As we look at this role of keeper of the home, Strong’s Concordance is great.  It means that the woman’s role is to be a guard of the home, constantly aware of the condition of the home and the daily activities that have been delegated by the husband.  I spoke to this as we were dealing with the husbands.  Remember, men, as it pertains to the home, we delegate.  When you delegate, you don’t delegate and micromanage at the same time.  Give your wife the responsibility.  You can set a course and then allow their gifting by God.  This is their role, their call of God.  Men, don’t interrupt their call of God.  Ladies, don’t despise your calling.  Pray and seek God on how you can be a better manager and guard of the home.

One of the ways, ladies, of guarding that home is making great mothers.  The word guard means “to be aware.”  You need to be aware of what your children are doing on those devices.  We need to be aware of the involvement that the children are having in interactions with one another daily.  It seems like in our homes we always have an initiator, a tattletale.  Ladies, you need to be aware of who’s who.  We don’t take anything at face value until we’ve examined the matter; amen?  That’s the wisdom, ladies, that you have.  God will give you grace in these things so that there isn’t provocation, and there isn’t a manipulation of your life.  Often, our attention goes to the one who is always causing problems, or the one I said is the provoker, the self-willed child.  The ones who are walking in obedience, with a tender heart and a gentle spirit, are forgotten because they’re doing it.  They’re not making a bunch of noise.  Be aware, and make sure that those children receive the same attention; amen?  Make sure it’s not just the one who is demanding the attention.  Have awareness of what’s going on.

There are so many other things that we could be addressing, but the word also means “to be one that is a stayer at home.”  Now, that refers to a number of different things.  We saw that here in the fellowship, and we’re very clear that it means that you don’t work outside of the home.  You’re there.  That’s your domain.  This is what you were called to, gifted to.  There was the laying down of your life when you chose to marry.  You were no longer a single entity.  You two were made one flesh, so you no longer have a life to fulfill.  You do have a role to fulfill.  We need to learn to be fulfilled in the life that God has given us.  The world speaks from the exact opposite perspective.  “So, you’re telling me my fulfillment in life is to clean up after barfing children?  All of the screaming…”  To this day, I don’t know why God created children with the need to do everything at the top of their lungs.  Of course, we all, then, train them to use their inside voices.  They need to use their inside voices outside a lot of the time, too, but I guess we can’t expect too much.  But that is your job.  Yes, to be thrown up on.  What a great job!  Clean up that diaper.  Try to put the fur back on the cat after the children shave him, or whatever is happening that day. 

Men, you may come home and ask, “How did your day go?”  If you see veins popping out of her neck, eyes glazed over, ask “Is there anything I can do to help?”  We’ve mentioned this so many times, but I don’t think we can mention it too much.  Most of the time, they are not looking for help.  They’re looking to be appreciated for what they just went through in the last twenty-four hours.  Every day is another battle.