Dr. Adrian Rogers has some very practical suggestions for wives and mothers. Here are some things he states in his message, “Five Ways to Be a Successful Husband.” This message was for the husbands, but I think as wives we can appreciate these things:

“Consider if your work adds to the home or takes from it! Why does a woman work? Some women work because they must in order to meet the household budget; it is necessary for her to work for financial reasons. Some and most women work so she can receive a paycheck and see her worth. Why are women in the workplace and they do not need to be? Her husband may not be acknowledging her worth in the home and homes are suffering.”

I cannot agree more. If my husband were not all the time supporting me and encouraging me to stay at home, I must admit, I would probably be working. I struggle with staying at home and feeling like I am “losing” my education and skills due to non-use, while he is at school each day and studying to sharpen his skills and abilities. This is a lie from the devil! I am sharpening my skills in many areas- just different areas. Do not think for one minute also that I do not struggle with being ready to be financially free. I miss wordly things like shopping and having more than one family vehicle so I can go where I want when I want! But each time I watch my baby learn something new and know that I taught her that, each time we do puzzles together, sit in the floor for hours in a day and sing, read and play, I would not trade that time in for $100,000 a year salary. I would be a millionaire if I had a quarter for every time I am in the store or somewhere and an older lady will say to me, “You better enjoy them while they are young because it does not last long.” I realize that graduations and weddings come fast, I mean, where did my own childhood go? That is why I will stand at graduations and at weddings and know that I may have made a LOT of mistakes raising them, I may have put other tasks priority from time to time, I may have said things to them I should not have, I may have not disciplined exactly like I should have, I may not have had much money to buy them the perfect most stylish clothing, but I pray that they know that time with them surpassed everything else in life during those young, precious years. The years we will never get back.

Every night I read the Bible to my daughter and we say prayers. Every night the thought comes of when she will not longer be within my grasp. I will be willing to pay numerous amounts of money when the time comes to get her back for just one day, am I not willing to pay numerous amounts now?

In the same message from Dr. Rogers, he lists many jobs of a wife and mother. Dennis and Barbara Rainey are the ones he credits for coming up with these many roles:

“As a mother she is a meal planner, nurse, counselor, comforter, policeman, judge (settling internal disputes with the children), clothier, wardrobe consultant, budget and financial planner, teacher, tudor, cheerleader, spiritual advisor, nursery worker, seamstress, cook, maid, linguistics expert (specializing in the dialect of two-year olds), resident gardener, administrator, interior decorator, schedule planner, chauffer, environmentalist (maintaining proper home environment), family historian (preserving family history).
For her husband she is a confidant, lover, companion, advisor, encourager, partner, comforter, hostess, and entertainer.
For her community she is a neighbor, gracious entertainer, volunteer counselor, friend, and church member.”

Mothers are worth VERY much in the home!

Psalm 127 :3-5 “Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward. As arrows [are] in the hand of a mighty man; so [are] children of the youth.Happy [is] the man that hath his quiver full of them;”

“Thank you for giving me a loving and supportive husband that prioritizes the role of mother at home.  I thank you for allowing me to be with my children these precious years.  I pray for all the mothers that wish to be with their children each day but cannot.  I pray you will give each woman the desire of her heart.  I especially pray for the mothers that desire work and view career as their worth and that you would change the desire of their hearts.  Thank you for the beautiful gifts of children.  May we each seek You for guidance to take care of these special gifts you have entrusted to our care.  May we ever be thankful for blessings we do not deserve.  Amen.”

I wrote this article about 2 1/2 years ago.  I added this prayer because I know many women that desire desperately to stay home.  Either husbands or financial restraints prevent them from being able to stay in the home.  My heart breaks for these women.  I also thought my whole pregnancy with Karis that I was going to have to work.  We took a huge step of faith and God blessed our obedience.  I pray that God will grant you your desires and give you a peace about what you are to do.  Some of you are completely at peace with working and some of you have jobs that do allow you to maximize your time with your children.  If you do not have a peace about leaving your small children during the day then I pray you will take that step of faith with blessing from your husband.  Please feel free to email me and ask me anything.  I do not know it all but I have been in your shoes.  I know how difficult this decision can be and how overwhelming you can feel after quitting work.  There are also lots of options for part-time jobs or jobs from home, which I have also done myself.  God Bless you in following Him and remember you are only accountable to Him (well, and for your obedience to your hubby.)    HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!