Throughout 2006 I decided to do a study on Proverbs 31 via a blog. It was partly an exercise to practice using the software and I'd always wanted to explore this book in greater details so combining the two seemed an ideal way to do it. I had no idea that the blog would end up being a very popular one which still draws in thousands of visitors every month a year after I began writing it.

During the course of doing this study it became clear to me that the Proverbs 31 Woman as depicted through my blog is very much what many women want to be today. I'm talking about those who want to work at home and be there for their families, instead of being out in the workforce away from their homes and families.

The cost of childcare has gone through the roof which has made it difficult for many, however, those providing the childcare also deserve to be recompensed for their time and what they do. The need for police checks and screenings to ensure our children are safe when in the care of another has increased the desire and need to be at home with our families. And the fact that so many families are now isolated and away from their extended family connections for many reasons: chasing work in another region or state, family breakdowns, the need to get away from abusive family members and so on.

Family life as we knew it from a generation or two ago has changed considerably and yet the longing for us to bring it all back together to give our children a family life balance has become a strong desire and a necessity.

I thank God that He gave me both the desire and then the opportunity (and the ability to recognise that opportunity) 13 years ago so I could be home for our 5 girls as they were growing up. I have been home for them during their teenage years and they are all now young adults in their 20s and moving into a working world - two of them are also married.

I see my role today very much being like that in Titus 2:4-5 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

Being busy at home can include operating a business at home to help support the family, as long as it's not put ahead of the family, i.e. there needs to be a balance in the time spent in the business and in the home doing mothering and housewifely duties. I've always enjoyed keeping house and cooking and am happy to take myself into the kitchen to prepare the evening meal before my husband comes home. Just knowing he appreciates it means so much and just last week when he came home he told me "You don't know how good it is to know that you are here to come home to."

 

 

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Mother of 5, wife to Graham, Kathie is a published author of 4 how-to books, many magazine articles, both for business and Christian magazines, and has several articles in printed books by other writers.

www.kathiethomas.com/writer.htm