Who has time for that?

This past weeked was our church's adult Christmas musical. My daughter, Sophia, who is twelve was in it. It was lovely! After the performances a delightful spread is put on by the ladies ministry. There are always alot of home-baked goodies and store bought too. 

I had a lovely surprise in that an old friend from many years ago was invited by another member of the church and the two of us got to catch up a bit.  Which brings me to the point of this post. She and I were admiring the tables of goodies and someone had made heart shaped waffles and put them on a platter with different toppings. My friend turned to me as we both admired this pretty dish and said, " Who has time for that?" I smiled, but immediately felt a bit of sorrow in my spirit. Indeed, who has time for that? I didn't say it, but secretly inside I thought, well I do.  When she told me what was going on in her life and all the commitments she had I thought, no wonder you have no time to bake. Now, I am not insinuating that not having time to bake makes anyone less of a woman, homemaker, etc. What I am going to try to convey is that it is a sad testimony to today's  "I can have it all" woman. We can't have it all!

There is absolutely no possible way a home can be made into a home without the presence and work of mother. 

In the same way, teach older women to be holy in their behavior, not speaking against others or enslaved to too much wine, but teaching what is good.⁴ Then they can teach the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,⁵ to be wise and pure, to be good workers at home, to be kind, and to yield to their husbands. Then no one will be able to criticize the teaching God gave us. Titus 2:3-5 NCV

The work of home is sacred, really. There is no one that can take the place of the wife or mother at home because God himself designed it this way. God gives everyone the same twenty-four hours in each day. It is a choice how we use our time and what we use it for.  If I don't have time to cook healthy and delicious meals and also bake nutritious treats then I have chosen not to make time for that.  Picked up goodies at the store have their place, sometimes it just can't be avoided, but to make it the norm in one's life is a sad testimony to the value placed on the work of home.  No, we can't all be Betty Crocker in the kitchen, but most homemakers can learn how to cook and bake.

Recently my son and I were discussing marriage and what sort of woman he wishes for a wife. He wants a woman who will run his household, raise the children and be his helpmeet. I asked him if he thought there were any girls out there anymore willing to stay home and raise a family without working also. He doesn't know any.  Even in our church I see young ladies preparing to go to college and not even considering being a "keeper at home".  That may come after education is what is said.  Yet, they are ill-prepared for that role.  Raised without knowing how to run a household really is a disservice to our girls. We mothers need to train our daughters for that role and we need to help those that aren't being trained so our sons will have a marriage partner that will know how a home is cared for and run.

The work in our homes is much.  Yet, we can find such delight and satisfaction in being the helpmeet God designed us to be.  While I know June Cleaver and Donna Reed are ficticious characters, there is alot to be said about the values they conveyed. The work of mother in the home was and still is valuable and necessary to our homes and families and nurturing healthy children and husbands is a priveledge only wives and mothers were given by God.  Embrace your calling!