Finding joy in the everyday

Some women do not enjoy looking after their homes, that is a fact. Some women live in chaos and mess and avoid cleaning. Others outsource their housework to others. Some women put very little effort into creating a cosy warm environment  — however these are not exclusive to working women.  Many Christian women who work outside of their homes, love their homes dearly and take great care in creating a sanctuary for their loved ones.  It isn't about the amount of time one spends at home, it is what a persons does when they are at home.  I love pottering around my home, I like to create places of warmth and comfort. I like my home to have a feel of welcome to those who enter. I may not be at home all day, but it does not mean I don't love my home as much as a woman who is a stay-at-home wife and mother.  Working women do not live in hovels. This might surprise you as I have read endless blog posts that remind me that if I am not at home 24/...

Everyone seem to be so busy these days. Busy, busy, busy . . . it is the modern catch phrase. We are constantly reminded that we are busy and that it isn't going to slow down.   . . . no one has time to cook . . . clean their homes . . . have a quiet night in. Are we really that busy . . . or are we manufacturing busyness for the sake of it?  BUSY . . . " having a great deal to do " According to The Economist (20th December 2014) “ Why do people feel so rushed? Part of this is a perception problem. On average, people in rich countries have more leisure time than they used to. . . . Women’s paid work has risen a lot over this period, but their time in unpaid work, like cooking and cleaning, has fallen even more dramatically, thanks in part to dishwashers, washing machines, microwaves and other modern conveniences, and also to the fact that men shift themselves a little more around the house than they used to.”    But our desire to ...

Many Christian women go off to work each day — and you are all doing great jobs even if others like to tell you that you shouldn't be there.  Most of these women are not working so they can have a fancy career or to make lots of money — they are just doing their bit to help out the family financially.  We need to go cheerful and with a joyful heart. We need to be thankful for what the Lord has provided us with and go along with His plan and not ours, even if we disagree.  For those ladies who do go off to work — do you: Talk with God at work?  Do you realise He is with you all day? He isn't exclusively for the with women who stay at home. . . . He is with you (yes you)  ALL DAY LONG   and you are just as special to Him as any stay-at-home wife or mother.    He sits beside you as you work, you just need to look up and see. He comes into those meetings that  aren't very pleasant, He is with you whilst you on t...

One can waste years of their adult life wanting something they don’t have — we only have one life on this earth, make what you do count . I read over and over again from women who are either desperate to return home and become full time housewife or angry that their husbands are forcing them back into paid work. In their mission, they hate their jobs, they are miserable about their situation, they are not happy at home or with their husband’s decisions and their children are picking up their discontentment and sadness. To make it worse, other women keep reminding them of “ how tough their life must be ” and " you must return home quickly " only adding to their discontentment. Life is short — make the best of what you have , be thankful that you are well and healthy and stop focusing on the negative.  To be blunt — stop complaining and feeling self-pity and look at the positive because maybe, God is teaching you something.  I work. ...

The “Great Australian Dream” is pretty similar to the “Great American Dream”, to own one’s own home  . . . a place of security and safety for one’s family.  Following World War II, patriotism and a desire for security, as well as favourable economic conditions and government policy, prompted people to put down roots. The rate of home ownership boomed, rising from 40 per cent in 1947 to over 70 per cent by the 1960s.  So, like the “American dream” of prosperity and success, Australians too have been driven by the desire to secure their future and invest in a home of their own . ( source ) However, in recent years (certainly in Australia) owning one’s own home is becoming increasing more difficult and the cherished symbol of homeownership is fast slipping from the reach of many ordinary Australians. Homes are becoming more and more expensive and has exceeded growth in household income (as seen in the graph below). It is important to note that I am not ...

Why do I work? The reason why I am going to share this with  you is because some Christian women jump to conclusions about women working and they are generally wrong. Whilst their comments don't generally hurt me, they can be very upsetting (and pressuring) for other women to be called un-Christian because they work.   So why do I go to work every day and my husband stays at home?   It is very simple, to allow my husband to do something he feels very passionate about. I can’t think of a better reason to work and isn’t it my job to help my husband as his helpmate? And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. (Genesis 2:18) It isn’t about me , it is about my husband.  Love . . .  bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:7) Our home hasn’t fallen apart whilst I have been at work (and nor is it be...

In the middle of the 1800s, 42% of American women and 25% of British women were in paid employment. By the end of the 19th century, 50% of Dutch women were in the work force. We have an imagine of women in the past at home caring for their families living in a tranquil environment. Life was anything but for the majority of the population, they were working out of necessity, men and women. It was the differences between food on the table and starvation . . . or the Workhouse.  We can thank the myth to the literature of the day and the artists who have painted beautifully dressed women gliding about at home. These of course were the middle to upper class women and even at home, they had maids to do most of the work and nannies to care for the children. Life was leisure, something unknown to 100's of 1,000s of women.  Throughout history women have moved in and out of paid labour, however, I am probably the first generation (Generation X) to make this...

...for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. Philippians  4:11 I have been home for the last three weeks. I have enjoyed lunches with my husband,  romantic walks, sewing, re-arranged cupboards that really didn't really need  re-arranging,    sorting out my winter clothing, reading books in the sunshine and visiting the library to stock up on more. I enjoyed eating breakfast in bed whilst I read, I had lunch with my eldest son and breakfast with my youngest, I watched DVDs on rainy afternoons and I planted out annuals for winter. I also did the usual housework which never takes very long, baked and make dinner most nights (unless my husband spoils me and cooks). Who wouldn't want to be at home. It is quiet and rather blissfull. If I was at home, this is what my life would look like. It would be perfect - who wouldn't want a life like this.  Have you ever wondered if I would swap work for home?  Of course, I would ...