On the Homefront

 

It took way too long for me to get to a good understanding of what it means to be a “homemaker.” In Titus 2 where older women are instructed what we are to teach younger women, “homemaker” is on the list.

In our home I have listened to my husband tease me about wreaths on the front door for years. I simply “have” to have one. Inside, it is hard for him to grasp that I also “simply must” set the table for dinner, use tablecloths without stains for company, and decorate for Christmas, etc.

Now, definitely in the position of an “older” woman, I am seeing that I am, somewhat unconsciously, homemaking. I want my home to be inviting, warm, and a place of peace and hospitality. And, I want to do it well.

It is only recently that I really understood that, within reasonable means financially, my home should be made to be a place of peace, hospitality, grace, refuge, and even fun times for those who live here or visit.

Simple things can make a big difference. One is attitude. It delights me to understand that all of this effort pleases God. He wants us to make our homes a place where He is honored in word and deed. Our families may not really appreciate the efforts but, if done with the understanding that we are pleasing God,  doing work He has assigned to us, we can proceed with joy.

Maybe they won’t seem like simple things but included in “homemaking” are cooking and cleaning that contribute to good health and nutrition. Many “homemakers” today do not want these responsibilities. These things take time and effort but benefit  us, our families, and our visitors.

Staying within our means is also a big deal. If we spend too much money on decorations or extravagant meals, we add stress when it’s time to pay the rest of the bills of the household.

Organization, cleanliness, and routine can all be real boosters to the peace in our homes and the education of our children (too much clutter and dirt can hinder the thinking process), especially if a family is homeschooling (recognizing that everyone at home all the time can also create more clutter that has to be tolerated to a point).

Homemaking is not just for Moms with kids and a husband. Every Christian woman, single or married, widowed or divorced, who wants to honor the Lord, needs to be a good “home-maker.”

It took me too many years to understand that making a home is a blessing for our families and our guests. Other things distracted me. It may be time for us older women to truly teach these things, first by practicing them ourselves, and secondly, by teaching younger women that homemaking is a thing that pleases God. For many of us, it is a matter of considering – or re-considering –  our priorities.

Is making a warm, godly home for your family, your visitors, and yourself a priority? Should it be higher on the list than it is now?