As homemakers, we each have a realm that we are in charge of – are there times that we are getting so caught up within this realm that we forget how our life is fitting into the larger picture of God’s Kingdom?
How am I using my home to serve His Kingdom well?
What can I do to simplify my realm so that I can serve Him in other aspects of His Kingdom?
In no way is this series of posts meant to disregard or minimize the work and the high calling of being a homemaker. Rather, it is a call to reposition the lenses with which we see our work within the home – is it serving to build His Kingdom or done simply to make my realm look good?
One would think that with the invention of vacuums, blenders, robot vacuums, dishwashers, spin mops, air fryers, and dryers, there would be less work for the homemaker of today’s era than of Laura Ingle’s day. Shouldn’t the homemaker of today have more time to invest in souls than she did of yester-years? But no! – recent studies have shown that homemakers are even more overwhelmed today than ever before. Does Satan merely chuckle as our homes change to include wall to wall carpets rather than the one rug that Laura Ingle maintained, three times the amount of flooring to keep mopped, ten times the amount of clothing which which to keep laundered, gardens to impress our neighbors, chickens that are colorful and unusual, and the numerous choices of culinary arts to learn – sourdough, kefir, kombucha, Asian dishes, Chinese dishes, Spanish dishes, pasta bars with various types of homemade pasta, latte art, and the list goes on? Oh, and then make sure every ingredient is whole and organic in addition. Surely, the homemaker today has more things to distract, overwhelm, and hold her attention than Laura Ingle did.
Take a look at several of the highest contributors to homemaker overwhelm:
- THE MANY VOICES : social media influences, main-stream-Christianity influences, ladies-from-church influences, friends influences.
- TODAY’S CULTURE PRESSURES: homesteading, clean-toxin-free-living, diy and thrifting
- THE AMERICAN DREAM = living with excess: large yards and homes to maintain, a second home or third home to rent/maintain, multiple vehicles to maintain, lots of things to keep clean and organized
- PERSONAL PASSIONS AND SIDE BUSINESSES: This can include work from the home or away from the home -especially if it is bringing in monetary value. But it can also include blogging, photography, gardening, sewing, sourdough, and latte art.
- COMPARISON: looking around at others and comparing – especially those who live in the same community that you rub shoulders with repeatedly.
And yet, so many of the things are GOOD things. Making sourdough bread IS healthier than many of the choices on the store shelves. Having a large home IS a wonderful venue to host big groups of people. Seeking to live toxin-free and purchasing organic foods may be NECESSARY for the health of a family member. And also, certainly, God CAN USE the passions and businesses He has given us to build His Kingdom. And we didn’t even start with the good opportunities to build His Kingdom outside of our homes – teaching Sunday school, children’s ministries, discipleship programs, visiting the elderly, Bible studies, prayer meetings, and other soul-fishing opportunities.
So, homemaker, how do you decide which things are good things that God is calling YOU to and which things are contributing to your distraction and “busy-ness” away from the Kingdom work that God has in mind for YOU?
There are so many good things to do. The opportunities to serve our good Lord are endless. And yet, He says, come to me- my yoke is easy. He does not want us to feel the drudgery of service. How do I know what I should say “yes” to in order to live a life of joyful service?
How do you know what to say “yes” to? Come back for that subject next week.