on value

I am what the world calls a stay at home mom. Though at least one of you has mentioned to me lately that there isn’t much staying-at-home happening.

Between kid activities and caring for Granny and Gramps and my church calling, it’s been a busy spring around here and there aren’t many days that I actually just stay at home.

There was a day several weeks ago when I was driving home from visiting Granny at the veterans home and I felt a profound sense of gratitude for my “job.” I am so so grateful Dad provides for us in a way that allows me to take care of my parents and my children, serve in time-consuming callings, volunteer at the kids’ school and many more valuable things.

I heard a content creator recently say that she “refused to be a stay at home mom in a society that doesn’t value the work women do.” It stopped me in my tracks and got me thinking. That day as I was driving to pick up teacher birthday gifts to take to the school, I mulled this over in my head. We are so wrapped up in thinking that value = getting paid. But, do you remember the old Mastercard commercials? Some things are priceless. And the fact is, they matter even if you can’t put a dollar to it. (I also think that particular woman was stating that she didn’t value it, which means she is part of the problem I guess? I’m still confused.)

Here is the thing though, I value my work.

I value supporting teachers. I value helping my parents. I value serving in the church. I value what I do. And incidentally, so does Dad. And that’s all that matters.

Before you think that this is me saying that every woman should be a SAHM, that isn’t what I am saying. But I am saying that I hope you go out into the world and do the work you value. Take the gifts, resources, education, and opportunities God gives you and do something with them that aligns with your values and what God asks of you.

Then don’t worry about it. Don’t worry if people on the internet don’t see the value in it. Or even people in your own life. Don’t let other people persuade you to do different things or to disparage it. Do YOUR work.

I also think it’s a good litmus test for how to spend your time and resources. Before you know it, good things can pile up and can crowd out the best things. Responsibilities can build up and lead to resentment. I have found the last few weeks since I started thinking about this, that I feel much less resentment about obligations. Because I know that I value the work I have chosen.

Choose work that you value. Then carry on.