My Career Goals
Monday, December 18, 2006

Well, I'm not in the crummy mood I was in when I wrote my last post. I hate it how money issues can get me all frazzled. It's silly. I know that we are super blessed with a lot of things that other people don't have. I am SO blessed to have the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mommy. Even though money is tight right now, I know that it won't be like this forever. No one makes me feel guilty about not having an income except for me. DH doesn't act like he minds. In fact, it seems to work out really well for us when I am at home doing the cleaning, laundry, cooking, yard work (well, no yard work going on lately), errands, etc. When we were both working full time, we had to spend our days off doing chores around the house. Now, he doesn't have to even think of touching the laundry or dishes and can spend his free time doing whatever he wants. (Even though he is usually fixing other people's computers in his spare time :)

I need to remind myself that being a mommy is going to be a full time job in of itself and that our child and entire family will benefit greatly from me staying at home. Even though I'd love to find a way to make money from home, it shouldn't make me feel like any less of a person to "just" be a wife and mother. It's the job I've always wanted to have.

When I was in high school, if a student said that her goal was to be a homemaker, I remember teachers and guidance counsellors replying with comments that discouraged that way of thinking. I appreciate that their jobs were to help us set high goals for our futures and encourage us to go to college in order to go on and get high-paying careers, but I wish that "just" being a wife and mom would've been viewed as an important role in society....instead of something you get stuck doing if you "fail" at being a career woman.

I want to become a Proverbs 31 woman. A woman who is a valuable asset to her husband and children. That is the career I want to have.

A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman--who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls. The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil.

She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her. She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop it]. She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household's food from a far [country]. She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks. She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard.

She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm. She tastes and sees that her gain from work [with and for God] is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night [of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust].

She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit].

She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet. She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made].

Her husband is known in the [city's] gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them; she delivers to the merchants girdles [or sashes that free one up for service].

Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]! She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction]. She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.

Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying], "Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all. Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised! Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]!"

(Proverbs 31:10-31, Amplified Bible)

Thanks for listening to me give myself a little pep-talk.

Labels: deep thoughts, finances, spirituality

posted by Unkempt Mommy @ 11:16 AM,

1 Comments:

At Tue Dec 19, 09:08:00 AM CST, Anonymous said...: Sounds like you know your desires and priorities! Thanks for the encouragment with your post!! The reality is that there are so many ways to contribute to the family and financially is just one part of the whole. You are taking on so many parts to help make your family work. Whether you make any money in the future or not, you still help emmensly by being responsible with the grocery budget and other things.

Danielle