Upon getting married nearly two months ago and undertaking the role of keeper of my home, I have had many thoughts whirling around in my head as to the work and ministry of homemaking. There are countless wonderful blogs out there which so aptly point to the purpose and design God has in mind for the home. These portray the home as a domain of hospitality, dominion, education, inspiration, industry, ministry, a place for “transforming souls”, if you will. Indeed, the home is all that and more, and as homemakers, the queens of our homes, the ones whose role it is to make sure our homes are carrying out that calling for which they were created, we have a high and lofty vocation and responsibility on our shoulders. We should take great pride in this, ladies. We are the sole ones whom the Lord has called and equipped to carry out this most important, world-changing mission. Our work is valuable and important, friends! [clickToTweet tweet=”What we do in our homes has the potential to alter the course of nations.” quote=”What we do in our homes has the potential to alter the course of nations.”] But in light of all this, I think we sometimes make a mistake. And that mistake is that we, on our blogs specifically, have the tendency to portray our view of the day-to-day work that must be done in a home as all-glorious, magical, amazing, and thoroughly fulfilling at all times. Now, don’t get me wrong-we shouldn’t view our work as drudgery. Not at all! Far from it, in fact. Even little things like cleaning the tubs, scrubbing toilets, and washing dishes have an eternal impact on those who enter the four walls of our homes and are a ministry in and of themselves. But when we begin to form blogs depicting the excitement we receive from sweeping the floor for the third time in one day, this is where I begin to feel uncomfortable.
What I mean is this: while every little aspect of homemaking is indeed valuable, important work which we should delight in and find fulfillment from, no homemaker feels that way at all times. No homemaker wakes up each morning doing jumping-jacks and singing, “Hallelujah, glory be, today the dusting is the thing for me!!” While that may be the attitude for which we should strive perhaps, we do not live in a broadway musical and no homemaker has or ever will arrive at that point, living in such a way day after day. It just doesn’t happen. And this brings me to my main point.
The last thing we want to do in our Christian walks is to act like we have it all together. Like we have somehow arrived at perfection and everyone else would do well to follow in our footsteps. Oh, and if they don’t? Well, that poor, pitiful sinner! Such an attitude, though human and so easy for us to fall into, is the direct antithesis of meekness, grace, love, and compassion-traits for which we should instead be known.
So, here is my proposition, ladies: let’s be real. Let’s admit it when we’re overwhelmed with all the tasks on our to-do list. Let’s confess it when we need to clean the bathroom, sort the laundry, scrub the baked-on pots and pans, and dust the bookcases when all we want to do is curl up in our recliners with a cup of tea and a good book. Let’s share with a friend about those days we have when the thought of mopping the kitchen floor detests us and seems empty and pointless and it would be way more fun to go a-pinteresting or to chill out for hours on end on Facebook. Or, hey, how about total honesty-not just sharing that we feel that way sometimes, but telling how we actually give into those feelings sometimes and how there are, in fact, days when the computer screen receives far, far more of our attention than the home we make for our families does. Can I get an amen, ladies? ;)l
As Christians, our mission is to be an ambassador of Christ and to minister to and love others. We are to lift each other up, encourage and edify each other, let others know that they are not alone and that we understand their struggles, love on each other, and be a blessing. And the only way we can do that is if we are open with people. If we share with others our own failures, struggles, and weaknesses. [clickToTweet tweet=”There is no glory in portraying oneself as the quintessential homemaker.” quote=”There is no glory in portraying oneself as the quintessential homemaker.”] Certainly we are to strive for such a high and lofty goal and endeavor to be an inspiring example of godly womanhood to others. But the most inspiring women I have met have been those who easily admitted they didn’t have it all together. Who would tell you point blank that they had to rely on the strength of Christ to be all they were called to be and to do all that they were called to do. What made them inspiring? It was the fact that the work of Christ was so evident in their lives-the proof that God is at work and that He will complete the good work in us which He has already begun. That we are not alone and without help in the world. That there is hope!
One of the notions that many brides-to-be have, I think, is the notion that married life will be a fairytale at all times. Now, when you’re married to the perfect man for you and are head over heels in love, marriage can certainly feel that way. But along with marriage itself comes all the responsibilities of keeping a home functioning in working order-many of which one has to carry out when her beloved husband is away at work and things seem decidedly less fun sometimes. And this is something a new bride learns very soon upon coming home from her honeymoon. Because, I’m going to let you in on a little secret here: I do not do jumping jacks and shout for joy at the thought of cleaning the bathtubs. Even in my newlywed state! 😉 That is a job I have always struggled with attempting to like, and while things are a little different now that they are my own bathtubs rather than just my parents’, I have nevertheless not grown into an instant lover of bathroom-cleaning, sad to say.
You sound very much like a kindred spirit. The number of bloggers out there who pretend to have it all together is overwhelming. I'm a mess and I don't mind admitting it. We struggle. This life of Biblical homemaking is tough, no matter how many try to make it look easy. I'll be cheering on your sidelines, Rebekah! 🙂
living_for_my_lords_glory@hotmail.com says
You're so right! It's an awesome role, but that doesn't mean it's all easy and roses and sunshine all the time. Or that, if you struggle, that there's somehow something wrong with you.
Thank you so much for your encouraging comment! 🙂 You blessed me today.
Hello My Dear Newlywed!! You are precious and entering the reality of I DO !!
I had so many dreams of how cute and pretty my home was going to look, and how I would make all these amazing dinners… Then I awoke from the fairy tale…
Now, well over 30 years later I am still learning and growing! And the wonderful thing about blogging you can find some very real women who understand all the struggles and the pain. We are emotional women and we can feel the weight of all it requires for keeping a home. Then some have jobs outside the home and then come children.
Bloggers most often will only show their successes. But we will make a few very close friendships where we can be real and allow each other a place to be safe and grow. Homemaking does become easier in some ways and I have found a strange but a very wonderful feeling that does come from keeping my home. But I will say this when I am tired I stop; when I want a good cry, I cry… No blinders here and you have just found a friend in me!! You come often and you can email me anytime.
Some days there is no sunshine! Only True Grit :o)
Blessings and Real, Roxy