a home-centered season

Continually, more benefits and blessings found by staying at home with one’s family, come to mind. Young women can be with those who are closest in our lives, can be a valuable part of the Christian family structure, and can exercise our hands at such a variety of enterprises that career women often pay others to do for them. The Bible provides a beautiful pattern that is rich with reward and delight to those who choose to follow.

I think it is important for young women to love learning, both to be equipped for helping a husband in his calling, and in order to disciple our children from a Christian perspective in every subject. Homemaking is not mindless work, as many resolve. The world will always esteem its own intelligence, but if we are following God, He will give enough of His wisdom to fulfill our task.

I have handled a good portion of the cooking and baking, laundry and sewing, cleaning, gardening, and correspondence for our family. I try to balance the family’s work, with doing my own studying, writing, visiting, babysitting, and collecting things for my hope chest.

This manner of being home-focused furnishes unrivaled possibilities. I am flexible to go help in whatever capacity arises, yet mostly I am part of my family’s work rather than pursuing my own. My desire is to be of service to the body of Christ in ways that might not present themselves, to the same extent, after marriage. Additionally, I want to be involved with any ministering and hospitality we show as a family.

This is not merely a season of "waiting for a husband". It can be a fruitful interval of life preparation, industry, hospitality, ministry, home education, and accessibility to whomever the Lord brings across our path. This vision can be accomplished in diverse ways, appearing differently in each young woman’s life. If you follow the scriptural pattern then let Him lead, He will show you a distinct purpose and bless your efforts to serve Him.

I cannot say this journey brings as much monetary compensation as other jobs. It does not bring acclamation and popularity from people who do not respect Biblical womanhood and femininity. It does not grant a prominent degree of independence. We should seek to be a servant like Jesus, and this is an excellent mode to be of service, especially within the Body of Christ. We should look for the praise of God and support of godly Christians, and esteem God’s truth greater than whatever opinion is recognized in worldly culture. God did not create women to be independent, though our sin nature craves freedom from boundaries. We must reject the deeds of corruption and hold to God’s order—that women are to be completers, nurturers, and made under man’s leadership.

I pray more young women would not only realize how God wants women to function, but will use this in-between time for glorifying God, for being a special helper in the Church, and for preparing to advance Christ’s kingdom as a husband’s companion. Young ladies, there is so much potential for you in the home of your parentsLearning how to keep a home that will reflect Christ’s love and salvation will be a gracious witness to those who enter its gate. Gaining wisdom on child rearing will reap unspeakable benefits, as we bring up the next generation of dedicated Christians, descendants who will follow after us, carrying our name and our mission.

The paradigm of young women keeping the home and assisting their parents or husband, has been normal and presumed for centuries, and has been a nearly worldwide practice. Perhaps, early America would not have had the righteous statesmen and distinguished leaders we did, had women forsaken their mission to help their husbands and their commitment to raise their children. Modern civilization is what has departed from tradition. We ought not to be afraid to move toward restoration of an honorable civilization. Let us be a willing component of a revival back to God’s design for families, churches, and countries—beginning with the integrity and preservation of righteous homes.

May everything that you and I are involved in as maidens before marriage, be for God’s glory and for the building of treasures in heaven. May this period be profitable toward a blessed and godly marriage, and the nurturing of faithful children. Trustfully, I will look back on this as a time of personal growth, service, and usefulness. It is promising to have the prospect of other young ladies desiring to take God’s Word seriously, and I am eager to see what course God leads others on, along the broader journey of Biblical womanhood.

There is broad potential for more Christian young women to realize this important calling, and thereby to bring this season of their lives under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the authority of their parents, and to benefit of the Body of Christ. Mrs. Jennie Chancey has written a marvelous, practical essay about single daughters at home, which is found on the new website of Anna and Elizabeth Botkin. These women are lovely and inspiring examples of Biblical femininity, and I continually learn from the wisdom they share.