Would you call yourself a homemaker? Do you think doing chores around the house is a gift?
As humans, God made us in his image. Our calling is to bring order out of chaos in every aspect of our lives. This includes our families, homes, work, schools, churches, relationships, and more. We are ingrained with this in us from the beginning. Adam and Eve’s job was to glorify God and tend to the garden. Even though, it might look a little different for us nowadays, it is not completely.
What is Homemaking?
In general, homemaking can include the clean laundry we fold and put away so our husband and kids can start their day without the frustration of not having clean clothes to wear. Curating a beautiful, cozy home that becomes a sanctuary of peace for your family in the evenings. As well as cultivating the dinner table with good food and genuine conversations. Even something as simple as making a bed beautiful with fresh linens to crawl into and rest after a long day’s work. Although all these mundane parts of the day may seem pointless or just part of the routine, these essential pieces string together stability and order. Everything you do and the approach you take makes a difference. For this very reason, we should always act with purpose and intention.
Work is a Blessing
Some of my favorite quotes come from Elizabeth Elliot. Her writing is lovely. She has a way of pairing words beautifully and powerfully. I find her words encouraging, and I hope you do, too.
“Work is a blessing. God has so arranged the world that work is necessary, and He gives us hands and strength to do it. The enjoyment of leisure would be nothing if we had only leisure. It is the joy of work well done that enables us to enjoy rest, just as it is the experiences of hunger and thirst that make food and drink such pleasures.”
There is something inherently rewarding about hard work. I learned this from a young age. I think of my dad working hard with his hands outside on a hot day. He would get cuts, scrapes, blisters, and maybe some poison ivy. By evening, I would bring him water, and we would sit on the front porch looking out at the yard. He had the opportunity to sit and enjoy the work of his hands. He taught me the joy of taking something and making it better. Little did I know he was teaching me one of the roles and responsibilities that God has given us.
Our To-Do lists matter
“This job has been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness.”
The things on our to-do list are gifts we should take up with willing hands and a grateful heart. For you, did a task ever go by quicker by having a sour attitude? In my experience, this makes the whole situation dreadful for everyone involved.
I’m not sure about you, but I find so much fulfillment when serving those I love or taking care of my home. If I can prepare to the best of my ability to set my house up nicely for a blissful day, then I count that time well spent. None of your work is in vain. Indeed, everything you do has a purpose and effect; it isn’t whether this task matters but whether it will have a helpful or harmful outcome.
Make Today Count
Galatians 6: 8-10 says, “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (ESV.)
What we reap is not personal selfish gain but gain for the Church. Being in relationship with Christ and his body of believers will increase your spirtual fruit (being transformed by the Holy Spirit to be more like Christ) which will consequently benefit our family and local church. The greatest gift of all being able to spend eternity with the Lord and until then serving and sharing the good news with those around you.
Hopefully, today, you find encouragement that everything you do matters in this time here on earth, but also for God’s Kingdom. So, do them well; do not grow faint because there is a great reward for those who take pride in the things they do. Go and live your life to the fullest today for Christ!
Lord, thank you for the blessings you have given us. I pray we take ownership of the responsibility you have given us, do everything to the best of our ability, and that we lay each day as an offering to you. To you, we owe everything; may all we do bring glory to you, Lord. Amen.