HappyHomemaker wrote:Valerie wrote:lesterb wrote:
Well, this thing of being called to a "ministry" of some sort seems very important. More so than looking after your own home and family.
My daughters did a lot of work within various homes before they got involved in teaching.
They got very tired of doing the menial work for such mothers while they were off doing "more important" things for other people.
Eternity will reveal the results of this, I'm afraid, but I see it happening already in some of the children in those homes.
There is a variety of things I could go into, but there are many things that
seem more fulfilling than being a keeper at home and raising your family for God.
I understand and this must feel grievous to the older folks- I see the faultiness in what you are conveying and how there can be some 'coveting' for really 'seemingly' having these great ministries- and the menial work doesn't get the same admiration or recognition. I have witnessed this in churches I've been a part of too and no one wants to do the 'lesser' jobs it seems-
What happened to not letting your left hand know what your right hand is doing when you serve? Jesus sees our heart.
No matter what the servant is doing. How menial (or SEEMINGLY menial) to someone who is in need, it is so appreciated.
Of course they hear of missionaries, etc- and could feel they are not doing 'enough' to spread the Gospel- etc-
This past Sunday I just 'subbed' for the Sunday School teachers off in August- in the 4/5 year old class. The story was on Dorcas and how the people appreciated her so much for making them clothes- her servanthood. A seemingly unimportant task but oh how they appreciated her! (Sewing to ME would be a monumental task for someone as I never learned it very well). Just saying......... I feel bad for what you are seeing happen.
I see what you're saying.
Those homemaking abilities are very important for women to learn and I could see how young women today would not place as much value on it.
But, to me, this passage goes so much deeper than that.
Titus 2 speaks of reverence, controlling one's tongue, self control, marriage, parenting, obedience and more. All things that are still very relevant for the Christian today.
If we limit our mentor relationships to homemaking, I would still think we weren't living up to our responsibilities.
Also, I don't necessarily believe the younger women are entirely to blame.
In my over 10 years of being with the Anabaptist church I have had exactly 0 women reach out to me as a mentor or offer to meet in some kind of intentional ongoing relationship.
Even when I was new to the church and could have used a guiding hand.
As the older, wiser, more mature sisters in the church, i think they have to take some initiative and embrace this Titus 2 calling on their lives. It is a responsibility God has given them.
love this thread, reading with interest.
i often wonder, "who is teaching young people, male+female, how to be husbands+fathers, wives+mothers?" - with
ALL that entails? not everyone is up to the task.
(in my mind) home making includes Titus 2. i would not separate the parts, menial from lofty.
Jesus did not shrink from earthly chores, all the pieces fit together.
not suggesting my understanding is correct. just describing it.
in our busy world, so much is taken for granted, "that's nothing, anyone can do that!" .. but, that is far from the case. proof is in the divorce rate, and incidents of abuse (spouse, children, elders.) so, evidence is: not everyone can do that!
possibly like you (?) i see a lot of potential value in the grandmas and grandpas of the world.
our youthful culture does not value elders like some other ancient cultures, we have much to learn that way. for a time, during my husband's illness, we lived as close neighbors to a young Korean family. the respectful, interested way they consistently treated us was memorable, even without fluent English. they moved. i miss them!
i think many older folks feel unwanted, they do not want to interfere.
younger folks don't know how to initiate, or how to respond.
sadly, the world is full of messages that women must do their best impressions of men, or they have no worth. this results in many problems, including unnecessary lack of self-esteem. personally, i'd be happy to see the value of women+children increased, NOT based on their ability to compete with cultural perceptions of "what men do," which, to me, is a waste of valuable time+effort. it amounts to envy+covetness, which are truly not worthy.
women are not small men,
children are not small adults.
i see this in the world, even in churches .. i admit, i'm a bit surprised to read of it in CM circles.
we all have much to learn.