Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Moms Play A Serious Role In The Family



  We have all heard the saying 'The hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world", yet, it hasn't seemed to register with most of us. Either that, or we really do not believe that to be true.


  Does media control the ideas of society, or is it the other way around? Is there advertising that is making women believe that it is more admirable to have a career than it is to stay home with the children?


  Years ago, I remember reading something written by the 'experts' who would say that children who live in a home where parents are divorced are not affected by the divorce. Why would they not see the effects of divorce? Could it be because there are lawyers and attorneys who capitalize on people who do not get along with each other? Instead of helping a man and woman take steps to reconciliation, there just seems to be this drive to provide the divorce. After all, lots of money comes from a divorce. Nobody wants that kind of income to be threatened.

  Well, the point of what I am writing is this; today we have a society made up of people who don't seem to know their left hand from their right hand. People do not appear to have been taught how to think for themselves. No one ever taught them how to regard what is right. They were not taught how to separate the truth from the lies. They may not have been taught how to balance a check book. They might not even been taught how to get ready to have a career and to provide for themselves and their families.

  I see people crossing the street without even looking for oncoming traffic. Something is wrong with this picture. I believe it is due to the fact that adults do not want to do hard things. Society, along with the lies of the media, tell women that they need that career to be a complete person. I am not personally against women working or having a career. But I am concerned when a woman becomes a mom, and chooses to leave her baby with someone else in order to keep up with her career. (I know many have to work to help pay the bills. I am referring to those who choose to work vs. needing to work).

   A mom's value and role is serious. The Bible says that a child left to himself brings his mother to shame. The Bible has a lot to say about the roles of parents.

   How easy it is for us to skip over the part of mothering. We listen to the media and think that being at home is boring and a waste of time. There are reasons why this happens, but we need to look at the Scriptures and see what the word says.

   The question isn't is it wrong for a woman who has children to have a career? The question should be, is the woman who is a mother, taking time to train and nurture her children? If she can do that and have a career at the same time, more power to her! If she has to make a choice between her job or staying home with the children, which would she take if she had to decide on either one or the other?

   We have mindless adults living around us today. No one took the time to prepare them for life. Where was mom? Sure, some children were orphaned and have only a father to care for them. He has to provide for the family and can't take time with the children. But that is not usually the case. Many parents today are simply irresponsible.

   The alternative for many, sadly is to go to the clinic and get an abortion, when the pregnancy test turns out positive. But is this really an answer to the dilemma?

   God asks us to do hard things. But He gives us the power, strength, and wisdom, if we want it. If we resist God and want to continue to be irresponsible, then we will suffer. But it will not only be us, it will be our children as well. And our grandchildren, if they should ever arrive.

   God commanded us to procreate. He also gives us His word, and His Spirit, so we can know how to raise our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. God can help us and give us wisdom in every situation. He will be with us and desires to help us. But if we want to be in control, we will not have God's wisdom and strength to do what is right.

Here is a description of an ambitious woman, blessed by God:

An excellent wife who can find?*
She is far more precious than jewels.
  The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
  She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
  She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
  She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
  She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
  She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
  She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
  She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
  She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
  She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
  She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
  She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
  Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
  She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
  Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
   She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
   She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
   Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
   “Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
   Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
   Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.

  This is not a woman who is 'out to lunch' so to speak. This woman is intentional. She has goals. She loves her family. She even does work outside the home! Her children are well taken care of. They will not grow up to be mindless adults. They will have wisdom that only comes from God when they grow up and have their own families. 

    We are a generation of foolish people. We do not fear God. We listen to what society thinks and what society expects. We can only do what is right, if we have the 'mind of Christ'. That is what we need to have, then we will have an eternal perspective. We will see that there are consequences for wrong decisions. We will pass that on to our children and they will pass that on to their children.  

* Proverbs 31:10-31 ESV