SHE sews, cooks, knits, gardens and raises chooks [chickens]. The housewife is back – with younger women embracing traditional domestic crafts in droves, new figures show.
Sewing machines have rocketed off shelves in the past six months, with Lincraft reporting a 30 per cent increase in sales.
"There has been a definite trend happening and we have also started to see an increase in dress-fabric sales," said Lincraft spokesman Jeff Croft.
"Demand for sewing classes has increased – and one of the biggest growth areas has been knitting yarn, with a 10-20 per cent increase in sales compared to this time last year."...
Do any husbands/fathers out there have this feeling, that you are nothing but the helpmeet of the helpmeet rather than the authoritative spiritual leader? Or the assistant around the house with an extra pair of eyes and hands?
Do you feel nagged a lot, unloved, discouraged, disrespected, and continuously questioned even from your Christian wife?
Are you expected to work all day only to come home to do "your share" of the household duties? Or to spend the rest of the evening with the children doing activities and getting them ready for bed, then giving whatever time remains to the Lord?
Do you ever get the "if you love me" guilt-trip held over your head?
Is the submissiveness and obedience from your Christian wife contingent upon your actions, how much you "love" her and help out around the house? I've actually heard this one from Christian women, that is, "If husbands treat their wives 'properly' then the wives will submit and be obedient."
Wow! What's a husband/father to do? If you're out there feeling this way please do speak up.
I believe that you and Molly are godly women. I ask for your prayers, especially when you see me being a stumbling block to another dear brethren. Honestly, I really don't have the time to be on this site however after being introduced to it I not only have listened to sermons(what a blessing)but find myself commenting occasionally. Since the Lord saved me I have an overarching burden for the truth but from time to time I am reminded that I need to speak the "truth in love".(Eph.4; Prov.3:3) I truly thank our most gracious God for your soft heart. Both of your husbands have surely been blessed by God. In Christ's Love, Have a "grace day"!
"Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her," Proverbs 31:28
savedbygrace wrote: Faith, I was seriously trying to be helpful and hopefully not condescending but I surely need prayer, also. I have many faults and weaknesses and the Lord is so merciful and good to me. I honestly love all the people of God. We are far from perfect here in Hbg. Thank-you. In Christ Job 1:8 ps. Even though I fall way short of this verse, I love it, and use it a lot because it shows me that this is attainable by a person like us.
SavedbyGrace,
Ouch. . my conscience is pricked . ..I am truly sorry.
I was seriously trying to be helpful and hopefully not condescending but I surely need prayer, also. I have many faults and weaknesses and the Lord is so merciful and good to me. I honestly love all the people of God. We are far from perfect here in Hbg. Thank-you.
In Christ Job 1:8 ps. Even though I fall way short of this verse, I love it, and use it a lot because it shows me that this is attainable by a person like us.
It appears you don't have any grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, cousins, or Christians helping out. Would you be willing to elaborate on that? If not, I understand.
Faith wrote: Life is complicated, and you can't sum it up with your pull-em-outta-the-hat scripture memory verses.
savedbygrace wrote: Scripture tells us to really be contented and not complainers and to not be men-pleasers but to do everything as unto the Lord and to not I will be praying for you. Have a "grace day"! JOB 42:2
Mr. Savedbygrace,
Your post reeks of smugness.
If I remember correcty, Molly is on West Coast time, so she is probably too busy with her wifely chores to respond to you - So, let me.
Molly's husband is probably the envy of every man, and Molly probably fills every woman's heart with jealousy. From her post, I surmise that she is confident in Lord, faithful to her husband, and a good mother to her children.
Who are you to speak in such condescending terms?
Molly doesn't sound like she needs anyone speaking for her, but I think she should say, "pray for yourself - for understanding."
Life is complicated, and you can't sum it up with your pull-em-outta-the-hat scripture memory verses.
In being like the Prov. 31 women you do well; "She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness."(v. 27) However, do I see a bit of resentment, bitterness and sarcasm?
II Thessalonians 3:12, "Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread."
Scripture tells us to really be contented and not complainers and to not be men-pleasers but to do everything as unto the Lord and to not be envious of one another but to have the mind of Christ and to have fellowship with one another by being humble and consider others more than ourselves. I can tell that you desire to please the Lord and I will be praying for you.
Molly wrote: Here's what I do in my housewifery: I wash and dry all the clothes, but I don't fold them. I buy $1000 worth of food every month, at least, shop, bag, bring home, unload, put it away, cook. Vaccuum, Blessings to all ladies who can do it all AND homeschool. More power to you. And if you can do it in a dress and high heels, even better. I wear jeans.
Molly,
You've got moxie! I like that!
If there is anything that I'm envious of, it would be the family that epitomizes the loving, harmonious relationships that one has when parents submit to the Lord's leading in raising children - like the Duggars - that family with 18 children and counting.
My life has been more like the song, "I've been to paradise, but I've never been to me."
So, I watch re-runs of "The Waltons" and "Little House on the Prairie" for vicarious living.
I'm content - my life has just been different from many, and from what would be considered the ideal Christian home-life experience. Providence rules with a tender touch for those who know.
Here's what I do in my housewifery: I wash and dry all the clothes, but I don't fold them. I buy $1000 worth of food every month, at least, shop, bag, bring home, unload, put it away, cook. Vaccuum, steam clean, mend, pay all the bills, do the taxes, make and keep the family appointments, fill up the car with gas, help with homework, cook, clean up, clean up, clean up, did I mention I clean up? Scrub toilets. Vaccuum the van. Pick weeds. ETC. If a lady wants to add homeschooling into this mix, more power to her. I'm already overworked, but, happily, not underappreciated or underloved!!! Praise God for a good Husband who has learned how to live with this weak, fallen woman in understanding. And, who works hard enough to put the kiddos in Christian school so I can be happy. Blessings to all ladies who can do it all AND homeschool. More power to you. And if you can do it in a dress and high heels, even better. I wear jeans.
Neil wrote: I thought [URL=http://www.plan59.com/av/av046.htm]]]this[/URL] was the '50s housewife.
Actually, Neil, [URL=http://img6.travelblog.org/Photos/69343/277766/f/2333461-50s-Housewife-0.jpg]]]THIS[/URL] is a more faithful representation of what the 50's housewife looked like. [sans the sunglasses, of course]
DJC49 wrote: Where has she been? I couldn't even venture a guess, Mike, but [URL=http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0c7DbQ90f76dt/610x.jpg]]]HERE SHE IS today[/URL]! [photo taken on Sept 27, 2007] And she's now 93 years old, BTW. (CAN YOU NAME THEM ALL?)
savedbygrace wrote: Faith, Our salvation has everything to do with our behavior. Before salvation our relationship with God is estranged. There is neither the desire or power to obey Him. Btw, I believe that the ideal situation would be for the believing mother to be a keeper at home, esp. when the children are young. However, there may be a tiny window open for part-time work(Prov. 31)if entirely necessary(distinguishing between real wants and needs here). Like the celebrated Biblical pattern of wives and mothers of Prov. 31, Titus 2 and I Pet.3, mothers: -nurture their children by diligently teaching them God's Word when they sit in the house, walk by the way lie down and rise up. This cannot be satisfactorily achieved when the parents are both working outside the home between 40 to 60 hours a week! -love their husbands when they joyfully submit to them. -are faithful to the Lord when they deny SELF. Staying away from home may very well be a spiritual indicator.
"Blessings on you and your household, as you walk with Him."
Mike wrote: Return of the 1950s housewife? Guess that could make her about 80 years old by now. Where has she been all these years?
Where has she been? I couldn't even venture a guess, Mike, but [URL=http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0c7DbQ90f76dt/610x.jpg]]]HERE SHE IS today[/URL]! [photo taken on Sept 27, 2007] And she's now 93 years old, BTW.
Our salvation has everything to do with our behavior. Before salvation our relationship with God is estranged. There is neither the desire or power to obey Him. Btw, I believe that the ideal situation would be for the believing mother to be a keeper at home, esp. when the children are young. However, there may be a tiny window open for part-time work(Prov. 31)if entirely necessary(distinguishing between real wants and needs here). Like the celebrated Biblical pattern of wives and mothers of Prov. 31, Titus 2 and I Pet.3, mothers: -nurture their children by diligently teaching them God's Word when they sit in the house, walk by the way lie down and rise up. This cannot be satisfactorily achieved when the parents are both working outside the home between 40 to 60 hours a week! -love their husbands when they joyfully submit to them. -are faithful to the Lord when they deny SELF. Staying away from home may very well be a spiritual indicator.
savedbygrace wrote: Faith, Relationship with God - pre or post salvation? In Christ
There is no relationship with God before salvation. Rather, it is a broken relationship because of sin. So, relationship with God, as I intended, means "intimacy with God."
There are directives given in Scripture for the living of our lives for the blessings of both ourselves and those around us. It is good for mothers to nurture their children, love their husbands, and be faithful to the LORD.
However, a return to staying at home, does not necessarily have any spiritual advantage apart from the grace of God working in and through those lives.