I’ve heard it too many times. A daughter of the Lord Almighty, obeying His call on her life, and she feels as though she needs to apologize for it. It makes my blood boil.
When the group ended, I approached this beautiful woman. “I’d like to challenge the idea that you are just a stay-at-home-mom,” I said. She looked at me, silent, waiting.
“What if you considered yourself a Home Maker – two words. Someone who cultivates a nurturing environment where everyone who lives there is loved for who they are and launched to be who the Lord made them to be.”
Titus 2 gives us a glimpse of the high and holy calling the Lord has given you as a woman: “Older women similarly are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor addicted to much wine, teaching what is right and good, so that they may encourage the young women to tenderly love their husbands and their children, to be sensible, pure, makers of a home [where God is honored], good-natured, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.” (Titus 2:3-5 AMP) In the midst of this challenge for how you as a woman, of any age, are to live, is part of that high and holy calling: “makers of a home [where God is honored]”. I like the Amplified version here. It states the purpose and great need. The Greek for this phrase is oikouros (oy-koo-ros) and is also translated as keepers at home (KJV), working at home (ESV), workers at home (NASB), busy at home (NIV), homemakers (NKJV), home-lovers (J.B. Phillips), and having care of the home (Wycliffe). The Greek itself has roots as a guard, a stayer at home, work. And refers to the keeper as one who watches over or guards, and keeping as holding something firmly. No matter the word used for it, part of how the Lord made you as a woman is to care for, guard, protect, and preserve the precious gift of home – of all it stands for: security, belonging, and love. That gives each person in the home has a firm foundation built on Jesus Christ. The term stay-at-home-mom feels downgraded from the reality that you know: this is the most difficult, sanctifying, character building, Kingdom work you have ever done. You have a high and holy calling. One our culture is longing for: a place to belong, where you are nurtured, accepted, loved, valued, and always wanted. Home. If you have been called by the Lord to remain in the home without an outside job that provides a financial resource, you have nothing to apologize for. Boldly declare that you are a maker of home, where the Lord is honored and where everyone who enters is loved and launched. No one can do what you do. No outside resource can ever replace what you offer. No one will love and value your husband or your children like you do. Serve the Lord. Make your home. Unapologetically. Additional articles of encouragement: Building a Palace for the Soul by Jani Orlund 31 Beautiful and Encouraging Quotes for Homemakers by Jayden Copeland © Sanctuary of Home™ All Rights Reserved
All Scripture references, unless otherwise indicated, are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP), Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. lockman.org.
4 Comments
Elizabeth Haberman
9/16/2024 11:30:56 am
Wow. Beautifully said.
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Mellany Zepelak
9/23/2024 08:47:47 am
I'm glad you were encouraged, Liz!
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Sandy Honza
9/17/2024 03:59:15 pm
So true and so well shared. Said with passion and conviction. I have so much respect for Home Makers, it's a 24/7 labor of love and hard work with rewards that just keep on giving for the rest of your life. God Bless each and every one of you!
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Mellany Zepelak
9/23/2024 08:49:15 am
Thank you for the encouragement, Mama! And for blessings those of us called to this work. Love you!
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