"Homemaking"

When posed with the question about my philosophy of homemaking, I really had to stop and think about it, and to be quite honest, I’m still not totally sure if I know exactly what I think about this topic. However, I am going to attempt to do my best to put my thoughts into words. I’ve heard many people claim that a woman’s place is in the home, some believe that a woman is to do nothing but be at home, cooking, cleaning and taking care of her children. Others believe that it is okay for a woman to work outside the home before children come into the family, but after children come then she should stay at home with them. Still others think that it is all right for a woman to work outside the home during all stages of life and children. So the question remains, which is choice is the right one? Is there a standard in the Bible that tells us one way or another, or is it just a matter of preference on the part of each couple?

My mom was what could technically be called a “stay-at-home-mom,” but at the same time she volunteered at a full-time level as my church’s secretary. We would leave my home for the office around nine o’clock every morning and not get home until two-thirty, or three o’clock in the afternoon. Even though my mom was not at home during the day, she still homeschooled me from kindergarten through the twelfth grade, and she is still homeschooling my brother! I must admit that there were times that I hated being homeschooled, and sharing that time with ministry work, but now as I look back, I see that I was able to learn many valuable lessons through seeing Mom work in ministry every day, and also I learned a lot of valuable office skills at an early age. I learned that it is possible to balance a ministry and a home life at the same time.

I know other women who stay at home all the time to raise their children. Many of them believe firmly that women are “To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home…” (Titus 2:5). They believe that it is the man’s responsibility to go out and work and it is for the woman to be at home raising and training their children. But on the other hand there are families who have children and both the mom and dad work. I could not find any verses in the Bible that say that it is a sin for a woman to work outside the home, in fact there is evidence that it is okay for a woman to work in the Bible, “She maketh fine linen and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.” (Proverbs 31:24).

In conclusion, I firmly believe that the matter of homemaking is up to each and every couple to decide for themselves. Their family should be considered, and what works best for everyone. If the woman is working simply so that they can live “beyond their means” then I believe that is a wrong motivation, especially if it is at the expense of her children. I believe that the children should come first in this decision. “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6).

Thorns and Roses

"Some people complain because the roses have thorns. Other give thanks because the thorns have roses." ~Unknown

I recently read this quote and it really made me stop and think about my reactions to life, or the thorns and roses in my life. What you make in life depends on your attitude. Often it is so much easier to see the thorns and forget that God gave us roses along the way.

For me, right now my thorns in life happen to mainly be centered around my relationship with Jason. The fact that he's thousands of miles away, and right now he is underway and moving even further away with every minute. On top of that there are more difficulties with long distance relationships than most people realize, especially emotionally it can be very draining.

Sometimes I start to think on nothing but the negative, and I start to get really down. Honestly, it's hard to see the positive at times. But when I allow myself to think on nothing but the impossibilities of everything then I take my eyes off of Christ and instead I turn them onto me, and that is never a good place to be. I'll admit, I spend much time on my knees, crying out to God because I have no where else to turn, and no one else upon whom I can throw all of my struggles. When I finish praying I try to think of the positives, or the "roses." When I think about that I realize that there are so many more roses than thorns. A few of those roses are the fact that God has given me a wonderful Christian man, who wants to serve God with all of his heart. Another major rose is that as of right now my family very much approves of Jason, and his family likes me too! Also, just by looking back on everything I can see how much God has worked in everything, and how He has continually guided us.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that maybe life is hard and rough, and those thorns might try to prick you, but if you take a moment to consider all the roses that God has and is giving, then everything will look brighter!

Prayer

Psalm 55:17
Evening, and morning, and at noon will I pray and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

One of the main things that God has really been working on my heart about lately is the matter of Prayer. In the past few months I've had a lot of unexpected things come into my life. Not necessarily bad changes, actually the main change has been Jason, which is a VERY good change. However, these few months have shown me just how badly I need to rely more and more on God. I've had a lot of struggles with various things in our relationship and at times I wish there was someone to whom I could talk to that would understand, but really, I don't know anyone that knows what it's like for me. I was getting pretty down down about it, and I even sent mom several emails about it. She tried her best to help me, but even she doesn't totally understand.

Earlier this week I was on the verge of despair, needing to get everything off my chest, but I had no one to turn to. Finally, I realized that I could tell Jesus, and so I did. For almost an hour one day I spent time just telling Him everything that was on my heart and mind. All the things that I could tell no one I knew I could tell Him. I shed many tears, but when I was done it was like a burden had been lifted off my chest - I felt so much more free. It didn't take long before the devil crept back in and doubts and fears once again began to consume me, but I had learned my lesson, and "Just a little talk with Jesus made it all right" again.

Someone once said, "The distance between an problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor." That's some of the best advice I've ever heard.

Just Pray

I was discouraged when no answer cameSee, I’d prayed for years, and I still saw no change I was ready to give up on my wish coming true But when I prayed that last time, His power broke through.

And prayer is just as big as God isPrayer is just as strong as God is strong Prayer can reach as far as God can reach Don’t ever give up, just pray, just pray Don’t ever give up, just pray.

We have been given a means to the throne Of the One whose potential is yet to be known There is no limit as to what God can do So just keep on praying, He’s listening to you.

~Rodney Griffin

Intern

Today was my first day interning in the 3rd and 4th grades at the Northside Christian School! One of the requirements of education majors here at Shawnee is that for 5 semesters we have to intern in the Christian school, we are put in different classes every semester, so even though I'm a Secondary Education major I get to be in the elementary school as well at times.

Today I got to the class and the kids were at recess so I went outside to where they were at. I no sooner got out there and introduced myself to the teacher, Mrs. Whitaker, when one of the little girls, Olivia, comes up crying. She had just gotten her ears pierced on Saturday, and she had bumped it and her earring fell out!! Poor thing! Mrs. Whitaker asked me to take her to the office and have them clean it out. I just wanted to hug her! So anyways, the ears was cleaned out and the earring put back in. We got back out to the play ground just in time for the kids to like up to go back inside. On our way back in a little red-headed, adorable boy named Ezra dropped his books. He was taking FOREVER picking them up, so Mrs. Whitaker had me stay with him while she went inside with the others. We got inside and I filed some papers, graded some papers, and ran some copies, by the time I was done with that it was time for me to go. ...sigh... I really wanted to stay forever and ever! :) During this semester I have to do some review games, do a bulletin board, and teach part of a class! I'm soooooo excited!!!! It's sooooo much fun! :)

This did confirm that I won't be a good elementary teacher, I'd be waaaay too soft on the kiddos! :) But it did help me to know that I do want to be a teacher and that I could be in a class room forever and ever and ever and ever....