The Rat Race isn't just about corporate America. It's our whole society's way of thinking.
Take moms for example. How many do you know that are running around like crazy women, shuttling their children from one activity to the next, forever complaining that they don't even have time to do their laundry, there is so much on their plate? I sometimes wonder how many people are "complaining" just to let you know how much they do, but there are others out there who are truly overwhelmed at everything they think is expected of them.
One family that comes to mind are our old friends Jeanette and Bob. She was in charge of the nursery, he was on the worship team. She was on the board for the women's ministry and he was a teacher for the kid's Wednesday night programs. They were there every time the doors were open, three services a week and the weekly Bible study night. Their children are well known in the children's programs because they are always there.
I just found out that Jeanette and Bob have separated.
Then there is my friend, Rachel. She's started back to school this year because "it was an opportunity that she just couldn't pass up." She got a full ride and knows that it is the best thing for her family because she'll be able to work from home after she gets her degree. Never mind that her two teenage children will be practically grown and gone by the time she's done. Never mind that her house is in total disarray. Never mind.
I was talking to a homeschooling mom of three this week. She tells me how she's running from gymnastics for her daughter to sports practice (which is five afternoons a week!) for her son. Her older daughter has her activities too. They all attend classes and although they live far out of town, they are here every day of the week for something. She leans in and whispers that they've had Taco Bell at least every other night, and then laughs.
I don't think it's funny.
Each of these stories are real people that I know personally, and only a very small selection of people that I know who do it all. I'm sure the same holds for the people in your life.
I once heard an older woman say, "To homeschool your children you need to be home." It was my first clue in to the whole idea of a stay-at-home mom really, um, staying at home. I used to believe that to have a well-rounded and well-educated, socialized child I needed to do everything. I felt guilty if I said no to any of the fun activities that were interesting to my children.
Let's hold that ideal up to the light of Scripture.
In Titus 2:3-4 Paul gives these instructions as to how a young married woman is to be trained by older women: “...train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands so that no one will malign the Word of God.”
To be busy at H-O-M-E. I remember the days that I used to think that there was nothing to do at home. Ha! That was because I left the laundry, "cooked" out of a box and didn't take pride in my home. We were up early, left the dishes to get on to co-op preschool and Bible studies. Today I realize that there is much to do here at home. Each year I learn more about gardening and canning, cooking and sewing. My floors are swept and my children are in order (ok, those of you who know me, you know that I am still working on both of those!!!)
"So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander." 1 Timothy 5:14
Managing our homes is a huge job! Meal planning, homeschooling, overseeing chores and character lessons, cleaning, cooking and cleaning it all up again! How do we expect to manage our homes from the driver's seat of the car? The more children that I've had, the more I realize the truth. Being the personal assistant to the CEO of our family is one incredible job, especially when the guy is gone for 8 or 10 hours a day at work, I'm left to do the heavy lifting at home. I don't take my position lightly, I want to be the best manager of my home that I can be. That means spending time planning and scheduling, watching and paying attention. Which is a perfect lead in to the next scripture.
"She looks well to the ways of her household, and eats not the bread of idleness." Proverbs 31:27
Or how about this one? It characterizes the foolish woman.
"She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house." Proverbs 7:11
God, the maker of all things, the guy who invented the parent/child relationship, believes it best for the mom to stay at home. I'm just guessing here, but in all probability, it is good for the children too. I think of the pastor's wife I knew who's fourth child, an infant daughter, would cry every time she saw the car seat because she was strapped in it so much. What about the many toddlers who catch a 15 minute nap on the way to choir practice for their older siblings? Ever read the research on the correlation between the sleep deprivation and ADHD? Just my thoughts.
And, remember that woman who spent so much time at the Taco Bell drive through? Something she said really shook me out of my stupor. When I suggested that she stay home more, she said,"My son would be fine with that, but it's my daughters that are not content with being home." Breeding discontent with the work and cycles of the home life starts young.
Helping out to serve meals at the soup kitchen or taking your child to piano lessons are not bad things in themselves. But, please realize your priorities. Being home to care for the family in every way is our God-given calling.
And, lastly, I leave you with this scripture:
Proverbs 14:1 "Every wise woman builds her house: but the foolish plucks it down with her hands."
In the crock pot, simmering away:
