My Salary $69,500

Good Morning, my friends!

Today starts like my former days prior to working these past 2 days. You would think I was laying brick when I got home. Imagine that! I came home exhausted. I am not sure why. Working for the Doctor and staff isn't hard labor. However the office is busy and I had to remember the routine. I need to back up a minute in case you are lost.

I was asked to sub for a doctor's office where I formerly was employed. The current receptionist was doing some additional training to assist the nurse. It was a great reunion among friends. We enjoyed catching up and working together for two days. Part of that enjoyment was working among a Christian staff currently composed of different church affiliations. We gathered together in prayer and set out to serve our patients with a loving and self-less spirit.

Before I go into the past two days, I want to clarify where I stand re: working outside of the home. I am a huge supporter of moms at home. I am a mom at home. I love being home and I DON'T get BORED. When I run out of things to do at home (yeah right), I find areas to get involved in community service, church or visit friends, not to mention I could spend hours in Bible study if I had the luxury of time. I have worked outside of the home for many years. I enjoy the validation and affirmation one receives at work and not to mention the paycheck. In all honesty, I should still be working if you look at our financial situation. I have a son in college and we have debt. However, I have chosen to change my lifestyle, my desires, and my outlook on life. I now cut coupons, shop sales, review my purchases for wants vs. needs, and have no desire to live up to expectations or in the fear of keeping up with "whomever". These are true sacrifices for me. I am aware and support the needs for women in the workplace. We have single parents, low income families, and other situations where women truly NEED to work. Plus, the way I see it we need female nurses, doctors, teachers, and others vocations where women like me need female employees/professionals. So there, you know where I stand! (or at least teeter totter).

Let's talk about my arrivals home. It was truly enlightening to see how a woman or at least this woman prepares for her loved ones arrival to the homestead vs. dad at home. I came home Tuesday night about 5:25pm. My husband works at home and my son comes home from school about 3:30pm. I drive into our drive way. It is rainy, cold, and dark! Not a porch light, kitchen light, night light, no light - nada! Not to mention, my beautiful Christmas tree stood in the lonely front room - unlit, uncelebrated. My husband is tucked into his office in the front of the home. I enter through the back. My son is upstairs watching a movie/tv in his dark room. I enter the house. It is cold (we have heat now). I shout out "Hello". A friendly "Hello" comes from the front of the house. Soon Kevin arrives to greet me. No son however. I see him after calling loudly up the stairs to join us for the dinner I left in the Crockpot cooking all day. Tuesday night, I quickly served up supper and watched a recorded previous episode of The Biggest Loser. I then drag myself up from the sofa to see a special friends school play. The play was very entertaining and my husband laughed out loud. It was great to see him relax. I didn't think of the dark greeting anymore. In fact he never heard about it.

Wednesday night's arrival was familiar. Kevin had picked me up from work and we drove into our driveway. The house ?... No lights, still cold, tree unlit, no supper, and dark. I could be aggravated but hey, who is the homemaker here. Where is she? She was at work. I missed being home to prepare for the end of day. I suddenly was aware of my true desire to "home make". My family probably could care less if they arrived to a cold, dark house. They know how to turn on lights and turn up the heat, but they don't have to. They have me. When they come home for the evening whether from work, school or an outing, I want to welcome them home as being special. I want Kevin to feel like the Biblical Sarah's husband...a "Lord". However, I won't be calling him "Lord" anytime soon! This is what is important to me. It has been important to me. When I wasn't working when the kids were young, I would always have the house picked up, kids faces clean, my hair combed and make up fixed/or washed face, and the house peaceful. The kids would do art work, puzzles or watch tv. Kevin would walk into his castle and the only chaos was the boys loudly greeting him. I don't know if this was important to Kevin, but it was what I wanted for him after a hard day's work. Anyways, back to last night. I was tired though the day was not busy. I knew there were some things that needed to be done, including supper, but the energy was not there. I walked in the back door and flipped on the light into the kitchen. WOW! The dishes were done. The dishwasher empty..yahoo! The house looked great! Dark but great! Kevin announced that he and Tim would be making supper. Tim came downstairs and I just hugged him tightly...he let me! The helicopter mom was able to land..Lol! Suddenly, ladies, I realized that I was Queen! I was in bed by 6:30pm reading a book. Awesome.

Ladies, I don't know if I will be going back to work anytime soon. If I am to go back to work, the Lord will open doors. All the jobs I have had since having children have been truly given to me by the Lord. He has sent people into my life who have asked me to work. I like working. I give honest work and loyalty to my employers. I respect them and their requirements. I love the attention, affirmation and validation of who I am and what I do. It is rewarding to know you are appreciated in word and with a paycheck. I know that my financial needs are real and going back to work would be welcomed relief to our situation. However, my heart is in the home. I like keeping the home fires burning. I like a clean, organized home. I like being available for my teenage son as he throws himself on the sofa to talk to me about his day or his gripes. I like not spending so much money eating at restaurants or out of paper bags. I like sitting here typing and working on home office stuff next to my husband. I enjoy spending time reading, and studying. I have little need for entertainment. I am going to do His will. It might include working outside of the home. I know friends who look at their jobs as ministries, either to their employer or those they serve. I also like to remember a friend who was teaching on Titus 2 that there are some women who probably would do their families more good working outside of the home rather than they staying home, because they are lazy and lack in housekeeping, fixing meals, taking care of children etc. They are not genuinely "Keeping the Home". I think my friend meant it in a joking manner, but I see a whole lot of truth in it. As for me, I enjoyed working. I gave my job up prematurely. Yet, I love being home. So my eyes are wide open as I look for His will. In the meantime, my house will stay lit and warm. The Queen has taken her throne!

I found it interesting that if I was paid for my home keeping skills/activities I would be paid $69,500 per year. Not far behind my husband. However, no one is writing me a paycheck. I have to find compensation in myself, the Lord and my family's welfare. If you are a mom at home, check out the following website to figure out your "deserved" salary according to your area of the country, activities, etc. www.stayathomemoms.about.com

My friends, whatever your choice or God's will for your career - outside the home or not, we have a responsibility to work as if unto God. We must do our jobs well and in a manner pleasing to him. Keep the following scripture in mind:

1 Corinthians 15:58 (New American Standard Bible)

58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

Colossians 3:23 (New American Standard Bible)

23Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,

Titus 2:3-5 (New American Standard Bible)

3Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,

4so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,

5to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being , subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

I feel a storm brewing up....Scary!
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