Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Impacting The World Through Homemaking

“We are called to be different - not conformed to the pattern of this world but transformed by Christ (Romans 12:2). We are to live in such a way that others may have hope. When we trust in the Lord and submit to His design for marriage, family, home, and church, then our homemaking accomplishes far more than just making homes. It has the power to impact countless lives and generations for the glory of God.” ( Passionate Housewives Desperate For God, p. 163)

I always knew there was something different about them. The more I began to know them, the more shocked I was. "What! You have never had a boyfriend? You have never kissed a boy? You don't drink? You don't curse? You don't talk about people behind their backs?"

Their sweet spirits and dedication to prayer, fasting, bible study, and church attendance also took me by surprise. It wasn't uncommon that I would knock on their door and find them prostrate on the floor praying in the middle of the day or night.

There God was, right in the middle of my sin, my distress and my weariness, allowing my path to cross with two of the most peculiar people I'd ever encountered. They were two sisters who lived on campus in the same dorm as I. They were only 18 years old and modeling right before my eyes a fervent love for God and a life consistent with his word.

Little did I know,  my interaction with these two ladies would be the start of a fresh new life for me, as a young christian woman who practiced biblical womanhood. Not only did I become a born again Christian, but so did two of my close friends, their friends, our parents, and many more students from other campuses as a result of their holy lifestyle. Now, many of us have married and have children who we are bringing up in the ways of the Lord.

With all that goes on in the life of an 18 year old girl on a college campus, I often wondered where did these two sisters get such a love for God and such a powerful conviction to stand for him in college?

As time went on, I found out that their mother was a stay at home mom of 15 children. That she and her husband woke their children up for family devotion everyday. That their mother kept their home life peaceful and consistent. It just so happens that their love for God was largely shaped by her consistent support, training, and example.

It wasn't their mother who witnessed to me on that college campus, but I do attribute much of my being who I am today to her. It was her sacrificial love and work of her hands that God chose to use to radically impact my life as well as the lives of many other people. 

As a homemaker, I realize that my cleaning, dusting, diaper changing, nose wiping, and laundry is not the end all be all. My primary reason for staying home is not to clean, but to raise children who will impact the lives of others for the glory of God. God has placed gifts and talents in them and has a purpose for their lives that is bigger than me and "my agenda." As I work everyday to train, walk upright, and to create a loving home environment, I must remember that my purpose is eternal. If I do my part, there will come a day when someone will experience salvation as a result of the prayers and witness of my children, just like I did through the witness and prayers of my college friends.

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.

Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.

How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!

He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates(Psalm 127:3-5).

Truly, my children are God's gift to me and my gift to the world.


7 comments:

  1. Wonderful post! Those girls are truly inspiring. Who knows how many people they have impacted, not only directly, but through others like you?
    Which leads us to ask, how many people are we impacting with our lives? How many can attribute their salvation in some indirect way to us? Hopefully, alot!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Kirsten! Those are questions that we all need to be keep in mind!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such a great post! Everything we do in life has a dominoe effect. I'm starting to really see the fruit of being home when my kids were younger. Now that they are older, they need me more.
    My son tells his friends that he can text his momma anytime. His friends tell he he's lucky.
    It's been rough financially, but I wouldn't trade it for any material thing this world could give me. People have the tendency to think we don't want the finer things in life because we're home.
    What woman doesn't want nice things?! If it mean staking me out of my home.....then the price is too high.

    BTW.....you can use anything you want on my blog. I totally trust youso you never have to ask :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. You may already have more of an influence than you realize.

    CMM

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great post!!! This really puts a different perspective on the impact of stay at home moms....thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What an inspiring post! That really hit home with me, and helped me to see what a powerful influence I have with my children to help shape them into the people that God would have them to be.

    It's so easy to get discouraged as a parent with so much going on today, and I wonder, how am I going to prevent my children from falling into the various traps that young people are falling into.

    This post gives me greater confidence and courage as a parent. Thanks so much for your words of wisdom.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I just thought I'd let you know that I put a link to this post on my 'Blogoversary Afterparty!' post on Living Water!

    ReplyDelete

Your ideas, questions, and comments are welcome!