe per week and usually came home to a three-course meal, often with flowers and candles on the table. I'm so thankful I had that time to devote to homemaking skills because once our daughter was born our lives became the whirlwind that they still are. (Hubby only has a vague memory of the days of coming home to a nice meal on the table. He also now does all his own ironing!) When our firstborn was four months old we were still trying to figure out the whole parenting thing and I was pregnant with baby number 2! My time and energy were stretched. It began to be very difficult to do my duties well and it started becoming very difficult to spend time alone in Bible study and prayer.
The newly released book "Passionate Housewives Desperate for God" says that a heavy burden placed on mothers at home is the mandate of a "quiet time." The authors encourage busy moms to pray when they can, and study Scripture as they are able, but to let go of the burden and guilt of not being able to devote 1/2 hour of uninterrupted quiet time each day to the Lord. I do feel guilt, and do believe it is vitally important to spend time in regular Bible Study and prayer. But I am also learning to utilize the times I am given without being angry when my planned "time alone" gets interrupted by a little one needing my attention. Praying in the shower is often now the only bulk of time I have alone to focus. I try to use the Lord's Prayer as an outline for my prayers to keep me undistracted by the zillions of thoughts about my day that creep in.
Most mornings I only have time to pray a desperate plea for HELP: "Lord, help me to respect my husband, love my children, and do my work for Your glory." Loving the kids, working at home, and respecting my husband is the hardest work I have ever done. I fail every single day as I sin and struggle in this high and holy calling. I am weak and dependent on the Lord for grace and strength to make it through each day. It is certainly sanctifying work! And I believe all things in life are given to Christians to make us sanctified, that we will be made more like Christ through each trial and each moment in our lives.
Easy it is not. But it is all good. |
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About Me
My faith teaches me that the calling of Christian homemaker, wife, or mother is just as holy as one to "full-time ministry."
I am a mom of seven children ages nine and under (plus one on the way!) seeking and sharing helpful tidbits learned during this season of life. May we glorify and enjoy Him each day!
:o),
Moms4Psalms
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Posted by Anonymous 
Saturday, February 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment