Value In Monotony

Two weekends ago my Mother-in-law and her 3 young children came to visit. While I was sweeping the floor one evening she asked if I ever felt like I did the same tasks over and over again just to do them again the next day.  What mother doesn’t feel like she does laundry just so it can get worn and dirty again, or sweeps the floor to make room for the new dirt?  This is the predicament anyone with children has, so of course I answered “yes.” 

After a few stories of the things we do over and over, the subject was dropped and we moved on.

A couple of days later while sweeping the floor again, I remembered our conversation and started thinking about Chick-fil-A. For those of you who don’t know, I worked at Chick-fil-A for almost 5 years until I had the babies and started staying home. Then that led me to think about other jobs and careers that women do. I came to this conclusion- life is all about monotonous routines. At home I am continually cleaning up messes, changing diapers, feeding babies, baking bread, and the million other little tasks that moms do.  While working at Chick-fil-A I was constantly cleaning up messes, restocking condiments, cooking chicken, doing refills, and all the million other tasks that go along with serving at a restaurant.  The concept of monotony is found in any job someone does. That is life. 

The difference is the reward.  Working a job outside the home brings in a pay check.  There is nothing wrong with getting a paycheck. It pays the bills. While homemaking doesn’t give a paycheck, the things you do have more reward than you realize.  You are showing your children and husband that you care so much about them that you are willing to give up your time and energy on them.  You are able to teach your children the principles they need to live by. The things you teach your children can affect future generations to come.  This is no small task.  You may not see a paycheck at the end of the week, but you are building up an eternal reward. Next time you feel discouraged because you have to wipe up another spill, just remember the things you do at home have have a bigger effect than you realize. You are earning an eternal value. 

I am not writing all of this to disparage on the women who have to work. I am writing this to encourage those women who feel like the things they do at home have no meaning or reward.

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9