*** My husband, Daniel, spent hours last week poring over this letter to you. Be encouraged, mommas. ***
Dear Stay-at-Home Mom,
God has placed it on my heart to encourage you. As I see my own wife labor for her family, I’m convicted of my own thankless heart. And when you add to that a thankless world, discouragement and loneliness easily creeps in.
So here are some lies you may be hearing from the world…and the truth to battle those lies.
The world sees you living the good life, sleeping in, and doing whatever you want.
I see you wake up early to prepare for your long, never-ending day. I see you not stop until your head hits the pillow. I see you serve everyone and die to your own desires. I see you labor to the point of exhaustion with no applause or payment to motivate you. Your reward for washing clothes, teaching our children, loving your husband, etc. etc. is our Lord and Savior saying “well done my good and faithful servant.”
The world sees you throwing your life away.
I see you investing yourself in your children 24/7. I see children who are learning to love the Lord through your constant example and words of encouragement. I see my son for the first time begin to praise King Jesus and my heart melts. Oh, the eternal impact is immeasurable!
The world sees you as less intelligent than someone with a career.
I see your brilliance. You manage our home, our children, our food, our clothes, our schedule, and the list goes on. And all the while, you are creative in how you go about saving money and making life enjoyable. This excellence and creativity can’t be taught even in a Harvard MBA program. And because you take care of all the day-to-day details, I can focus on what God has called me to do, providing for and leading our family.
The world sees you as someone who has given up the fight to be seen as an equal to men.
I see someone secure in their identity as a woman. God never intended for women to be the same as men. You’re “fearfully and wonderfully made” and different than me, but you are my equal. You were fashioned to fulfill God’s perfect plan. Oh, that my daughters would emulate you. Oh, that my sons would learn gentleness and kindness from you.
I know it can be tough to live in a world that looks at stay-at-home moms as if they are “throwing their lives away.” But don’t listen to the world. Listen to the voice of our Savior who says “[m]any women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” (Proverbs 31:29) And when you are so tired that you can’t even hear His voice, listen to your husband say that he loves you, respects you, and is incredibly encouraged by your life.
Much Admiration and Gratitude,
A Husband
Header photo by: Eduardo
