Our grandmothers and great grandmothers lived in a time when it was socially acceptable and even encouraged to be keepers at home; devoted to their husbands and families. Nobody questioned their honorable vocation and they did not have to apologize or try to rationalize their reasons for wanting to be at home. It was definitely politically correct for them to be stay-at-home wives and mothers raising their own children. They would have never thought about letting someone else raise their children! Being steadfast at home was their important position in society.
Everything has dramatically changed in the last 70 years. Now, when women decide they want to leave their careers to be home full-time, they have to have a well-thought out defense ready and deliver it with precision to the many objections of family, friends, neighbors and stranger. They will even get ridiculed for wanting to be "just" a housewife, when they could be spending their time doing something so much more "worthwhile."
Knowing that we follow in the footsteps of millions of women who have been keepers at home from the beginning of time should bring us much comfort and the fact that God commands young women to be keepers at home. We are NOT an aberration! This upside down society that we presently live in is the exception to the rules which have, up until now, held fast since God created Adam and Eve in the garden.
The most tragic thing to me is the fact that this current thinking has even invaded the church. We are not allowed to teach women to be keepers at home for fear of offending those who work. Since when are we not allowed to teach Truth in the church for fear of offending? Truth usually offends since it is contrary to the ways of the world.
We must always remember that we are strangers and aliens down here. Our purpose in life isn't to get rich and famous. It is to raise up a godly generation and to be salt and light to the world around us. God tells women how they can do this: be keepers at home. When we obey His Word, we adorn it and when we disobey it, we blaspheme it.
Dear women, hold FAST to that which is true and good and real. Carry on this time-honored way of life to the next generation. We may not change the world, but we can have a big influence on future generations through our own families and by being keepers at home.
Thus says the LORD, "Stand by the ways and see and
ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it;
And you will find rest for your souls."
Jeremiah 6:16
Martha · 519 weeks ago
In His Grace,
Martha
verymerry7 · 519 weeks ago
Kelly · 519 weeks ago
Natasha · 519 weeks ago
Few weeks ago I quit my RN job to be home full time with my toddler son and sweetest baby girl. No one except my husband (and reading your site) supported my decision to quit. I decided I won't waste time justifying my choice to anyone. My only answer is "my husband and babies need me at home". Let them ponder it. I think if I always try to justify my choice then it's like saying "yes, you're right I need to be at work but...". I do miss my job at times, but motherhood is so much more rewarding and I know that I'm doing the right thing for my family.
Carolyn · 519 weeks ago
Cheri · 519 weeks ago
Now that my youngest is a junior in HS I again feel the outside pressure to do more (to have a paying job... though that pressure is not from my husband), but I still feel convicted that there is more to life than what a paying job can offer.
It is good that I am here for my husband, my child still at home, but I am also here for my grown children as well as my grandchildren.
I've read passages in the bible of how older women are to teach younger women.
but how can we older women do that if we are all consumed with the "all mighty dollar" and make no time for our younger women? And they see no value in us the older women...
This verse (matthew 6:34) gives me much peace about the worry money(or lack there is of money due to my not having a paying job) can bring... "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is it's own trouble."
It command me not to be anxious... to put the what if's about tomorrow aside.
God's got this!
Shanon · 519 weeks ago
Danniele · 519 weeks ago
Last week, I went to the bank with my husband, and the clerk had to fill a form for us, and when she asked me what is my job, I replied that I'm a stay-at-home mom. She chuckled, and I said "Yeah, that's a funny job", and she said that is a very necessary job, that she did it for her 3 children, she is now a grandmother to an one year old baby.
I didn't know that some persons today continue to give a high value to us who stay at home.
Thank you so much dear Lori to have such perseverance in motivating us daily! And thank you all for your nice comments! Let's shine for God in our generation and for the next one :) !!!
Kristi · 519 weeks ago
Brit · 519 weeks ago
Also I find the finances an interesting thing. Those That have criticized because of us having a lower income are at least 20 years older than us and still have debt. We are loving on one income with 4 children and are on track to get the rest of our 40k in student loans to be paid off in 3 years. Then with what we will be able to start to invest in retirement in 4 years we will easily retire well off. A lot if this is thanks to Dave Ramsey. It's a myth you need two incomes to do well. It's more about handling the money you are blessed with God's way.
Nisha · 519 weeks ago
It also helps to read blogs like this and to have liked minded women in my circle to encourage and learn from each other.😊
Jeremiah 6:16 is one of my favorite scriptures!
D. Hollis · 519 weeks ago
Now- I'm proud to be blessed with a husband who can support us and whom follows God as best he can. I feel sorry for all the children who have working mothers (women who choose to work instead of staying home) because it does effect who they grow to become.
Anon · 519 weeks ago
Rebecca · 519 weeks ago
But, my mother and a few others have been wondering aloud about why I can't get a "real job" and about how I'm "wasting my potential". (I was on track to be a physics professor before this.) Sometimes I start to feel ashamed of my decision to be a homemaker. Sometimes I feel real regret that I gave up a life in academia. Sometimes I believe that I really am wasting my potential, because homemaking is just not something that people do anymore.
When I read your articles, I am reminded that there a lot of things that people "don't do anymore" that we should still be doing. So, thank you for encouraging all of us homemakers. I really, really appreciate it.
Christy · 519 weeks ago
As for my response to the critics I just ask them if my children aren't worth it. Then I ask them are their children worth it? Wasting my time? What could be MORE important than taking care of my family?
Yve · 475 weeks ago
LaurA · 475 weeks ago