Domestic Diva

Proverbs 31:27~She watches over the activities of her household. (HCSB)

This beautiful pin was created by amazingly talented Veronica Herzing.

As a homeschooling mama of 4, I get WAY too many opportunities to micromanage every moment of the blessed day. Over at Proverbs 31 Ministries Online Bible Studies with Melissa Taylor we are currently working through Karen Ehman's book Let.It.Go.. The assigned chapters for this week deal with micromanaging AND hovering mamas. (cough cough). This verse from Proverbs is one of our assigned reflection verses.

She WATCHES over the activities of her household. Watches, ladies--not manages every department. On page 118, Karen shares this: "If we're supposed to watch over the affairs of our households......then we must have some plans and routines in place." 

We need to plan for and have our family and children help out. Nowhere does it advocate that we do it all, or that we bark orders to get it all done. Actually, Proverbs 27:15-16 also tells us: 
A quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping on a rainy day. Stopping her complaints is like trying to stop the wind or trying to hold something with greased hands. (NLT). Oh, ouch....that hurts.

In the KJV, the Scripture is translated as: She looketh well to the ways of her household...
In Hebrew, to 'looketh' means to peer into the distance or to observe. (The New Strong's Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible). Hmm...observe. Peer into the distance. This in no way advocates being a Tin-Pot Dictator, does it? Throughout this week's study I have been convicted multiple times over my parenting style, or lack of one so to speak. God's word is full of Scripture on taming the tongue, self-control, gentleness and motherhood. As a matter of fact, we are told in 1 Peter 3 that a gentle and quiet spirit is of great worth in God's sight.

Oh, how I long for and pray for that gentle and quiet spirit. Amazingly enough, my older boys mentioned that they had noticed a difference in me this week. They said I was much 'gentler'. While studying these chapters, I dug deep into a lot of Scriptures. This was something that the Lord had been laying on my heart since early winter. GENTLENESS. At this time, I was constantly barking orders, looking over everyone's shoulders and micromanaging everything--right down to the handwriting on their schoolwork. I am so ashamed to admit this. However, I am so thankful for the Word of God that is sharper than any two-edged sword. I am so thankful that Karen shared her heart and wrote this book letting us all know that we are not alone. Finally, I am so thankful that I am only to 'watch' over the affairs over my household. Not control them. I am to point my family to Jesus in my words and deeds. When you study the Gospels and look at Jesus as Leader, nowhere do we see Him barking orders at those closest to Him. There are rebukes here and there, but He is also very loving and patient with them. He takes the time to teach them. He spends time with them. May we all be like Jesus to our very own families. May we agree with James when he says:

James 1:19~My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

(Live Like That by Sidewalk Prophets)

May we watch and not hover. May we help but not micromanage. Most of all, may we show Jesus to the least of these. Especially those in our own families.

Jennifer Newsom,

OBS Leadership Team