My alarm buzzes at 5 a.m., and just like that, my day begins. From then on, I attempt to be productive at the work that lies before me. Some days more diligently than others. The laundry is in the washer before the sun rises. There are dishes that have been cleaned and need to be put away. Breakfast needs to be made for those who are hungry. Dirty faces need wiping, and beds need to be straightened out. Characters need training, and so on and so forth, until my exhausted head hits the pillow. What a blessing is to be the keeper of my home. No matter how hidden the work of homemaking may be.
In my short 8 years of homemaking, I’ve found it to be equal parts numbingly monotonous and joyfully fulfilling. Unfortunately, our culture often views homemaking as a less valuable occupation and an endeavor not encouraged. Toxic feminism is growing. Corrupting the minds of many women, young and old. The thought of women being keepers of the home and the family within it seems completely disgraceful. And often viewed as a direct assault against her capability of anything outside of it. Whatever illusions come to mind when you think of homemaking, can I ask you to forget them for the next 5 minutes?
Who Was Elisabeth Elliot?
I’ve recently been enjoying Elisabeth Elliot’s writings and have gleaned so much from them. If you are unaware of who Elisabeth Elliot was, she was “…a missionary and a critically acclaimed author and speaker. For over half a century, her life of obedience, timeless teachings, and best-selling books have influenced both believers and seekers of the Christian faith…The resounding theme of Elliot’s life was the boundless love of Jesus, and her greatest commission was to tell others of His saving grace.” (Read more here.) She passed away in 2015.
Elisabeth had a beautifully deep and yet surprisingly simple way of viewing the Christian life. Through deep suffering, she learned the deep and precious things of the Father’s heart. One of the aspects of her life that she spoke of was the hidden work of homemaking. And how “deep down in the heart of every one of us women, there is that ancient nest-making instinct. The desire and even the gift of making a cozy and comfortable place in the most unlikely situations.” She was convinced that wherever we are, we can create a home. For wherever God is found, peace and refreshment can be found there too.
Lesson 1: Self-Discipline and Glad Surrender
I often wrestle with a willingness to be self-disciplined in my domestic responsibilities, let alone gladly surrender to them. Elisabeth Elliot says a home “is meant to be a place of order, of quietness, of peace and refreshment.” Now, I think most of us wouldn’t describe our homes this way. But even aiming for them is an honorable pursuit. I have to, daily, ask myself, will I say “Yes” to God in joyful surrender to being the keeper of my home in order to bear the fruit of order, quietness, peace, and refreshment? Am I okay with the hidden work of homemaking?
Through the faithful execution of small tasks, we can see the beautiful analogy between homemaking and our relationship with God. Just as preparing food for my family is not a one-and-done task, neither is growing in our relationships with God. As I joyfully surrender to my profession of homemaking with as much self-discipline as God’s grace allows, I will be better able to take care of it as well as the people within it. As I faithfully practice the spiritual disciplines of Bible reading, prayer, worship, etc., I will increasingly become more like the person of Jesus.
I love how Elisabeth Elliot reminds us that even though we should have grit when it comes to homemaking, we should never rely on self-discipline alone. She says in her book Joyful Surrender: “…discipline is not my claim on Christ, but the evidence of His claim on me.” We are only able to embody self-discipline through the abundant grace of God and as the Holy Spirit within us enables. We simply bring our willingness as an offering for Him to use.
Lesson 2: Dedication to Daily Faithfulness
Elisabeth Elliot knew that the ministry of tending and keeping was always part of God’s perfect plan for humanity. We see it in Genesis 2:15, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Work was created before the Fall, making it the perfect tool for man and woman to use to bring honor and glory to God. Elisabeth Elliot became largely known for her inspiring and dedicated work in the very ordinary and unseen places that we, as homemakers, often find ourselves in. Calming chaos, scrubbing carpet stains, sweeping crumbs, and wiping tears. In the same way, God brings order to the chaos of our hearts and calms our hurts with the sweetness of His presence.
Much of the work the Lord does in us is through dedicated daily faithfulness to Him. I often think of the Israelites in the wilderness. They didn’t fully realize the splendor and freedom that was awaiting them in the Promised Land. All God desired was for them to trust Him, love Him, obey Him, and worship him along the way. Isn’t that true for us? We don’t exactly know what our efforts as homemakers will reap. Wouldn’t it be nice to know? Yet we can be confident that as we trust in the Lord, obey Him, and bring Him the honor and glory that He is worthy of; we will more and more be able to taste and savor the goodness of our God.
Elisabeth Elliot embraced the Lord as “both the journey and the destination” (Becoming Elisabeth Elliot). May we do the same.
The Great Work of Homemaking
I remember when I quit my full-time job and became a stay-at-home mom after having our first baby 6 years ago. It hit me hard that I would never see my 24-hour efforts reimbursed on a paycheck. It was a difficult reality to adjust to. I remember feeling like the work I was now in charge of was useless compared to the things I was doing before. Oh, how terribly wrong I was. I recall a woman telling me that raising a family and/or simply taking care of a home is some of the most spiritual work a woman can ever do. I have never forgotten that. In the same way, Elisabeth Elliot never deemed her ministry tasks more important than keeping her house. Both were of immeasurable value. Both played a part in bringing His kingdom to earth.
So whether there are children at your feet or not. Whether you are married or single. Whether you work solely in the home or outside of it. We as women all have a grand opportunity to be faithful stewards of the four walls in which we dwell, knowing that the hidden work of homemaking is seen and favored in the eyes of our Heavenly Father.
Thank you for visiting The Soulfull Family blog today! If you are cultivating a lifestyle of homemaking, this post would be right up your alley! I pray it will be an encouragement to you!
Love this! 🥰