Last Updated on February 24, 2024
This goes out to all of the moms who went to school and now choose to stay at home!
1 – A degree is an experience. You’re the mom, the wife, the woman, and the believer you are because you chose to work hard for years to love the Lord your God with all your mind. And it’s holistic—you educated your heart, your body, your hands, your social skills. Higher education is an opportunity available to a very small percentage of people in the word. It is a gift and a blessing. We’ve been blessed so we can bless others! That means your kids, your husband, your church, and endless other possibilities.
[verse reference=”Proverbs 31:11-12″]The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. [/verse]
2 – It is a good thing when we have educated people discipling and educating the next generation. In fact, your professors and your child’s teachers teach young people, as you do. We don’t think their degrees are worthless.
[verse reference=”Proverbs 31:26″]She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.[/verse]
3 – Aside from God’s sovereignty, would you be where you are now if you didn’t go to school? I met my husband in college, as I’m guessing a lot of you did. And college led to further life experiences that were clearly in God’s plan for me. Many of you got away from home and made a lot of life decisions as you changed. Many of you worked long hours and/or accrued personal debt to invest in something you thought was valuable, however intangible.
[verse reference=”Proverbs 31:25″]Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future. [/verse]
4 – You are doing one of the most valuable jobs in the world! You don’t need a degree. But why wouldn’t you want yours? We educate our own daughters to hone their God-given skills and abilities into assets for the world around them. Billions of tax dollars are poured into this, and they are well worth it.
[verse reference=”Proverbs 31:17-18″]She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She senses that her gain is good; her lamp does not go out at night. [/verse]
5 – You will likely not be a stay-at-home mom forever, and you are not a stay-at-home mom only. Yours is an honored role! But you do other things as well. Your degree makes you an asset as a wise steward in and of your family and its resources. You benefit society on your own and by raising strong children. You are equipped for further ministry now and when your children leave home.
[verse reference=”Proverbs 31:13, 16, 24″]She looks for wool and flax and works with her hands in delight. She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies belts to the tradesmen.[/verse]
P.S. Guess what Scripture passage I studied in college?
Thank you. I am not currently a stay-at-home mom, but I have been laid off and will be shortly a stay-at-home step-mom temporarily. This is very encouraging to me because I still end up educating our sons. Thank you again.
This is great! I have a Ph.D. (went to college for 11 years) and when I chose to leave my job and stay at home after my first son was a year old, I was constantly judged and told what a mistake I was making. That I should be earning money with that degree to save for my child's future education. But what about his "education" and training while he is so young? Should I leave that up to someone else? I think not! God gave me this time with my (now 2) sons and I want to treasure it as much as possible – it is priceless and no job or paycheck can replace it. I can never have my Ph.D. taken away from me and maybe one day I'll use it fully again, but in the mean time, I see many ways God uses that experience and education in my life and to direct my paths to where I am today! I am blessed!
This was great. I just finished my degree, but am choosing to stay at home forever. There is so much home-centered service this world needs. It was great encouragement to remember it is never, ever, a waste.
I wish I was able to read this when I was a SAHM. I constantly had to "defend" my choice to stay home while I "wasted" my degrees. I went back to work when my daughter entered Kindergarten. I am SO happy that I stayed home with her. I can't think of a better way to use my degrees than in raising a clean slate of a human being. 🙂 Thanks for the Props!
This was great for me to read! There are times when it feels like I wasted 4 years working so hard. The work I do now is much harder but worth so much more! In a society where I feel looked down upon for staying at home I am reminded of a God who smiles on my profession.