A Keeper of the Home - Refueling My Passion To Serve At Home

Tasha and Laura when I first came home

It's been over ten years since I came home.  For years I worked a "regular" job.  When my older girls were young, I worked because I thought that being a career woman would fulfill me.  I had worked since my teens, and having children didn't change that much.  I went back to work when my oldest was three weeks old.  With my second child, I was back at work after a few weeks.  There were "periods" of time where I was home, after military moves or having children, but it wasn't the norm.   I stayed home for two years at one point, but it was during a tough time and it didn't go well.  Many factors came into play and I went through a depression.

Staying home, I could be a part of all my girls lives.

After Laura was born, I worked for nine months.  Then, with the price of daycare for four young children, it became clear that we were paying more for others to watch our children than I was making in my paychecks.  I decided to stay home. 

We had lots of theme parties when I came home.

After the initial wave of fear, I found that I loved staying home.  I threw myself into being a stay at home mom.  I was able to put my children in activities and actually be there.  I could spend time with my children.  I began to scrapbook.  I worked hard to make our three bedroom apartment a home.  I focused on making memories with my children.  Family was of the utmost importance. (I hadn't given my life to Christ yet, so my family became my idol.)  I felt that I was doing what I was called to do.

We made a LOT of memories on purpose as a family when I came home.

Somewhere along the way I lost my way.  When I think back, I can see how moving into an older home that was not full of modern conveniences discouraged me.  My husband and I had bought a home that was in a small town where my I wasn't near my mom and other family members.  It was harder to get together with them.  The spike in gas prices didn't help either.  Then, as my children got older and were busier, I didn't have time with them like I previously had.  I had pretty much decided to go back to work or school.

With Megan, I felt overwhelmed at taking care of 5 daughters.

God intervened after I committed my life to Him.  I was scheduled to begin college in late August.  In the 2nd week of August 2006, I discovered I was pregnant.  That became a sure sign that God wanted me home.  He knew I would not want to put another child in daycare or with constant babysitters.  Then, after Megan was born, I was led to homeschooling.

The beginning of our homeschooling journey.

God has led me down many paths since that time.  It hasn't been until recently that He has begun to give me back the passion for my family and home that I once had.  This time, however, the center of that passion is not to create my family as an idol, as it was before Christ.  This time I have been influenced greatly by Titus 2:5:

To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed

"Keepers at home" touched a cord in me.  I've been home for a long time, but I haven't had a real desire to make my home a special place for awhile.  The hardworking, admirable, Proverbs 31 woman is also a worthy model for keeping a home. 

Terms such as "helpmeet" have come into my vocabulary.  I never really thought about how I can use being at home to serve my husband in a greater capacity.  He works hard and, often, comes home to a house of chaos as I am finishing up dinner and our homeschooling projects are cluttering up the table.  We rarely eat together at the dining room table because it is often cluttered with our school work.

Serving as wife and mother.

For many years now, I have "gotten by" in my home.  If the floors got swept and the dishes done, I counted it as a good day.  This is especially true with the busyness that homeschooling can add.  But as I prayed, I felt convicted that I wasn't giving my Home Mission Field the sort of attention that would honor my King.