Day 11: Housewife?

Oh my word...I almost forgot to blog!

It's been a little over a week, and I'm already forgetting...uh oh.
Today I had my first day off with almost nothing to do. There was no preparing for a trip, or catching up on grading, or anything else really for that matter. Today was a day of rest, a gift from the Lord to remind me to slow down and enjoy what's happening in the world around me. I slept in and relished every minute of it, snuggling in my blanket.

The day started off like it usually does (or how I usually try to start it off): reading the word, sending up prayers, and drinking tea while eating yogurt and my delicious kashi cereal. But this morning, amidst all of the wonderfulness, I started to think about how this would be if it was a daily ritual. Not necessarily the sleeping in, but the option of staying home and creating a place of rest for my family.
For the first time in my life, I thought of what it would be like to be a housewife.

Granted, it was a bit of a stretch to compare what I was experiencing on one day off to the experiences of a housewife. But, I began to wonder what I would do if I was ever in that situation. Would I love it, or would I dread it? All of my life, I have vowed to never be such a thing. I have looked down it.

I have downright despised it.
And now?

I don't think it's half bad. In fact, I don't think it's bad at all. When I hear about mothers who stay home with their children, who create beautiful and safe homes for their family, I do not judge as I used to. It's probably because my views on womanhood and manhood are changing, but also because I believe that family is something worth investing in. God is teaching me that it is alright if someone's ambition is to be a mother and a wife. He is showing me that being that wife, or that mother, for a family is just as important, if not more, than any other occupation.

And, I think for me, the best example I can think of is with my mother. All of my life I saw my mother having to be strong for the both of us, which she was (and is) really good at. My mother was a single mom, but she had a gracious family that surrounded her and that loved/s us. However, I watched my mom work for as long as I remember, and I think our relationship suffered because of it. Was that her fault? Absolutely not. She was doing what we needed to survive, and I am so grateful for that. But, that was the only way I really got to see her...working, and eventually she even owned her own business. My mom is a boss, literally ;)

But, shortly after my sister was born, my mom had the opportunity to stay at home with her, and really become a housewife. This is where I saw my mom blossom into an even more amazing mother than she already was. I saw her heart invested in my sister, and in their time together, and I loved watching it. I loved being a part of it, and I think my mom really enjoyed it as well.

But, like me, my mom has always been someone who just feels called to work, and to do something worthwhile, which is why she now works at my sisters school as an assistant. I am happy to say that I am like my mom in that way. Although we have a heart for our families, we also feel called to work and to make a difference for other people as well.

All this goes to say that God is teaching me that it is okay if I end up as a housewife, or if I end up as more. And He's showing me how He can turn my preconceived notions about things upside down, and right side up again.

I love the Lord, and even though His wisdom is obvious, it always manages to surprise my heart.



In Christ,



Lilia