Lesson Five: From House Wife to Working Wife

"But for Adam no suitable helper was found . . . Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man."
Genesis 2:20b, 22

As the alarm blared at 8 am this morning, I was faced with the grim truth. Up I must get. And dressed, too. And I must get out the door. Mostly asleep, I managed to whisper out, "Honey, can you get that?"

And I promptly returned to slumber. Or tried to. But there's this annoying voice in the back of one's head when one knows that one must go to work soon. It won't let one rest easy. At least my voice won't. But, nevertheless, I stayed right where I was, in my warm, soft bed, with my husband snuggling next to me, for another hour or so.

But the clock won't stop, even if I want it to. So up I got. Dressed I got. And I even had makeup on.

It took me about three minutes.

I am the queen of quick readiness - in the mornings, that is.

Coffee in hand, I rushed out the door, watching as my husband waved goodbye from the house.

Enter Working Wife.

Working Wife goes to work, so that money can be made so that bills can be paid.

But, about four and a half hours later, I became House Wife once more.

I must say, I much prefer House Wife.

House Wife went home, and then whisked herself out the door to run to the grocery store (and the library, where she got lost in the used paperback book sale. She came home with 7, but she'd only spent $3.74).

Back again, the house had to be straightened. And the plants watered. And dinner started.

All in a days work.

My husband was having a conversation with a girl about a certain movie we had all just seen. He asked her if she liked it. Her answer was "Well, the women in it were working. I don't think women should work."

Of course, she didn't mean that she didn't think women should work at all - just not work outside the house.

I happen to have similar views on the subject, but not quite.

You see, I'm a Working Wife.

My views on women in the workforce have varied as I grew up. But they have settled down for the past few years.

I believe that God designed women to be in the home. I believe that he created them to cook, clean, watch their babies, and be good mothers and wives. I think that is the norm. The norm should be that our women are staying home.

But, that doesn't mean that all women who work outside of the home are sinning. Or that they are wrong. Circumstances can force all sorts of things on women. God can have different plans for different people's lives. That's between them and God.

For me, it came down to being a helper to my husband.

God created Woman to be Man's helper.

How can I best help and serve my husband?

By making some money.

It is really very simple. Right now, my husband needs me to help him by going to work to make some money. We are a very young, poor couple. We're still in college. My husband is just starting out as a Real Estate Agent. And so, we need both of us making money.

And I am ok with that.

Right now, in order to help my husband, I'll be a Working Wife for him. And also a House Wife. (Because he does love those home cooked meals!)

And in the future, if God should bless us with children, I will, God willing, stay home with them and be a full-time, stay-at-home mom/housewife! I am totally looking forward to it. But right now, God's got me here. And I’m glad to be a helpmeet to my husband. However that may look.

Lesson Five: Be a helper to your husband however he needs you to be.