"She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat."... Amplified Bible.
This verse has been coming back to me repeatedly of late. What exactly does looking well to the way things are in your household mean? Well it doesn't necessarily mean that it looks like your house - remember it says HER household - we all have different schedules, jobs,etc to manage.
Hubby's schedule and needs as a military man probably look very different from those of a pastor, or someone with a set schedule everyday, or for those who don't have a husband, etc. That's not bad, it just is.
What about the kiddos? How many you have/ages/gender and tastes will determine differences in this area as well.
I think looking well to your household means being on top of things, keeping things running smoothly and doing so cheerfully and yet it is more than that -- oh there's the budgeting,etc but i mean the spiritual side as well. Praying for said husband and children if you have them, meeting physical, spiritual and emotional needs and NOT comparing myself to Mary Jane down the road or a friend who has other needs. To often as women and particularly Christian women we tend ot think if we aren't quiet, always happy, never moody, and don't do things exactly the same as others then we are failing. The Church sometimes reinforces this idea with books on how to be the perfect Christian woman, others who say things like "if you..." or give ideas and scripture as if they were God, well meaning though they may be. Where's the grace for each other? To be sure we need to be Titus 2 women who teach and help younger women, but not in a way that makes them feel inadequate or that they somehow don't measure up.
What does the Lord require of you? That will look different for each of us, and in each season! Using store brought bread for a season if that's what you need will not kill your family, nor will eating out occasionally (notice I said occasionally :)) to use two random examples.
Ask the Lord to show you what looking well to your home's ways means for YOU
Thoughts, rantings,feelings& opinions of a veteran Army Wife, Homeschooling Mommy,&Christian Woman.
2 comments:
Great post, Holly!
I'm not married ...yet. But I take it to mean that as a wife, it is part of your responsibility to keep your house in order, and by that I mean take care of the business of the home and don't involve yourself in idle things that are not worth your time and in effect distract you from what you need to take care of. Because when the house is running smoothly, I'm sure your husband will be thankful for it and show his gratitude. That's my take on it.
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