Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Lost Art Of Homemaking


Women aren't taught the importance of homemaking anymore.  One of their most important jobs, if they are a wife and mother, is to keep a clean, tidy home and prepare healthy, nourishing food.  There are just too many distractions that seem to cause women to neglect these important jobs.

Many women don't even cook anymore. The single most important thing to having healthy bodies is to prepare your own food from scratch. This takes time. If you eat a lot of fresh food, you have to shop more often. Washing and cutting up salads and vegetables takes a lot of time, but it is worth it. 

Healthy husbands and children should be a priority over spending time on the computer, watching television, or doing home projects.  It should even be more important than church Bible studies or other ministries.  Your first ministry is to your family.

Clean and tidy homes should also be a priority. God is a God of order, peace, and beauty.  You need to spend time every day making sure your home is picked up and cleaned. Train your children to help you as soon as they start walking. Here are several verses about disorder ~

I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding:  And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down
Proverbs 24:30,31

By much slothfulness the building decays; and through idleness of the hands the house drops through. 
Ecclesiastes 10:18

We need to be good steward of what the Lord has blessed up with. We need to be hard workers and take good care of our family's health and home. We need to be lights to a dark world in all areas.

Don't let clutter take control of your life. You take control of clutter. Remember, everything is going to burn someday. Don't hold onto things you aren't using. Give them to someone who might need and use them. Don't hoard. Remember that God is your provider. Hold onto things very loosely.

So no matter how much or how little money that you have or how big or small your home is now, make it a clean and organized home. This promotes peace in husband and children.  This is your job, ladies. Don't expect your husbands to do your work. You do your work with a cheerful and thankful attitude!

And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, 
as to the Lord, and not unto men

Comments (73)

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Amanda DeJong's avatar

Amanda DeJong · 683 weeks ago

While I do agree that homemakers have a duty to their families, I disagree with the point of putting it above the importance of ministry. There's nothing wrong with frozen pizza for dinner if you are out spreading God's Word and ministering to others. 
15 replies · active 434 weeks ago
This is an excellent reminder! It's so easy(for me, at least) to get distracted by the internet and tv, that I sometimes allow housework to slip or don't take the time to make as many things from scratch. However I can tell a HUGE difference in behavior when I'm feeding my family nutritious, made mostly from scratch foods. You'd think this would be a good incentive for me to stay on top of things...;) Thank you for the encouragement, I absolutely love your blog!
I so agree that homemaking is a lost art. I look at my grandmother (who will be 99 in June) and I compare what her years with children were like, compared to mine. She baked everything from scratch, sewed, quilted, scrubbed, all day long. We are so blessed with so many modern conveniences now....We really have no excuses. I think the TV and computer get in the way more than most of us would like to admit. So many wives/moms think there just isn't time but I would challenge any of us to turn off the computer and TV for a day and I think we'll be surprised at how much can be accomplished!
"Don't expect your husbands to do your work." What about when your husband expects you to work? I agree with the post, trust me, but my husband and I don't share the same view. We're both Christian, but he holds a different view of women working in and outside the home. I agree with obeying/respecting my husband. I love keeping a tidy home and cooking food, but my husband expects me to work. He also shares in a few select chores, while I do most of them and cooking, but sometimes things go by the wayside (laundry or dusing, for instance). He let me go from full time work to part time work a couple of years ago, so that's a step in the right direction. We don't have kids, so I'm praying that after we do I can take my business down to part-part-part time, working mostly from home. In the meantime I'm content to work within my husband's view and do the best I can.
1 reply · active 683 weeks ago
I agree that homemaking is a lost art, and one that is even looked down on. We are a family of 5 on a very low budget. We go without a LOT of things. However, we have a home that we are proud of, and I take joy in taking care of my family and my home. I am not a fancy decorator, but I do try my best to keep it tidy and keep healthy home-cooked meals on the table. My children love to help, however it's not really ever been an option to not help (except when they were small, of course, but then they were riding along in my front, hip, or back in a sling).
I used to hate cooking. Now, I'd much rather fix my family a nutritious from scratch meal, but my hubby *prefers* the frozen meals. Just yesterday he went to the grocery with us and he was the one that put microwable burritos, fish sticks, onion rings etc. I used to make him biscuits from scratch for his breakfast, he asked me to stop and start buying the ones in the can. It's the way he was raised eating, the way I fed him for the first years of our marriage, and now he just prefers it :(. My monkeys on the other hand *DO* like my homemade biscuits, burritos, and sweet potato baked fries :). It is hard though trying to be healthy and appease his tastes at the same time.
2 replies · active 683 weeks ago
Lori, I was wondering if you had any suggestions for super-quick go-to's for snacks and meals that would also be healthy. I generally reach for whole fruits and veggies like baby carrots, grape tomatoes, etc if I am running out the door, but in addition to fresh fruits and veggies, are there any not-from-scratch items you would recommend for when you are really in a pinch? Low-fat microwave popcorn, pre-made soup, frozen "healthy" meals? Which ready-made foods, if any, would you recommend?
5 replies · active 683 weeks ago
I was blessed with a wonderful mother who taught me the art of homemaking and now as a full-time working mother (of two grown sons) I am able to run my home and work with things generally going smoothly (most of our meals are cooked from scratch and the house to clean and tidy). To me, I felt it was very important to teach my sons how to manage a home - to cook and clean as I wasn't sure if they would find wives that could do it. My eldest does all the cooking and shopping as his wife isn't a very good cook - but he loves to cook and perfers to do it. It is a skill for life for both men and women.

My husband and I do share some chores - for some reason he loves to vaccum so I let him!!
1 reply · active 683 weeks ago
Our culture has looked down on the huge task of keeping home and hearth. It is done but usually at great expense emotionally and physically on the woman of the house(usually) because she has been fed the lie that work or ministry outside the home is so important. The peace that comes from staying home and keeping house, for the whole family is priceless.
You really can't "do it all" or "have it all".
My husband is incredibly helpful and very appreciative. It wasn't always so but has been worth the wait.
God's ways are the best..
Good article. I was raised by a single mom who had to work full-time. Even though she wasn't always home she did a great job teaching my sister and I to cook (she's an awesome cook) clean, and do laundry (she is also the best folder!).

I agree about turning off the TV and computer! A while ago we had to cancel our TV for financial reasons. We had cable because our house is not in a good spot to get antenna signal, so we have no TV now. We tried to get another atenna, but it doesn't work. Both my husband and I have been so surprised at how we don't really miss it at all. I don't even think about it. We do have Netflix that we watch sometimes. I definitely get a lot more done when I don't get hooked on any shows.
Cont...

I'm a type A personality and I struggle with thinking my house has to be perfect ALL the time. When it doesn't I feel like a failure. I remember our house being a mess the few weeks after having my son and crying thinking I was a bad mom because I couldn't "do it all!" Have you felt like this? How did you overcome the need for a "perfect" house 24/7.

I also really struggled keeping up with housework the first 3 months of this pregnancy. I was so sick, tired and I had 2 1-year-olds to take care of. I again struggled with the need to be the perfect wife/mother with a perfect house.

I agree that this is an important skill, but we need to be careful to not be too hard on ourselves!
2 replies · active 683 weeks ago
Just wanting to post a scripture that helps me..Luke 10:38-42. As someone called to be a wife and stay at home mom for now (and no, we are not all called to that) I have to continually read my Lord's words here and keep in mind daily, sometimes hourly, what is truly important to my Lord. Things around my house are sometimes "let go" so I can focus on the better thing. I don't think that would make His heart sad and I am trying to live this life to honor Him. Like a lot of other things, it is a balance that I have to frequently readjust and work out.
1 reply · active 683 weeks ago
Amen!

I've written a lot on my blog about keeping a clean, organized and welcoming home. Today, it seems "home" is just a landing spot for everyone with all their separate activities-soccer, clubs, etc., and their technology. I think it's very sad. No wonder no one wants to be at home..entertainment and involvement reigns supreme over home being a refuge!

No matter where we go, my husband and I, and our children, look FORWARD to returning home, and just because we have 6 homeschooled children, doesn't mean we are "super busy" the way the world defines it. We are home focused, and our home is our refuge, away from the world and all the bombardment of "be like us" we can't, and don't wish to attain.

It's such bologna that because we have children we can't have a clean home. One of the most important principles to impart to children is a sense of thankfulness for what they have been blessed with. That comes from responsibility through chores! Our children all contribute..even the 18 month old, to learning to keep our home a peaceful and clean sanctuary for the Lord and our family and to be hospitable.

I have a schedule and a routine and an extremely clean home and cook fully from scratch. Not because I'm better or I have some secret, but I have commitment and devotion and joy. If my family isn't healthy, it will take far more time to care for and pay for a sickly family. If they do not develop responsibility and hard work ethic via chores, they won't care to serve others..they'll be selfish. Today, because so many families have only one or two children by choice, they believe that they must be their constant playmate..they feel "guilty" when having more children that they cannot spend the time entertaining them.

I play with my children, sure, and daddy does as well. Yet, is that our most important role? No way. They have tons of siblings for play, and we have Christian friends. My most important role is to be a gate keeper of this home, a home manager, and to instruct them first in the Lord, and then in their studies, and to bring them up understanding they are NOT THE ONLY people on the planet..they serve a bigger purpose, and they are not here to be constantly entertained..purchased for..busy...and "happy".

Happiness comes through service of our Lord, plain and simple. Modern life of being busy, away from home, fast food based and rejecting the notion that we should actually care about our homes and blessings, hasn't brought anyone happiness..even the feminists that proclaimed it would.
1 reply · active 683 weeks ago
Good post for me. Lori, I am expecting our sixth child and am once again dealing with horrible morning sickness. The nausea is constant and makes homeschooling, homemaking and parenting very difficult. Do you have any advice for women dealing with this?
1 reply · active 683 weeks ago
I definitely appreciate the reminder that a person's home environment contributes to their happiness and reduces their stress. Home making is definitely a valuable and under-appreciated ministry... but I'm not entirely convinced of two things that you might want to address in follow-up posts.

Firstly, why is it that you consider home management to be an exclusively feminine ministry? It seems to me that persons of either gender are more than capable of managing the home environment and benefiting their family members by that ministry.

Secondly, why do you compare the worth of home-making as a ministry against the worth of other ministries? Clearly there are many valuable ministries -- and I'm not understanding your foundation for the concept of comparing their importance.

It seems to me that there is such a thing as 'adequate' home making, which might not be ideal. If a person's home environment is adequate, thereafter, would you say a person's remaining energy best directed towards improving one's home-making ministry to ideal levels, or can the home remain 'adequate' and the person's remaining energy be directed elsewhere? Is there freedom in these things?
4 replies · active 683 weeks ago
Hello, I found you through Raising Homemakers. This was a very nice post. When you mentioned taking care of your family going above other ministries, I was glad that you were brave enough to say it even though so many will disagree!

We know that as mothers and wives, our first ministry is to our families because that is the biblical order of things. We can always be sure that we are doing the right thing when doing what is best for our families!
You are so right. I adore cleaning and cooking, and my stumbling block is that I don't get to do more of it. It seriously messes with me and becomes and idol at times. Motives are so tough to discern! Isn't it cool how a lot of times we're inborn with the desire to enjoy cooking and order? maaayyybe not every single night and maybe we don't like dusting constantly. But it is our job and God will help us to accomplish it!
http://munchtalk.blogspot.com/
Hi Lori-
I agree with the sentiment in this post but wanted to mention something as well. (Just as a food for thought.)

Whenever I read a post like this from well, anyone really, there is always a picture of an extremely beautiful well decorated room. I do wish sometimes that posts like this showed a fully average, or even slightly below average decor. To show that a clean and tidy home is inviting and a blessing, even with brown speckled carpet and outdated wood siding. I say this because it's just like reading a post about diet and exercise and have the picture always be of a fitness model, rather than an average woman. Over time it causes the reader to have a distorted sense of what health and beauty really is. With our homes I think it can also contribute to people not appreciating what they have.
Mind you, I'm not blaming you! It's just something I've noticed in general and wanted to mention it.
Lori,

very convicting and sobering. this will have me thinking toward positive change.

blessings to you!

~Nacole
http://sixinthehickorysticks.blogspot.com/2012/02...
I completely agree with the fact that homemaking is a lost art. My husband and I do split the chores in our house though. We both work full time and go to school full time, so it takes both of us to keep things running smoothly. I appreciate everything my husband does!!

Visiting from the Linky Party Hop!! I hope you’ll visit – www.LaughterandGrace.com – and follow back.
Thank You! I So neede to hear this today:) Youve blessed my socks off,but in a very organized way! lol Deidre~ http://simplysimplisticated4.blogspot.com please stop over and chat with me sometime.
Oh my you did spark some wonderful comments with this post.Thank you for linking it to the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop linky party xo
Very well said! I agree with you that we need to put the ministry to our families above other "good things" including church activities. I know not all agree on this one, but if you are a momma with tired babies and a messy home with no plan for supper, you don't need to be at every ladies event going on a church. Let the Lord minister to you as you minister to your sweet little ones and the man you are the helpmeet to.

Thanks for sharing on what turned out to be a touchy subject.
Blessings,
Elisabeth
I just love this picture and the post. I even Pinned It! I'm a new follower (GFC) via Thursday hop. Loving your blog and hope you'll stop by mine. Donna
http://mylife-in-stories.blogspot.com
I agree with you. I'm blessed with a husband who helps around the house, but I take great joy in knowing that I'm on assignment from God to make my home and respect my man and love on my children. I enjoy the title "home maker"! We need Titus 2 women to step up and teach younger women...and it all begins with us teaching/training our daughters, nieces, granddaughters... Thanks for this post!

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