TGIF Today God Is First
Volume 2, by Os Hillman 05-01-2009
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother - which is the first commandment with a promise - that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth" (Eph 6:1-3).
One of the great tragedies of society today is the minimizing of the work performed daily by stay-at-home moms. Women who decide to stay home to raise their kids are a rare breed indeed. They must overcome the stigma of comparison to others who pursue careers outside the home. They fail to get the feelings of accomplishment that can come from a career. They are the unseen missionaries of our day. There will be a special reward for these selfless servants.
Without the commitment of our stay-at-home moms we would not have some of our greatest leaders. "All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother," said Abraham Lincoln.
Though poor, Ida Stover was determined to go to college. She scraped together enough money to attend Lane College in Lecompton, Kan., where she met fellow student David Eisenhower. She was known as a firm but gentle disciplinarian and was deeply religious. It is said she once won a prize for memorizing 1,365 Bible verses. As a pacifist, she was not in favor of her son attending West Point but decided to let him go. She was the mother of Dwight David Eisenhower, one of the greatest U.S. presidents.
Mary Litogot grew up on a farm, and met her future husband, William Ford, when he came to work on their farm. She was 12 and he was 26. They married nine years later. Mary was self-sufficient and a diligent worker. Henry later attributed his clean factories to her belief in cleanliness. She encouraged his interest in machines early on. He later said, "I have tried to live my life as my mother would have wished. I believe I have done, as far as I could, just what she hoped for me." She was the mother of Henry Ford.*
Has God called you to be a stay-at-home mom? Know that your obedience and sacrifice will be recognized by the Lord.
May your day be filled with joy....especially those who have chosen to stay home and accept the task of doing things that are never seen or often overlooked....
May God grant you quiet fulfillment in your heart today and a harvest of countless benefits in your children's lives tomorrow.
2 comments:
Thanks mum....I really needed that. It really opens my eyes to how often I allow myself to be lied to about the value of being at home. I think it's a major way the enemy gets to first time moms. Sometimes I have trouble feeling useful with just one who naps four hours a day and wonder if I should find a job but I think what matters above all that is that she's got mommy to get her from her crib when she wakes up.
Thanks Auntie Jo - I loved it that my Mom was a Stay at Home Mom & it was what I always wanted to be, JUST like her!
So far I've only managed to be a Stay at Home Mom during my Maternity leaves but God knows my heart & my desire to be home with them even after my mat leave runs out (and EI!!) :-(
It is one of those "thank-less" jobs but it is the most rewarding one by far!!
Thanks again.
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