Gratituesday: My Career

I tried to hold back the tears as I snuggled up to my husband and thanked him for working so hard for his family. And for believing in my calling to stay home with our children.

I hate that I take my career as a Homemaker for granted at times.

I hate that I get discouraged, lose my temper, fail, and become frustrated. After all, this is the career of my dreams.

But those issues come with the territory of any career.

The Lord has gently reminded me lately of the greatness of my calling. He's reminded me that He's made a way for me to stay home, when really, it sometimes seems impossible. But God has never failed to provide for our needs.

I know some women cannot stay home with their children. Some do not want to and some just aren't able to. This isn't a post to make women who have a career outside the home feel inferior. Because that would be wrong. And it's between God and the woman and her husband. Not me.

But this is a post giving glory to God for His provisions that allow me to be a Homemaker.

He knew my heart's cry even as a young, single gal. He even knew when I was a baby that I would one day want babies of my own with a husband of my own. He heard my prayers and He answered them marvelously.

With all the ups and downs, joys and triumphs, I'm blessed to be a Homemaker.

I'm blessed...

To watch my children reach developmental milestones.

To infuse Biblical truths into everyday situations.

To feel my heart soar as they learn new things.

To dry their tears when they are hurting or afraid.

To "Watch this, Mommy!" a hundred times over.

To help out a friend who needs a babysitter during the day.

To share a simple conversation with an elderly neighbor.

To visit my grandma when she's feeling lonely.

To load the kids up for a lunch date with daddy.

To welcome my husband home with a hug and a kiss.

To spend time throughout the day in the kitchen, cooking and baking.

To decorate my home for each changing season.

And yes, even to clean dirty bathrooms and fold mountains of laundry.

I'm undeserving.

And at times feel completely incapable.

But my God is bigger.

And He's seen fit to grant me my heart's desire.

And for that I'm eternally grateful.

What are you grateful for today?

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Gratituesday: The Word

A few weeks ago, my parents treated all of us kids (and our kids) to a trip to Passages, a traveling exhibit celebrating the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible.

Not exactly the most exciting trip for the little kiddos (we had our share of tantrums to control), but wow, I left with a great gratitude for the Word of God.

The most poignant moment of the day, for me, was the story of William Tyndale--a man so dedicated to the translation and distribution of the Word of God, that he was willing to be exiled and even martyred for the sake of the Word.

And that's exactly what happened.

After he was exiled from England into Germany, Tyndale was eventually betrayed by someone he had come to trust--Henry Phillips, a fellow Englishman. Tyndale was imprisoned for 500 days and on October 6, 1536, he was strangled and burned at the stake.

It is recorded that his last words were, "Lord, open the King of England's eyes."

By God's grace, the King's eyes were opened and the rest is history.

The Bible is still the best selling book of all time.

And I'm so grateful for that.

~I'm grateful for men like William Tyndale who thought of others more than of himself. What sacrifice!

~I'm grateful that I own multiple copies of the Word of God, and do so without fear of threat or punishment.

~I'm grateful that I can find all the comfort, encouragement, exhortation, wisdom and assurance of love that I need in this precious book (and so much more!)

~I'm grateful for godly parents who still, even though we are adults with families of our own, want to instill in their children a love and passion for the Word of God.

I walked out of the exhibit that day with a knot in my throat and this resounding thought: "How dare we ever let dust collect on our Bible(s)!"

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More so than the book itself, I'm grateful for the Word who was made flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14) The Word who died to give us life. Do you know this Word?

What are you grateful for today?

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!