I'm gonna cut to the chase, here: When did being domestic turn into a negative thing? This truly puzzles me. Girls might be tempted to cringe or even scoff at the word itself, nowadays.
"Domestic? Ha! Please, Alaina. Quit being archaic. We are in the 21st century, you know."
Hold your horses. Think with me here for a second. I am not suggesting that we rewind the clock to when women were fully dependent on men or that we revoke women's voting rights, nor do I believe it is fair that women are still not paid equally in the workforce for doing the same jobs that men are. But, could the fact that divorce rates have leaped to new heights and that the values of the up-and-coming generations are diminishing be attributed to the fact that traditional mothers are becoming few and far between?
I believe that we are foolish for abandoning our traditional values, and my Christian faith solidifies this for me.
Now, do not get me started on those claims that a woman's "rightful place is in the kitchen", or that "women can't drive", or that women are supposed to unquestioningly provide their spouses/significant others with sex, at his disposal entirely. There is nothing that makes me more red-hot with anger than to hear men joke that way. Picture the very cartoon-esque steam comin' out the ears, beet-red face, squealing teapot noises in the background kinda thing. I'll fight you. Don't talk like that to me. Women are very powerful. We are so capable of doing anything we set our minds to - if we only muster up the determination and use a little elbow grease.
However, I think that the field that we ladies are most desperately needed these days is the home. God makes it very clear to us in the Book that he has high expectations for his girls. I think that Proverbs 31:10-31 illustrates these expectations for us best through the Wife of Noble Character passage. And you know what the interesting thing about that passage is? Nowhere does it say that a woman should be solely a housewife...in fact, it talks about her doing business and "buying fields" with her earnings. Hmmm...so where did this impression come from that "a good wife's place is in the home"? Beats me.
But what God does call his girls to is some very strenuous work. He doesn't say that being this coveted "Wife of Noble Character" is gonna be easy - he says that she is going to be working her hands from sun-up to sun-down. She won't be spending her days chillaxing, watching soap operas, getting her nails and hair done, and pampering herself. Now, I'm not saying that a woman shouldn't take the time to take care of herself, but I know of a few suburban housewives who think the world revolves around them. Nuh uh.
So, how do I see the Wife of Noble Character spending her days?
I see her beginning the day very early and quietly, in God's Word and in prayer. I see her spending time in reflection - maybe out on the road on a run. I see her making sure that her husband and children are well fed. I can see her going off to her place of employment and shedding a Christ-like light on her co-workers, working at whatever she does as if working for the Lord - not just her earthly boss (Colossians 3:23). I see the Wife of Noble Character coming home to ensure that dinner is prepared and the house is picked up. I see the family joining hands in thanks to God and sharing a meal around a table....with no sounds in the house except that of their voices....laughing, talking, and recapping their days. I see the little ones' evening ending sooner than they'd like, but their acceptance of the fact coming in the form of a sleepy yawn as Mother totes them off to their rooms and they read a bedtime story together. I see Husband and Wife spending quiet time together in the Word....bending knees, bowing heads, and joining hands in prayer and praise, even despite the struggles of each day. ....And even after the Godly man has dragged his weary body to bed, I see the Wife of Noble Character making sure that the pets food bowls are full, the dishes are done, the lunches are packed, and the outfits are laid out for the next day. And when her head finally hits her pillow, she sleeps soundly with the peace that God will provide again the next day. And she sleeps and she sleeps....and tomorrow, she will move mountains again.
I imagine that this tale of the ideal woman, above, has got a couple people scoffing at me. After all, I am only newly 19 years of age. How would I know what it's like to be a wife and mother? I wouldn't. I admit it. I have no clue, yet. But I will tell you that, when I was still living at home, the schedule of my own mother's day looked almost exactly like that. Here's the catch! Take out all of the bits about a husband, because she did not and still does not have one. She is the perfect example of the Proverbs 31 Woman....so to those who say that it cannot be done: it can....and my mother did it without any help.
The moral of the story is that the reason for my foundation and trust in God can be derived from the methods of parenting my mother used on Landon and I and the example of hard work and determination she set for us. This is why mothers must be present in their children's lives - whether they work or are stay-at-home-mothers! This is why I am a believer in the "domestic girl". I have seen too many friends, whose mothers were not present, flounder and soul-search in ungodly ways...and it hurts my heart. I feel so blessed to have had a very involved mom and I pray that this will change a few ladies perspectives on the word "domestic". Don't be afraid of it. It isn't taboo. It's a blessing.
No comments:
Post a Comment