Chapter 1: Delighting in Who You Are

Ginger Plowman goes straight to the heart of stay-at-home-mommyhood in chapter one. I say that because that is where I am right now in my life. To be completely honest, however, it is the one issue that we all must address, whether we stay at home with our children, work outside the home, go to school, or any number of things that women do. What is it? Delight.

“If Mom delights in the role that God has ordained her to fill, she sets the
stage for the other family members to do the same. When Mom is mom it’s
easier for Dad to be dad and children to be children. Mom has the power to
make or break the family order…a mother, who removes herself from her
God-given position in the family, cause[s] the foundation of that family to
collapse…If Mom is uptight and stressed-out…neglectful of her everyday duties…negative about the problems that life brings her way, her attitudes will be reflected in the thought and actions of her husband and children.”

Plowman wants us women to delight in being women, mothers, and homemakers.

We can delight in being women because we are uniquely created by God.

We can delight in being homemakers because, like Jesus, we can “‘prepare a place’ of joy and peace for those we love most.”

How?

By delighting in Christ, His work in us, and who He created us to be. Plowman encourages women to move from being uptight to delighting in Jesus and the life he has uniquely designed for each of us.

My thoughts: I don’t know about you, but within the first two paragraphs of the book, I was feeling the weight of my position as wife and mother. The idea that my position in our family is as critical as a block in Jenga is almost overwhelming. No, it IS overwhelming. Some women may really enjoy that feeling of indispensability and power, but not me. I force myself out of the bed some mornings, begging God to help me, help me, help me! A lot of days, I just don’t feel like I’m enough for the job. And some days I don’t want to DO my job. Then, I have to repent. I’ve written in other posts that I am a beggar for God’s mercy and grace every day. Somehow, placing my faith in His ability to take care of this family gives me more peace and security and DELIGHT than I ever had depending on myself. I find more delight in Christ as I go about my daily tasks when I consider that I am working with His energy. And I really believe that is the point Plowman tries to make–that when we first delight in Christ and who He made us to be, we will then delight in who we are. But I don’t see why we have to delight in ourselves at all. Why not just delight in Jesus? Period.

Plowman also made me consider how my attitude toward homemaking is affecting my children. Will my daughters want to be dedicated homemakers when they are grown? Will they prefer staying at home to raise their children over a career? Or do they see me and think, “Gosh, Mom really isn’t making me like the idea of homemaking,” or “Mom stayed at home and doesn’t have any regrets. I want to care for my family the same way.” Will my sons want to marry career-minded women or women who view homemaking and child-bearing as God’s design for women? Do they look at me and think, “Mom is really unhappy. I don’t want to marry someone like that,” or “Mom is the happiest woman I know and it’s because of Jesus and us.”

Motherhood and homemaking are huge responsibilities, but I know that I do not walk this road alone. It is up to me, but it’s not up to me.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

bearing with one another, forgiving each other;

as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together

in perfect harmony.

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
to which indeed you were called in one body.

And be thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one
another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

And whatever you do, in word or deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:12-17, ESV