You were called to be a homemaker.
That woman over there, pushing her buggy down aisle 8? Yeah, she was called to be a homemaker too. Also, the cashier taking care of both of you? Yup – her too…homemaker material.
In fact, all women were called to be homemakers. Every single one. It’s hard-wired into us.
The problem is, you aren’t living like it matters.
Lemme tell you about Cindy. She works full time doing a job she loves. When she’s not working, she’s driving her kids where they need to go, buying groceries and making dinner.
How about Gloria? She stays home with her children all day, schooling them, bandaging boo-boos and cleaning up Cheerios – and reading a good book in bits and pieces.
Maria isn’t married. She works and then comes home to her apartment which she has decorated very nicely – she has that skill. She might spend her evening baking cookies to take to someone at work.
Do you know what all three of those women have in common?
“Homemaker” used to be an option on forms to fill out for occupation. But, here’s the thing. Homemaking isn’t a “job.”
Homemaking isn’t a “job.”
It’s a lifestyle. A lifestyle is something you can adopt, even if you work full time. Even if you are a homeschooling mom. Or if you aren’t married. Of if you don’t have children. Even if you’re an empty nester.
A homemaker is something you ARE – so homemaking becomes something you DO.
If you have a home, you are a homemaker. Simple as that.
Because making a house into a home is something we all do. Doing chores, washing laundry, hanging pictures, caring for the people (or animals) under our roof, caring for our neighbors, caring for our extended family, caring for our church family – all that stuff is homemaking.
This is a huge roll we are called to fill – and too often we push it aside because some people don’t see it as “important.” But taking care of the people inside your walls – and even outside your walls – is the biggest, most important job you were called to.
Love God. Love people.
You may just need to change your thinking.
So, what do all three of those women I mentioned earlier on have in common? I’ll tell you – they’re all homemakers. Doing the hard, fulfilling job of making a house into a home – and doing it every day – with the right attitude.
Cindy is caring for her kids and keeping them feed – caring for those inside her home.
Gloria is raising new people to go forth and do big things – schooling them and taking care of them all day, even in their sleep.
Maria is caring for her home by – making it beautiful…and then caring for those outside her home with her many wonderful gifts and talents.
You were called to be a homemaker. Now, go do it.
How true…, how true. I hope every woman looks at herself as a homemaker; it is a noble calling, I really enjoy getting your emails; they are so uplifting. Blessings to you….
Thank you, Linda. I appreciate that.
Thank you for this! This really spoke to me. I am “Maria” (except that I don’t have a real talent for decorating 😉 ) and it really spoke to me especially because my name *is* Maria and just earlier this week I was complaining to God about how I’ve always wanted to be a homemaker, have a family etc and why would He give me that longing since I was just a kid, only to keep me persistently single as an adult. So thank you for reminding me that I can be and AM a homemaker nonetheless.
-Maria
Yes, you ARE. <3
Stacy I thank-you for thinking about me I am truly interested in becoming an homemaker.
You’re welcome. <3
THANK YOU SO MUCH For writing this wonderfully encouraging post! I work outside the home and often feel sad that I don’t get to be that picture-perfect (stay at home) full time homemaker like my mother was and many other family members are. What a difference this post has made in my outlook today. THANK YOU Stacy!!
I love when God does that. 🙂 It’s a wonderful thing when we can change our outlook.
Amen! It drives me a little batty when I hear women who work outside the home talk about how it’s not their job to clean their house or grocery shop. We are dropping the ball in this area. We all have a job to do whether we accept it or not! And whether we like each job or not.
When I don’t “like” a job, I find I need to change my mindset.
Wow! It’s all in our perspective isn’t it? I’m hard on myself, my husband knows, it my family knows it, and I know it. Yet I can’t seem to give myself an ounce of Grace!!! Grace! Something I am given everyday by my Lord and Saviour! It’s so hard to change our thinking and our perspectives. I have however beein hearing this message a lot lately. You are raising children at home, feeding them, clothing them, loving their daddy! It is an important job! One of the most important! I think i’ll try saying this mantra over and over again, “You were called to be a homemaker!” Thanks Stacy
We are our own worst critics. Lord knows, I talk down to myself all the time. We just have to tell the voice to shush and repeat the truth to ourselves.
I disagree with this whole thing because your tone is a bit judgmental toward how you think a woman should live. I think we all could use some help in domestic skill, but I will never identify with the title “homemaker” because that is not my identity in Christ. And let me just say that as a married woman and a full time nursing student, homemaking is not a priority. Anyone that has actually gone to nursing school can agree that there’s no time for other things. My husband does what he can to help, while I focus my attention on school. So is God saying I’m wrong for not prioritizing domestic duties? Absolutely NOT! I can kind of see your point in the blog but don’t forget that we are all on a journey and Gods love is not dependent on how well of a homemaker we are.
I didn’t say at any point that “God’s love is dependent on how well of a homemaker we are.” That’s not the point of the post and I’m sorry you took it that way. We can agree to disagree. But if you have a home – you are a home-maker. Every day you’re making your home into what it is.
Thank you for this good reminder! You have a good way of putting things.
Hi, Tamra, You have a lot of your plate right now. I really commend you for going to school and being there to care for others. I am sure you are glad to get home every night for a little respite from your busy schedule. I don’t think this is about our identity in Christ but about our unique role as women. Maybe you don’t go home and bake for 2 hours, or vacuum every day, but I don’t think that is the point. With whatever you are doing in life, God still seems to have put in us as women to “keep the home” and be the thermostat to keep a restful place for us and our families. I hope your home is restful for you. By the way, I sometimes cook because I enjoy it and find it relaxing but I know everyone doesn’t. And vacuuming- it is necessary but I don’t count it as earning me any brownie points!
I think Stacy and Elizabeth have responded well already but I just wanted to add two specific verses that show we ARE commanded to be Homemakers, so it is part of your identity.
Perhaps Stacy wouldn’t say “God says you’re wrong for not prioritizing domestic duties” but I think I might be so bold as to say so, because you, like all women, have the unique command to care for your home. Titus 2:15 includes the word “homemakers” in the MEV, and variations of “keepers of the home,” “domestic,” and “workers at home” in other translations.
Every “wise woman builds her home” (Proverbs 14:1) implies home is a woman’s responsibility and that if she’s not home-making, she’s tearing it down and there’s no neutral ground.
There’s no getting around it: women were created to care for their homes, as a way of being a help to their husbands (or fathers). However, it looks different for every woman, which is what Stacy was emphasizing.
I don’t know exactly what the term “identity in Christ” means to you, but it seems like it should be: “being the part of the body of Christ He created you to be.” From these verses, all women, because they are women, make and build their homes as a way of contributing to the Body of Christ (though certainly that is not *all* they can do, but that is something all women, across the board, have been commanded to do). Sounds like you’re making “identity in Christ” mean “basis for salvation” and I would certainly disagree with that. Christ has saved His people regardless of their obedience to Him, but we still have to TRY to obey Him.
Who is “not living like it”?
Also, homemaking Is a job- it is work like anything else, but I believe with love.
There is a discrepancy w/that statement in this piece; in red “Homemaking isn’t a job.” Later, “is the biggest, most important job you were called to do” and “doing the hard, fulfilling job of making a house into a home”
“Homemaking isn’t a job” in that it’s not something you check off on a list when you fill out a paper. 🙂
God Bless you, Stacy.
And you as well, Cleona.
I have raised five wonderful girls by being a homemaker. A couple times my husband would mention how some wives work outside the home. I would explain that is not real living. My daughter said it gave her such a sense of security knowing when she got home from school, I would be there. She would change her clothes and go outside and play. She just wanted to know I was always there. My days were full making their skirts blouses, dresses, etc. Since hubby worked second shift, I would cook him a good meal every day and pack him a nice lunch. His clothes were washed, folded or ironed and put in his drawer or hung up. They each got married to Christian guys and all are in Baptist churches today. It was my calling. They learned how to keep house and eat right is what they tell me. It’s was the best way for us. We took family vacations and they went to church camp every summer . We have wonderful memories. Hope I didn’t say too much.
This was so touching to read, it sounds like you and your girls have some fabulous memories.
You didn’t say too much. 🙂
Yep! Spot on as usual.
Usually the only spot-on I get is the spot-on my clothes.
Oooh! Good one, Stacy!
Stacy, you are spot on! We aren’t housewives–not married to the house. We are HOME makers. In my view, the beauty of the calling is that it changes. We go from married raising children to (in my case) ministry wife to professional/wife/mom/caring for the home to the awesomely wonderful empty nest, which allows for time to care for others! I don’t know of any other career that is so versatile.
Three cheers for you for reminding us.
I never thought of “housewife” like that. Wow. That’s a thought I won’t ever forget. Thank you, Mary Alice.
I LOVE that! Never thought of the housewife that way – thank you!
Stacy, though I’m a stay-at-home mom, i love that you included women who aren’t wives or parents. It feels like women are categorized as being either this or that, but it’s wonderful to remember things we have in common, like the desire to create a home and serve people, whether that’s your children, other relatives, or friends.
We do all have it in common – so it’s good for us to spend time uplifting others. 🙂
I absolutely agree with these comments!!!!! You have summed up beautifully what it is to be a Homemaker.
May I have permission to share this article with my Extension Homemakers Club and County Council.
Thank you so much for all you do.
Sure, Deb. Thanks for sharing.
I would love some pointers in TIME MANAGEMENT in home making. Do you have suggestions. It seems I can never get my to do list done. I am also starting to have my 7 year old son help with the insisde chores. He helps his Dad with outside yard work, but I think it’s important to teach boys how to clean, wash dishes, and make beds too. One day he will be out on his own, and he will need to know these skills. How do you manage your time so you can have one day a week that is a No work day? Where you REST and just with your family.? Any suggestions.
Wendy Briscoe
You may find the help on FlyLady.com
She has helped me so much with organization
Stacy has written a post on each of her days of the week and what they look like for her! ?? they are good reads and worth tweaking to fit your situations.
I did a series on that a month or so ago. I’ll link the last one here and then at the bottom of that post, it links back to all the other topics. 🙂
http://www.humoroushomemaking.com/faqs-for-dailyweekly-chores
Very succinctly and gracefully said! God bless us all in our calling as home makers!
His mercies are new every morning!
For the Family’s Sake: The Value of Home in Everyone’s Life by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay says this exactly. It’s one of my favorite books that I reread every so often. Like a breath of fresh air.
I haven’t read that one by her – I’ll have to check the library. Thanks!
Beautifully said! I have been struggling with this idea the last couple of years and this post really puts it in perspective.
Thank you!
Thanks for the kind words, Destiny.
beautifully said (and written – lol)
Ha! I think I mostly muddy the waters…but thanks, Lori.