Welcome to Day #26 of the 31 Days to Professional Homemaking series. To learn more about this series and to see the list of topics, click HERE. Please know that I am not an expert in marriage, motherhood, or homemaking. I'm just a woman {who happens to be a wife, mother, and homemaker}, trying to figure it all out, by the grace of God. This series is just as much for me as it is for anyone reading.
Before we get started, I'd like to offer you the following button, in case you want to share this series with your readers:
Before writing Day 1 of this series, I had the entire thing planned out: what I would write and which day I'd write it. But, sometimes, God changes your plans and you have to just go with the flow. So, this is me, swimming along wherever God decides to take the current. Hold on tight, because you're coming with me...
{Don't know who to credit, thanks to Pinterest. If you know, please clue me in so I can properly credit.}
This is a quote I pinned to my Pinterest Quote Board a couple of months ago. It literally stopped me in my tracks. "Stop the glorification of busy." Me? Do I glorify busyness?
Honestly, yes. Not always. But, yes, sometimes the whole idea of being busy really appeals to me, if for no other reason than to look important to others. You know, so when they ask "how are things?", I can respond with a breathless, "Oh, I'm so busy. Busy, busy, busy...".
Am I the only one?
Before you answer, let's break down this quote...
What does it mean by "glorification of busy"? You all know I had to consult my trusty Dictionary.com to help me out and here's the gist of what it said:
to cause busyness to be or treat busyness as being more splendid, excellent, etc.,
than would normally be considered.
In other words, if I participate in the "glorification of busy", it simply means that I'm thinking better of busyness than I should. Being busy for the sake of being busy shouldn't be something we strive for. Not by a long shot.
However, the Bible does give us, as homemakers, a command to actually BE busy. Did you know that? It's found in the famous Titus 2 passage that tells us that older women should teach younger women. One of the things that should be taught is that younger women should be busy at home {verse 5}.
What does it mean to be busy at home, though?
Personally, I believe it means two things: 1} you must actually be at home {you can't be busy at home unless you're actually present, right?} and 2} you are diligently working whenever you are at home {no excessive vegging out in front of the television or camping out the front of the computer reading blogs and pinning away on Pinterest - *ahem* not that I would know about either...}
From the time I wake up until the time I go to bed, I am supposed to be busy at home. For me, this means washing dishes, doing the laundry, spending time with my son {and soon this will mean doing school with him}, and working on this blog {as I view it as a ministry I run from my home}.
What does it mean for you to be busy at home?
Does the biblical command to be "busy at home" contradict the quote I shared? Not at all. It's true we are to be "busy at home", but there's a difference between being busy because we are diligently working within our home and treating busyness like it's a prize to be won.
How do I know that these two things {the quote and the scripture's command} do not contradict each other? Consider the story found in Luke 10:38-42.
In this passage we're introduced to two sisters: Mary and Martha. Martha had opened up her home to Jesus. As He was present in her home, Mary simply sat at His feet, soaking in everything He said. But, Martha, it says, was distracted by her hospitality duties.
Martha did what I think most of us would do in that situation. She became frustrated that she was having to do all the preparations by herself while Mary just sat there, not helping. She became so frustrated that she blamed Jesus for not caring about her: "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." But, Jesus responded by telling her that He would not take away the "good part" that Mary has chosen.
So, what does this story have to do with our quote and the command to be "busy at home"?
Well, you see, Martha was being busy at home. She was trying to make the proper preparations for her guests. I imagine she was trying to clean up her house a bit, maybe serving everyone a beverage and trying to put together a meal. She was doing what she thought was most important: to serve her guests. But, in all her busyness, she missed an opportunity to sit at the feet of Jesus and soak in His words.
Still confused at how it all connects?
We certainly are to be busy at home, but not to the point that we participate in the "glorification of busy", thus missing an opportunity to meet with Jesus.
Have you even been so busy that you felt like you had zero time for reading God's word? {Raising my hand!}
Ever clung to your to-do list so tight that the people you love and the God who loves you can't get in? {Raising my other hand!}
What about those times when your so busy doing things {even good things} that your blinded to people that God has put in your path; people who have a need that you could meet? {If I had a third hand, I'd raise it here, too.}
Let's "stop the glorification of busy" by being diligent with our homemaking, yet holding our "to-do's" with an open hand, allowing God to direct our hours and our days.
Who's with me?
Today's Challenge:
Each day, I'll give you a challenge: one small thing you can do to apply each day's topic to your life and your home.
1. Are you busy for the sake of being busy? Take a look at your calendar and to-do lists to see what is truly necessary and what could go. Remember to pray and ask God what He would have you to keep and get rid of.
2. Are you diligent when it comes to "being busy at home" or do you fall victim to the television or computer far more than you'd care to admit? Strive to be the best homemaker you can be today. Then, challenge yourself with that tomorrow and the next day and the next day, until it become a habit.
2. Are you diligent when it comes to "being busy at home" or do you fall victim to the television or computer far more than you'd care to admit? Strive to be the best homemaker you can be today. Then, challenge yourself with that tomorrow and the next day and the next day, until it become a habit.
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