A few weeks ago, I was reading Chesley’s blog, specifically a blog post about a conversation she was having with another woman who accused her of burying her talents by embracing motherhood and being a keeper at home. I’ve heard the same things in the past, when we used to go to a church where I was one of the only women at home with my children.
For some reason, though, I couldn’t get away from this thought – that a woman at home is burying her talents in this lady’s eyes.
In my Bible reading that morning, I was reading 1 Corinthians 4, where Paul talks about how we each have gifts, but what God requires of His stewards (caretakers), is for us to be found faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2). That is, faithful with what He’s given us stewardship over.
All through the busy day, I was meditating on these things. My days are a different kind of busy from the busy-ness we had when they were all quite young. There’s a shift in our lives and our family now that they are all in the double digit ages. Later that afternoon, we went grocery shopping, and to the library, and as I was driving down the snowy road in my van, with all of us singing loudly, I still couldn’t get away from it. Two things were echoing in my mind. The first was that old condemnation, accusing me of “burying my talents” and another was a voice echoing the words of the Apostle Paul, “It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful”. “Lord,” I’ve found myself asking in moments of weakness in the past, “Am I wasting my time and talents at home?” Maybe that same question nags at you too.
That day, the Lord reaffirmed in my heart a simple truth. All God requires of us, as His stewards, is faithfulness with what He’s given us, in the season of life we’re in, not just faithfulness with our skills, but also faithfulness in our many relationships, starting with our relationship with Him, and our relationship with our husbands, then our relationships with our children, using the skills He’s uniquely gifted each of us with. Our faithfulness is not to be based on the world’s definition either, but rather looking to His Word as our guide.
Faithfulness in the stewardship He’s given me with my children can mean laying other giftings aside for a season before picking them up again to share those skills and talents with my children. This kind of faithfulness means learning to say no to the good things out there if they take away from our ability to serve in the best ways in this season. It requires much time on our knees, seeking His wisdom every step of the way as we raise up the next generation for Him.
Kimberly
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