The Call to Homemaking
As a child I briefly dreamt of the various things that I wanted to do for a career as I was growing up. At one point I wanted to be a zoologist because of the movie “Mighty Joe Young;” another time I wanted to be a detective because of shows such as “Nash Bridges” and “Charlie’s Angels;” and at another point I wanted to be a professional dancer. Dancing was perhaps the most steady avenue that I worked hard to pursue until one day I realized that my ultimate calling would take me home.
Throughout my time dreaming of these fun and exciting careers, one thing often remained, I always knew that I wanted to be home with my babies and take care of them without the need of a daycare or a nanny. In my heart it felt right that I would be home with my children, so in my young mind, I pictured putting any sort of career on hold one day to pursue the life of a young stay at home mother. In fact, my desire to be a mother of many children is partly why I stopped working towards the goal of a professional dancer because I knew that having both in my “prime” wasn’t ideal.
Sometimes the call to come home and become a homemaker has nothing to do with children, but everything to do with choosing to care for the home in a way that was once such a normal and expected “career.” Sometimes choosing to come home and stay at home with children does have everything to do with choosing to make the conscious effort to be home and raise your children, even if it means you may go without at times.
I have seen the many women who work hard jet setting around, even often captioning their photos with some sort of feel good caption that they are doing this for their children, and while that is wonderful and a great goal for some, what I hope to gift my children with is more of me. It may mean that we are not taking as fancy of a summer vacation or buying all of the trendy and often expensive things, but the truth is, that was never a lifestyle I desired for my family. I desired simplicity, coziness, warmth, time and faith.
Following the call to stay at home has led me down roads I didn’t foresee. I didn’t imagine that I would become a homeschool mother and especially become a homeschooling voice in the corner of the internet. I didn’t imagine that I would drive a 12 passenger van loaded down with children and baseball equipment and I certainly never imagined the things that would spark my interest such as gardening, baking bread, canning and other various tasks within the home. Having children and following God’s plans for more has led to opportunities, moments and positions that I could have never dreamed of.
It’s like the dream of the boss babe in a fashionable pants suit disappeared the moment I received that positive pregnancy test. The desire to be present and have every bit of my time with my children met more than any large paycheck that would buy us fancier cars and shoes. Unfortunately, the average child spends more waking time with their teachers, daycare workers and coaches than their parents. I really struggled with this, especially with new babies. It just never felt ideal for us but may be ideal for others.
Some mothers don’t have much of a choice and that is understandable; it’s a very tough economy out there. Some mothers also have gifts that the Lord has blessed them with that helps them serve others in the world through beautiful careers, again understandable and admired. Yet so often, I hear the whispers and cries of women who “wish they could” or even “I can but I don’t want that much time with my kids” and my heart begins to ache for those that God may be calling back to the home, yet they are too scared to jump. Women are scared to lose an income or perhaps scared because of their lack of patience or some sort of fear placed there by the enemy. Regardless, if God has put the desire or the thought on your heart, it’s best to lean into that and see what all He has to say about it. Cutting corners and making sacrifices is well worth it if it means that you get more time; if you desire more time.
God’s plans are always better than our own. Answering the call to return home doesn’t have to be so scary or stricken with fear. Let it be a gentle guide to a life with more memories, more laughs, more hugs and more time. This isn’t about the fact that we should all return home in long flowing dresses and homemade bread. That may not be God’s plan for you. This is about answering a call when the Lord places it on your heart.
Time is fleeting and our homes are little holy, domestic churches needing our attention. If He is calling you home to be there more, pray my friends. He may need you to answer the call.
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