Women and Work

I was on a job interview a few weeks ago for what I thought was an amazing opportunity. It turned out that was not an ideal situation for our family, so I chose not to take it. In the meantime, I called a relative of mine on my plane ride home and told them where I was and what I was doing. The first response out of his mouth was "so when are you going to be a wife and mother?" I have thought about that statement ever since, and have done further reading and scanned the web for opinions on the subject. I was and still feel offended by that statement. I promptly told my relative that I was a great wife and mother, and working in or out of the home does not change that. Truly, our reference to what a godly wife and mother should be should not be based on occupation, but on their relationship to Jesus Christ. Again, that is placing value on a person for what they do, and their role in society, rather than who they are in Christ. Truly, if all women "should" be home, then we need to make serious adjustments to all educational curriculum. Little girls should stay beside their mothers and learn housekeeping and not attend school beyond basic junior high education. There should be no need for college, for lessons, for pursuit of anything outside of homemaking. Does anyone agree with this? Why would I waste good money on a college education if I was strictly to marry, have children and keep my house clean? Should we discourage our daughters from college? The argument is often made that women should pursue an education and attend college "in case" something happens to their husbands. It is irrelevant if the woman actually has talents and dreams that God has placed in her heart to pursue. I have no problem with women choosing to be full time homemakers. It is a noble profession like any other. I have watched many women stay home and watch soap operas all day. (Since I have been unemployed, how many times have I sat around because all of the housework is done? Truly, was I called to sit in Bible study and tennis club all day? Surely that is not what all women were "created" to do!!!) Since I no longer need to make my own clothes, grind my own wheat, farm my own food, and cook completely from scratch, there must be something that I am capable of doing outside the home! It is possible to stay at home and make very bad decisions and be a poor example to your family, just as it would be to have a career and make bad decisions as well. The bottom line, I truly believe is this. If you have a family, devote your life to raising and providing for them, teaching them to love and pursue Christ with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength. Teach your children to value Christ, then their family, no matter what vocation they pursue. Teach little boys and little girls to be responsible, know how to cook, clean, care for the home, change a tire, check the oil, fold the laundry, manage the budget, stay out of debt, pay the bills. We all need to learn these things! If one spouse is better at teaching these things than the other, then they should take the time to teach it! I believe every couple should function out of their strengths in raising their family, not out of their weaknesses. Assign and delegate, love and submit to one another, out of reverence for Christ, model a life of devotion and purity to your children. And use your gifts and talents to their fullest potential and ability. I believe women have so much more to offer society than a profession or a station, or a label of what society may or may not expect them to be. Maybe it is time that women work together to value each other and serve each other so we can all serve Christ to our fullest potential.