Wednesday 27 February 2013

What is a Wife?


What is a wife?  I am learning more and more as I grow in the Lord and as a wife.  I am in no ways interested in being feministic or modern....so if I put someone off, it is not intentional.  Just my view on things that I see in scripture.  I have long heard of the Proverbs 31 woman.  Seems overwhelming, yes.  But one must put this into context and realize that she wasn't everything all at once.  The Lord grew her into this.  I look at my marriage and know that God has called me to be a homemaker.  A woman who cares for the needs of her husband and family above all else.  Yes, even crafting! hehehe
I was reading in the book of Titus in the New Testament and this is the passage that really jumped out at me as I studied about homemaking.

"The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."  Titus 2:3-5

It's not just about being a stay at home mom for your husband, it's about being whom God has created you to be.  I hear about women saying it's prison to be a homemaker and to "work for nothing".  I disagree.  I see it as such a blessing to care for my home and present it clean and homey for my husband when he comes home from working.  To train my children, to wash laundry, to iron (one of the things I dislike very much!), and provide nutritious meals for him and the children.  All wives and mothers know that the list is much longer!  My mother and many other wonderful godly women have come alongside me; teaching me skills and encouraging me to be submissive and think of the needs of my family above my own.   I am learning still to be a good wife to my husband and mother to my children.  Caring for them in this way is a natural and challenging role for me.  I believe in this role as wife I am free to be whom God has called me to be, I don't have to run after the careers of the world to make a place for myself.  God has already made a place for me.  I find great joy in being a wife, not just  being my husbands lover, but in a way his caretaker.  It warms my heart to see him smile at that little things I do.  Having been a tomboy growing up trying to best all the boys, I have now been learning what it is to be a woman and to teach my girls as such.  My place is 'woman' and I find great honor here.

All of these thoughts have come together in my making of this card.  I just love this postcard image by Shoregirl Creations and I found this old style apron HERE and the sentiment is from TLC.  I used some papers from K & Company and a doily that I cut in two with some buttons from my collection.   Oh, and I thought that there should be a touch of faux stitching since I also mend my families clothes to.

I would like to share this with Word Art Wednesday.

8 comments:

Karen Letchworth said...

LOVE this, Jennifer. I truly think that the women who say it's "prison" simply haven't experienced the joy of having a Godly husband to lead them, and didn't have the Titus woman as her role model to teach her how to LOVE being a good wife and mother. You hit on a couple of key things here. 1) I LOVE being that Titus woman to younger girls getting married. My own and others from the church, etc. and encouraging them to have the blessed life I've had. And 2) the simple fact that we are still learning. We cannot become too comfortable and have an attitude that we know how to be the perfect wife and mother. God wants us to continue to learn and grow and make our marriage and our home better with every passting year. And from experience, I can truly say that it only gets better with time. We will celebrate 28 years in August, and my life is happier now than ever before. God is just SO GOOD!
Thanks for sharing this. It blessed my day!
Karen
Word Art Wednesday

Pauline said...

A beautiful creation Jenn, and a touching post you've shared too. You are definitely blessed!
hugs and blessings, my friend!
Polly

Tracy said...

So wonderfully worded my friend. I treasure my life as a homemaker and wouldn't trade the time with my daughter for anything. Lovely thought and a beautiful card. Blessings!

Decosse's Dynamite Doodles said...

That sentiment certainly sums the role up doesn't it? I am happy that you have found joy in the role that you have undertaken for your family. Each woman needs to find her place in life and you apparently have found yours with great happiness. You are an incredible woman and while I am older than you are, I certainly look up to you as a family role model.

Hugs,
Lisa

Debbie said...

This card is beautiful!!
Thanks for sharing your heart, too! There is such freedom in being who God wants us to be!!

Jo Ann said...

Love the vintage feel of this card. You did an amazing job! Thanks for blessing us with your project this week at Word Art Wednesday...Hugs always.

JO ANN
http://jatterburycreations.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

I really love this card. It's so soft and beautiful and feminine. I am thankful that God is still working on me and teaching me to be the wife and mother He has called me to be. I feel like He is always teaching me new things and working on my heart. Just when I think I can do this, He sends something my way to show me how much I need Him in this role He has placed me in. I am so thankful for His grace.

Decosse's Dynamite Doodles said...

Me again, I just wanted to congratulate you on your win over at Word Art Wednesday with this very appropriate card to share with that group.

I'll be adding you to my list of winners in my 'congratulatory considerations' post at the end of March.

Lisa D.