A few days ago, I wrote: “And even more than that. God established marriage to bring children into the world. It is the safe harbour to which children and spouses return again and again, where they can be themselves, are protected, and, yes, are loved.”

⁵… the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children …

We often run in a direction. We try so hard to keep up with the rest that we forget to check whether we’re going in the right direction. Nowadays the norm is that both husbands and wives have to work. Our financial and life goals are set so high that both of us are forced to work. How else will be able to pay the many bills at the end of the month?

No, I’m not saying it’s wrong if both husband and wife work. My wife and I both work too. We’re both in the ministry. There’s no other way, it’s how things developed. If one of us stops now, chances are we’d have to switch off the screens in a few weeks’ time.

Most of us are caught up in this reality. And to suggest that one should let go of everything to manage the house might be somewhat drastic. If you have been considering this for some time and it is your calling, do it. But most of us need to get our food the hard way.

But, the big but, is that in the midst of the struggle to keep all the balls in the air, we have an enormous responsibility at home. Wives and husbands. Our home, the people in our homes, our spouses and our children, are our first calling. If we neglect this calling, for whatever reason, we’re in deep trouble.

There is a reason why God chose the family as the platform for children to come into the world. If He had thought that a hospital or a special incubator or child care centre would work better, He would rather have chosen that. But, no, God knew that families would work better.

We have to return to the first reason why we were put on earth. It is to create a good, calm home where we and our children are prepared for the world out there. The things that our children are exposed to today are very bad. Their lives are on the line. If we just leave them so that the world becomes their teacher, we shouldn’t be surprised when one day they are and do exactly like the world.

A friend sent me a message, saying he realised that he needed to reset himself, because life easily loads stuff on you that causes you to miss the point. Almost like when you have to reset a computer so that it can work like it did when it was new. First you have to get rid of all the glitches slowing it down.

Maybe we have to reset ourselves too just to get back to our original calling. God made us to create an environment where we can help our children (and one another!) to go out into the world and take a stand for what is right, to be the light in the darkness and to help others.

Please help us, God!

Scripture
Titus 2:1-5
Reflection

Do you spend enough time with your family?
Is it necessary?
How can you do things differently?

Prayer
Lord, please help me to see your will clearly and to have the right priorities amongst all the expectations from the world. Please help me to make the changes that will take guts and sacrifice. Amen.