Creekside Garden

Beautiful, breathtaking experiences are often tucked away from civilization. Think of a grand mountain vista after a long arduous hike, magical waterfalls hidden among the foothills, and how stars shine their brightest in the loneliest places.

Motherhood can be painfully lonely. Homemakers toil day in and day out, making food, matching socks, cleaning up the same mess. Over and over again. At times, the monotony of diapers, naps, snacks, and playtime can feel like a hamster wheel. No escape in sight.

It was hard to leave the workplace, where my work was valued in dollars, where companionship with coworkers brought a sense of belonging, and there was a sense of being a part of something bigger than myself. Suddenly, instead of joking with coworkers, I am playing peekaboo with a peanut butter faced toddler hiding in the curtains. A toddler whose face looks exactly like the man I love, and a toddler whose heart loves mommy with everything he has. And I wouldn’t trade being there for anything else in the world.

Two worlds collide like oil and water in my heart. Grieving accomplishments, confidence, and skills of my old life and rejoicing at the beauty of this new role of Mommy and Homemaker. The everyday, common world of civilized 8-5 jobs sharply contrasts with the wild mountains of the 24-hour job of homemaker. A homemaker whose job is cultivating peace in a land ruled by barbaric natives with bedhead and naptime schedules.

Those barbarians might make me want to pull my hair out sometimes, but the bigger picture is vastly bigger than diapers and lunch crumbs. When working at my old job, I said that it felt good to be a part of something bigger than myself. Now, as a homemaker, I can’t even comprehend how important this role is. Instead of working 8-5, paying taxes, and earning money for a boss that didn’t care for me; I am now called to be my children’s mother. A mother who teaches, cares, and nurtures little people of the future. I am called to create a home for my husband to come home and rest in, a shelter from the storms of the world.

This cozy nest I have built is extremely lonely at times. I miss civilization, conversation, and friendly company. Homemaking is a high calling, but it is also a calling to be set apart from the rest of the modern world. A beautiful thing, a lonely fact. To stay sane, I must remember why I am here, why this is important, and who I am serving. The most beautiful flowers bloom in isolated places, and the most beautiful callings are a lonely path.

C.S. Lewis’ famous homemaker quote was pulled out of this letter he wrote to Mrs. Johnson on March 16, 1955. I love his thoughts on the subject.

“I think I can understand that feeling about a housewife’s work being like that of Sisyphus (who was the stone rolling gentleman). But it is surely, in reality, the most important work in the world. What do ships, railways, mines, cars, government etc exist for except that people may be fed, warmed, and safe in their own homes? As Dr Johnson said, ‘To be happy at home is the end of all human endeavour’. (1st to be happy, to prepare for being happy in our own real Home hereafter: 2nd, in the meantime, to be happy in our houses.) We wage war in order to have peace, we work in order to have leisure, we produce food in order to eat it. So your job is the one for which all others exist.”

C.S. Lewis

Homemakers, there is no place more important for us to be than home. There is no one who needs us more than our family.

I hope someone can find these thoughts encouraging ❤️

Love, Myah