A Career in Homemaking

Unemployed.
Stay-At-Home Mom
Stay-At Home Wife

All of these are terms that I have heard at one time or another to describe my current profession. My chosen career path.

But I like to think that there is a better term.

Homemaking

homemaking

[hohm-mey-king] 

noun

1.

the establishment or management of a home; duties of a homemaker.

The establishment or management of a home.  The Bible clearly tells us that we, as women, are to be working diligently in our own homes. Proverbs 14:1 tells us that a wise woman builds her home but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands. The woman described in the last chapter of Proverbs works day in and day out with her home and family at the center of her motivation. She is busy at home. (Proverbs 31:27)  All throughout the Bible there are examples of women working diligently for the sake of her family, fulfilling the duties of wife and mother.

It is no wonder then that Paul instructs women to be teaching and learning such things. In his letter to Titus he instructs the older women to be instructors, teaching the younger women what is is good. He then goes on to explain to the younger women what they are to be learning: “to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands.”  He then ends that with the reason behind the education: So that the word of God would not be reviled.

One of the things that my mother and my grandmother made sure I was prepared for was to run a household. They made sure I knew how not only to cook, but to cook well. They made sure I knew how to do laundry (even if I hate that particular task). And they made sure I knew how to clean a room or two. Of course growing up I was sure this was all in an attempt to torture me, but now that I am a wife and a mother I am thankful for the opportunities I was give to learn these things from my mom, my grandmother, and even for a time my great-grandmother. I knew going into my marriage I had at least the basic tools needed to manage a home. And I was right, I had a basic knowledge. However, the further down the road I get in my journey of marriage and motherhood the more I realize just how much I don’t know.

Its for this reason that when the Homemaking Concentration program was brought to my attention here at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary I jumped at the opportunity. I realized that I have talked A LOT about classes and homework assignments but I have never really shared much about the program itself so now I would like to introduce you all to the Homemaking Concentration program as well as the facility I have the pleasure of calling my classroom.

Homemaking Concentration in the Terry School of Church and Family Ministries

The Master of Arts in Christian Education (MACE) Degree with a Homemaking Concentration at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is designed as a comprehensive degree for fulfilling God’s plan for the home and those who dwell therein. Dedicated to training the total Christian woman … spiritually, academically and professionally, it provides both the theological base and the practical knowledge to understand and implement that plan. BiblicalWoman.com

The majority of the classes offered in the homemaking concentration are taught out of the Horner Homemaking House. This facility is meant to be used as a management model to teach and train women on how to set up and manage a home to the best of her ability in an attempt to glorify God each and every day.

The house itself is huge and beautiful and more than I could ever dream of living in. But it does provide the teaching and training I need on a large scale to then turn around and implement in my small student housing situation.

All Photo Credit from SouthWestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Each room in the house is dedicated to special women who have made an impact on families through their duty and calling as homemakers. They are honored through picture and having their favorite scripture verses placed around the rooms. Each woman or her family donated the funds and/of the furnishings needed to provide and excellent learning environment for all of us to use.

Photo Credit Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

The Textile room is one of my FAVORITE rooms of the house. This room is where I was finally able to get over my fear of all things sewing. It is also the room where I have made some of my best friendships here at Seminary. There is just something about fighting with unforgiving fabric that brings women together. This room is equipped with 10 sewing machines, 2 sergers, and 2 monogram machines. It also contains everything needed to complete a clothing project. If you take a tour of this home within the next 6 months you might even see my picture up on the wall in this room along with the other women I was in class with. I look forward to having the opportunity to spend more hours in this particular room of the house!