Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
Colossians 3:18-25
Whatever you do. That's a pretty broad word isn't it . . . whatever? I have found myself reciting this scripture over and over again in my head this past week. It's one of those that I learned years ago and when I needed it, it resurfaced from somewhere deep down. And it was very much needed. If there was
one word that I think every stay at home mother/wife would use to tell you how she feels most days, it would be unappreciated.
one word that I think every stay at home mother/wife would use to tell you how she feels most days, it would be unappreciated.
It's not a complaint. It's just how we feel.
Our 'jobs' aren't really validated as jobs by the outside world. It's a choice we have made and so we shouldn't complain about it when things get hard- but is that really fair? If you work outside of the home, don't you get praised by you boss for you work ethic? Don't you get bonus' and raises? Oh and how about his one . . . vacation days? Sick days? Regardless, whether we choose to work outside of the home or not, the 'job' of a mother & wife is never ending.
There are always clothes to be cleaned.
There are always dirty dishes in the sink.
There are always meals to be made. and cleaned up.
People to bathe.
Floors to clean.
. . . and these are just the basics.
Throw homeschooling, crafts, errands, illness . . . etc . . etc . . and you've got complete mental & physical exhaustion - with most women sitting on the brink of all out mental breakdowns . . . ok, maybe that's a little to far . . or maybe not?
My point to all of this rambling is this - I was having one of the above listed days the other day. At the end of the rope, barely holding on when these words came out of nowhere . . .
whatever you do, Bethany - do it as if working for the Lord and not for men . . .
When you are doing the laundry . . . do it as if for the Lord & not for men.
When your disciplining your children . . . do it as if for the Lord & not for men.
When your scrubbing toilets . . . do it as if for the Lord & not for men.
Whatever you do . . .
There is an old saying that goes something like this . . 'if Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy ' {imagine that in my Tennessee accent.} While I believe it is biblical that Brock is the spiritual leader of our household . . . I am the maintainer. I am the one who controls the mood & attitude of our household. It is my 'workplace' and I am the boss. And I want, more than anything, a joyful workplace home.
I am choosing to bring joy to my household. I am choosing to stop the complaining.
I am choosing, no matter what circumstance, to work as if for the Lord and not for men.
I am choosing to not become self centered when my work goes unnoticed . . . .because my Master is always watching . . and He notices.
I am choosing to show my children & my husband the joy of the Lord.
Rise up, women of the Truth . . . .
