The Going-away Mentality

What is a going-away mentality? It is the mentality that we need an abundance of social activities that make us run hither and yon to have a good time and do fun things. It means going shopping, mostly just to see what is there and to have something to do. It means going to see a friend, even though we just saw her last evening in church. Sometimes it means committee meetings, birthday surprises, baby showers, Tupperware parties, or something similar. We are restless and discontent unless we have somewhere to go. This mentality gnaws at family life a little like a dog gnaws at a bone, and soon nothing is left. It takes a family to have family life, and if part of the family is missing, the circle is not complete.

One of God's commands to mothers is that we be "keepers at home" (Titus 2:5). If we keep busy with our household duties as the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31, and if we do our share in teaching and training our children as outlined in Deuteronomy 6, we will be kept occupied at home.

We mothers influence the way children think about going away or staying at home. Do we take time to put puzzles together with Susie, have a tea party with the little girls, or make taffy to pull for just us? Do we listen carefully while Philip explains how he makes a bluebird house, and do we help Cindy research about toads? Do we help Bertha decide what is wrong with the shading in her picture even if we are no skilled in art? Our genuine interest in our children's projects makes for a stay-at-home family. There is less interest in casual going away because many interesting things at home occupy our time.

~ Excerpt by Ruth Mast, Who Can Find a Virtuous Woman, 

Rod and Staff Publishers