For school we are reading about a missionary family in New Guinea. They arrived with a 16-month old son and a one-month old daughter. In the following nine months, the mother suffers from appendicitis, blood poisoning, severe weight loss, fainting spells, ear infection and threatened encephalitis. Combine these health problems with living in rugged conditions where it rains every day, disease and dirt are daily companions and the demands of motherhood are no less than for any other mother. She was trying to learn a difficult language and couldn’t exactly run next door to borrow a cup of sugar while getting a little grown-up conversation.
Her husband, on the other hand, was starting schools to share the Gospel, literacy programs, building airstrips, visiting neighboring villages, and teaching the people about how to live healthier lives. He was smart and well-trained, so he knew to never be God to these people. He trained the people to train more people. As a result, he was able to see a lot of progress in those short nine months. Being fully immersed in the people and their culture, he picked up the language quickly and was adopted into the society. He was respected; people listened to what he said, and he saw the fruits of his many labors in short order.
Meanwhile, back at the hut… She was not running any programs. She was stay-at-home-mom-ing. Changing diapers, kissing boo-boos, tending to the sick in the village and stalling people who couldn’t get enough of her husband. Lonely doesn’t even begin to describe how this woman felt.
I took this opportunity to let my kids know that they don’t have to go to the far reaches of the world to see a husband and wife function in this way. To demonstrate, I asked my son how often he feels lonely. He said not very. I told him that his sister feels lonely at least once a day. She confirmed.
Women long for companionship, but our duties tend to further isolate us. A man is out of the house for his work-time. Often the work shows progress. He finishes a project and starts a new one. And don’t underestimate the reward of earning a regular paycheck!
A mom’s work shows results at a much slower pace. Or the job resets itself naturally and there is no such thing as getting ahead. You can’t wash the dishes twice today to avoid having to wash them tomorrow. And sometimes the results leave us scratching our heads at the wisdom in pursuing them.
Yay, the baby can crawl!…Oh, the baby can crawl. Yay.
Not only are the rewards different when homemaking, but the adult interaction is missing. How much more true that can be when we add homeschooling to the mix. We work hard and it is a labor of love. Good. Right. But also often lonely.
Hopefully we can train our boys to be sensitive to this state of being. I pray my kids stay close and they support one another through trials. I also pray that it doesn't take a trial to bring them together!
In the meantime, for homeschooling moms today, for myself, it is a comfort to know we are not alone. Someone understands and is steadfast. He is so faithful and understanding that He will even provide much needed support in the form of fellow homeschoolers. He is good.
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