I have a few more new writing prompts this week. The Homekeeper’s Journal is a way to keep track of your thoughts, in journal form, online. I have given you the prompts, written my own responses, and given you a Mclinky to use to leave the link to your own Journal entry. A link back here is nice but not required. 
Oh, and you can join in the journal any time this week, it doesn’t have to be today!
This week’s prompts are all about home and homekeeping ……
This is my definition of “Homekeeping” ……… a profession where the homekeeper manages her home to the best of her ability, takes great joy and pride in her work, knowing that all her work is done for not just her family but, if she is a Christian, for her Lord. And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” Colossians 3:17-23
My favorite place to practice the profession of homekeeping is …..The kitchen. Today there is bread, brown rice and figs, fried salmon, popcorn with red palm oil, beets fresh from the garden and lots of lettuce and herbs from the garden. Cooking is one of the main ways I show love in action to my family and friends. I get a lot of pleasure from putting up foods, freezing, canning, drying and making the things we need.
I do/do not find joy in keeping my home and I think the reason is ….. I do find great joy in it. Sometimes more than others. I think its because I know I am contributing to the welfare of my family and practicing an art that I love.
At this point in my life, this is what I believe my children, husband and/or other family members think about our home…. I know my husband loves the way I keep our home, even though it is far from perfect, it fits us. He appreciates the time I take, the care and the way I treat my work as a homekeeper as my job. The children appreciate our home more and more as they get older. I think it takes some age and time to really learn to appreciate things like home. We tend to take for granted all those comforts and familiar things.
The things I wish someone had told me about homekeeping when I was young.… that it takes a concerted effort to learn to manage a home. That, if the mom/wife works outside the home, homekeeping duties should be fairly spread out between both partners so the wife doesn’t get totally exhausted and frustrated. That just like all jobs, the more you practice the better you get, its not a losing battle to keep a home.
The messages that I received about homemaking and being a wife/mother when growing up were …..that women don’t stay at home, they get a job and contribute to the economics of the household, women who stay at home don’t have any self esteem, women have to have a job outside the home to be complete. I wish I could forget those words. After being married for 30 years and 5 children later, I certainly do realize that women can have very satisfying careers outside the home if they want to. But I learned that those who choose to stay at home have simply chosen a different career, and its as hard, challenging, rewarding as any other job if its embraced and carried out with determination and imagination.
6 blessings that God has given me this week are …. a home that is comfortable and clean, a sweet family who loves each other, food and clothing (including a cute pair of flip flops I found at a yard sale for .50), the realization that He loves me and forgives me and that love is based on the work of Christ not on what I am or what I do, a vehicle that was given to us, the ability to travel and visit friends. I could go on and on………
Now its your turn!
Make your own entry at your blog using the prompts that are in bold type above.
Finish out the prompts with your own words.
Grab the Homekeeper’s Journal picture and use it on your blog with a link to CHK.
Come back here and put the link to your blog post in the Linky below.
About Sylvia
I could really relate to the content of your writings today, Sylvia. I will celebrate 35 years of marriage with my husband this fall and we have (and are still raising the last 2) 5 children. I so struggled with the at home/at work woman’s role during the early years – the 70′s. I did stay “at home” with my children beginning in 1980 after my first son was born. My husband and I ran a small business and I usually took the children with me while doing pick-ups and deliveries! Of course now that I am 53 years old I am so sorry I ever wasted one second of worrying if I was really contributing to “society” or being intellectually stimulating for some of my more educated friends! I couldn’t care less! I am so grateful to have been able to learn and grow with my family. I love the life I live. I love to care for my family. I have learned to be so thankful to God for what he has called me to do. It is very hard work sometimes and very repetitive!! But there is also much freedom to be creative and to be a blessing in a harsh world – I consider that an honor. We do live meagerly but it is worth it.
Last weekend, one of my daughter’s 16 yr. old friends was sitting at our kitchen table having a breakfast of fresh strawberries, yogurt and granola. She hugged herself, smiled big and said, “I just love it here! All the kids just love to hang out here. It’s so nice. You keep it so nice. ”
I was so pleased. (I certainly didn’t expect that from a teenager!) Thank you, Lord for blessing me like that.
Forever learning,
Pamela White
Pamela, thank you so much for sharing that! I was so encouraged and lifted up in my own love for being a homemaker and a stay at home wife and mom.
I was just watching an episode of The Waltons. Were you watching it with me? There’s a scene with Grandma and Mary Ellen. Grandma wants to teach Mary Ellen how to crochet but Mary Ellen says she’s going to grow up to be an explorer and they don’t have any need for crochet. Grandma says, “You’re liable to discover a husband and a bunch of kids and crocheting can come in mighty handy.” Mary Ellen replies, “Not me Grandma, I’m going to be a career woman.” Grandma says, “What makes you think that being married and raising a family isn’t a career?”
LOL
Awesome!
The episode takes place in 1933, or there abouts I think. It was filmed in 1973. I guess the true value of the homemaker has been in conversation for a long time. I’ve never doubted my worth and I know God recognizes it, my children and home are proof of it. Sometimes it feels like I was born in the wrong era.
I feel like that, too Marg.