Home is where MY heart is
Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Posted in A Womans Spirit

photo by: allposters.com

Stay, stay at home, my heart, and rest;
Home-keeping hearts are happiest,
For those that wander they know not where
Are full of trouble and full of care;
To stay at home is best.

Weary and homesick and distressed,
They wander east, they wander west,
And are baffled and beaten and blown about
By the winds of the wilderness of doubt;
To stay at home is best.

Then stay at home, my heart, and rest;
The bird is safest in its nest;
O'er all that flutter their wings and fly
A hawk is hovering in the sky;
To stay at home is best.

~ Longfellow

This poem is so true.  I was in a woman to woman mentoring program at Hudson Community Chapel while we were living in Ohio.  I was so sad to see there were more women NEEDING mentoring, and not enough Mentors.  Women of ALL ages and backgrounds lost in abuse, neglect, and wondering who they were.  I being one of them.  It wasn't until later on that I understood the importance of women understand their calling from God.  Not that home was the only thing they were called to do, nor that in "being" home, that it meant you weren't measured smart enough or a go-getter.  But what it really meant was so much more...

You see, without understanding Gods calling for us, we ARE like lost sheep.  I remember so many women at that mentoring program. They just wanted to know what to do?  How?  Why was it that it felt as though they were missing something within them, yet their lives were SO stressful at work and sometimes even in their home with their spouses or children.  They wanted someone to say it was "OK" to stay at home with their children, or those like me who were barren, that they WEREN'T taking advantage of their husbands by being home without children even though other women in society shunned it and labeled us as lazy and stupid.

Little did I know exactly just how many women were seeking to have time to be at home with their children, who longed to raise them and care for their husbands.  How could they live on just one income ? How could they sacrifice the material possessions and how could they face everyone who apposes staying at home like those who label certain parts of Gods word as Old Testament, so too, does society label homemakers and housewives.

Longfellow had some insight.  He understood the importance of being "HOME".  The opportunity it actually gives to both our husbands and our children.  What it does for our own self esteem, and how it offers us something that we couldn't get anywhere else...Time With God!  It is an opportunity to pray for our family and friends as well as the unsaved.  A Home that Prays together, Stays together.  Without prayer as a center, without someone to care for our home, children, pets, husbands, preparing food, cleaning, mending, teaching, gardening, and offering a hand to others in our neighborhoods and beyond, well, there would be no joy.

In the New Year, lets all try to remember those who don't know Christ or the reason they celebrate Christmas outside of food, family and presents.  Lets gather together with those we know or are aquanted with and share what the Lord has done in US.  Lets teach other women it's OK to be at home, Lets teach them how to be frugal as many of us are, lets befriend a neighbor and give them a hand.  Lets be proud of the women God made us to be and Thank HIM for the opportunity to be at HOME.  What a blessing it is!

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Wednesday, December 19, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by blessedmomof10

I love being home....... and you are right there are few precious women who have the hear to mentor or the expierence, in the spirit of Titus 2..... I have seen this over and over again.... so many women crying out for support and not knowing where to turn to......

Blessings~
gloria

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Wednesday, December 19, 2007 - <i>Untitled Comment</i>

Posted by oldfashionedgirl

What a beautiful blog that you have... the colors and flowers just create a peaceful feeling in my heart!!

I just posted that same poem on my blog... I am so grateful that God helped me along the road so I can now say... HOME IS WHERE MY HEART IS!!!

Blessings,
Alex

p.s. I just added you to my friends if that is okay!

Edited by oldfashionedgirl on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 12:22

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