One of the great lies that has permeated our culture, including in the church, is that the traditional aspects of motherhood aren't important. Somehow we've bought into the wrong thinking that a quiet mother content to be home all day nurturing her children isn't a mother who is pulling her own weight. Somehow we've forgotten that God's design is that children are raised by a mother at home, ideally one who is the quiet force of prayer behind her husband who is out in the world, shouldering the difficult things of the world as he provides for his family. There is an element of protection a husband offers to his wife who is able to fully and freely give her time and energy to the important task of raising the children. It is important for children to live on a schedule, be served regular meals each day in the home, be clean, and not rushed all the time. Life should be able to naturally happen without continual distractions from the outside world, be it the cell phone, TV, continual social interaction with others, or many organized sports or activities. Why have we as mothers in today's world lost sight of how important all these little things are?
Added together the daily routine of life is what builds a stable home for our children. Meals should be around the same time every day sitting at the kitchen table as a family. Baths should be regular with the same general routine surrounding them. Teaching time should be consistent. This chaos that makes one wonder, "What is the mother DOING?" should not be the thought people have when they see our homes and lives. Christian mothers in particular should be exemplifying the truth of "Let all things be done decently and in order."
Being with one's children and not having paid employment outside the home does not make one a good, full time mother. The little daily routines of life are not small or unimportant; they are each important. The vast majority of child training happens in the midst of the stable routine of life. It is against this backdrop an attentive mother can see the wrinkles in her children that need to be worked on and worked out. If everything surrounding the ever-changing growth and tendencies of children is in flux and changing, where is the focal point with which to measure and make the needed changes? It is too hard.
Mothers, where are you? Who is feeding, dressing, cleaning your children? Who is taking care of the home God has provided for you and your family? Why will you not show your husband you appreciate what he has worked hard to give you by keeping it clean and orderly?
Christians should do everything with excellence. The mark of excellence is a mark or order, being on time, cleanness, reliability, stability, restfulness, peace, holiness....Sadly when you look in our churches and homes you find far less than that. Our culture has been infiltrated by communistic ideas that motherhood doesn't matter. Wives are doing their own thing, worrying about far more than instilling excellence in their primarily responsibilities. Materialism has too many women working so that designer clothes, expensive vehicles and fancy homes can be possessed. Mothers seek fulfillment serving others at the expense of their children, too often thinking that their children will 'catch Christianity ' by seeing them serve others. Unfortunately, we're trading what is best for what is merely ok. We've bought the lie as women that there is more out there to this life of motherhood, and we're tacking on tons of extras that take us away from keeping the white fence post white. We are not learning to be content and consistent, we are honing our skills of avoiding what is hard for us. God help us! Help the church to be on time, excellent, clean, orderly and full of mothers making the needed sacrifices to raise their children well, at home.
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