A while back my husband and I were sitting across the desk from a car salesman. We were filling out paperwork for my daughter’s car. The man was asking the questions and came to the question about our employment. He asked my husband and wrote down minister. He asked me and I said I’m just a housewife. He made some remark and said he would put “domestic engineer.” Domestic Engineer sounds a bit fancier than housewife, or homemaker. But why did he write that instead of “housewife”? I think he was trying to make me feel better about my chosen profession. Now, I’ll admit that sometimes I get a little discouraged being just a housewife, but not enough to change my title to something that makes me sound more important.

Being a housewife, homemaker, or even if you want to call yourself a domestic engineer is an important, yet godly profession. We read in Titus 2:3-5 that the older women are to teach the younger women a whole list of things and being a keeper at home is one of them. In our society today, being a keeper at home often gets looked down upon, hence the name change. Why should we look down upon something that is so important that the Holy Spirit guided Paul to write a letter to Titus to be read to the church in Crete in order to establish some order? It was and still is an important task. One that needs to be taught. We are not born with knowing how to iron, or fix meals, or how to love our husband, or how to care for children. Our mother or even some dear sweet older lady takes the time to teach us.

A homemaker is what makes a house a home. A house is just four walls. It is not until you take that house and put some love in it that it becomes a home. Love is what is going to motivate us to be good homemakers; the love that we are taught by the aged women in Titus 2 to show our husband and our children. Love motivates us to take care of the things that are needful. Doing things without love is futile (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). Yes, those tasks get accomplished without love, but how was our attitude when we did them? How did our family react when we were vacuuming with force??? It isn’t pleasant for anyone.

The life of a homemaker can get monotonous. We do the same thing almost every day all day, but making a house a home requires the proper architect (Psalm 127), the proper attitude (1 Corinthians 13:4-8; 1 Corinthians 16:14), and the proper balance (Luke 10:38-42). A homemaker is more than just a maid; she is the keeper (Titus 2:5), she is the trainer of children (Proverbs 22:6), she is the meek and quiet spirit that is precious in the sight of God (1 Peter 3:4), and she is priceless (Proverbs 31:10-31).

So whether you call yourself a housewife, a homemaker, or a domestic engineer don’t forget to do it with love for the the ones you love because of The One who has loved you first (1 John 4:19).

By: Kristina Odom

Kristina and her husband, Justin, serve with the church of Christ in Fairfield, IL where her husband is the preacher. Kristina is a stay-at-home mother to their three teenage kids and the author of Be A Light.