What Would Jesus Do?
By Christy Rood | February 26, 2009
I was flipping through the channels a few nights ago, and caught the tail end of the show Wife Swap. If you’re not familiar with the show, I’ll spare you the details, but each show ends with the lessons learned by all involved. On this show, one wife decided that she was setting a bad example for her daughters, who only saw her “doing dishes”, and not finding ways to fulfill her own needs and desires. She was determined, after she went home, to chase her own dreams for a change, and set a better example of a life well lived for her daughters. That got me thinking. Is doing the dishes a bad example to my daughters? Is making dinners, vacuuming, doing the laundry and scrubbing the tub in front of them going to perpetuate a negative stereotype of women? Should I just let the housework pile up and go get a job to teach my daughters that domestication is not all there is to life?
Too many girls my age are in complete angst because their moms tried to “elevate” the role of women by proving themselves in the job force. Today’s moms who stay home feel they are not living up to their potential. But, if they work, they feel guilty for leaving their children in the care of others. So what is the best example of godly womanhood for our daughters?
Jesus invites us to “…learn of me, for I am gentle and humble in heart…” Christ is the perfect example for men and women alike, but since I’m a woman, I most identify with His submission and humility. It wasn’t that He couldn’t rule the world – He was God. It wasn’t that He couldn’t rise to the top of the political and spiritual food chain – He was King of Kings. It wasn’t that He couldn’t be the richest man alive – He owned it all. He just didn’t care to chase the American dream. His entire life was defined by service.
If I’m going to live like Jesus, my tombstone will read, “She served others her whole life, and cared only about the approval of her heavenly Father.” Maybe doing the dishes is setting the right example for our daughters.
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Those shows are so interesting, but they bug the tar outta me!
I know. Me too. I’m fascinated by the different ways people run their homes, but I hate the inevitable tension – especially when it’s the new wife’s turn to “run” the home.
Hurray! You mean there IS meaning in the mundane? Thank you for this reminder that there is purpose and dignity in the repetitive tasks I do for my family each day
)
And how about teaching our children to help out with those mundane tasks so that more quality family time is created. Especially our boys………we want them growing up not being waited on/picked up after in order to make them a better husband some day!
Wow, it’s been a long time since I wrote this! Yes, Helen, I totally agree! And, I hope you don’t take offense to this, being a “working mom”. I just get bugged when people have such a negative view of stay-at-home moms. There are all kinds of reasons people work, but I think one of the worst reasons to do this is that they’re just not “fulfilled” by the mundane tasks of raising a family. I know Blake knows you’d do ANYTHING for him. He knows that raising him has been the highlight of your life, and not just a distraction. =)
Wow, it’s been a long time since I wrote this! Yes, Helen, I totally agree! And, I hope you don’t take offense to this, being a “working mom”. I just get bugged when people have such a negative view of stay-at-home moms. There are all kinds of reasons people work, but I think one of the worst reasons to do this is that they’re just not “fulfilled” by the mundane tasks of raising a family. I know Blake knows you’d do ANYTHING for him. He knows that raising him has been the highlight of your life, and not just a distraction. =)