Hello! Anyone know I'm here?

2:52 p.m. Today's project is to explore the worth of a woman who makes her family and home the center of her life, because God placed that calling in her heart! I'm thinking of the woman who may not leave the house at all on some days, while the outside world just goes on its strident, demanding way...unbeknownst to anyone but her husband and an infant and two or three preschoolers!

I'm not necessarily thinking of the Proverbs 31 woman, who runs a large household replete with servants, and sells homemade merchandise in the markets. I am picturing a woman who, when her tasks of feeding, cleaning, changing diapers, disciplining, reading stories, and dropping off kids to school are finished for an hour or two, gets down to some sewing, crochet, baking, painting, gardening, dollmaking, prepping for a special dinner, quilting, decorating, or even cross stitch! She definitely does not "eat the bread of idleness," as Prov. 31:27 says!! She takes it upon herself to learn or hone her crafts or interests, and then passes her skills on to younger women--her daughters especially, if she has them. Rhat's what Heart to Home is all about!!

Titus 2:3-4 speaks of "older" (more experienced) women's behavior that glorifies God, and behavior that doesn't! The woman whose home is her haven and workplace structures her time, just as you would do at a paid job. Why? In order to keep away from and shield herself from sin. Look at what Titus 2:3 says we women can be prone to:"Slander," and "drinking too much wine!" It is amazing that thousands of years ago, the Holy Spirit spoke against the alcoholic housewife who straightens herself up in time for the husband and kids to get home. And as for slander, the only difference is that an unfit homemaker can use the telephone or internet, and ruin reputations while watching her soaps!! Not much changes, does it?

But not so with the woman who follows the Lord with her whole heart! The things she teaches younger, less experienced women are, v. 3-6, "good things--to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands." Why? "So the Word of God may not be blasphemed." Wow, we have a responsibility!

But are these responsibilities burdensome? Jesus said in Matthew 11:30, "my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Do any of you find it burdensome to love your husband and children? We may not like what they do occasionally, but God has placed a love for them deep within us. And as believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we receive additional help any time we ask for it, because God has already designed a way for us to proceed joyfully and graciously through any trial! All we need do is ask. He waits expectantly for us to ask!!

The wonderful, productive life of a believing woman, one whose heart is in her home (even if she also works outside the home) may never be noticed by a casual observer. The skills we choose to develop and apply ourselves to may barely even be appreciated by the direct beneficiaries, our family, at times! "Does anyone know I'm here?!" we might be tempted to call resentfully from our seemingly thankless obscurity in the home!

Be blessed and comforted, dear sister! God knows, God sees, God anoints by the power of His Holy Spirit, and He delights in the work of your hands! And one day, you'll overhear one of your seemingly clueless children saying to their friend, husband or wife, "my mom always did this..."