p. 12 | Woman as a Home Maker by Mrs. C. C. Lewis

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 28, 1914

Woman as a Home Maker

By Mrs. C. C. Lewis

MRS. C. C. LEWIS

God planted a home in Eden, and between that home and the one in eternity lies the home on earth. In this home all national progress and development have their origin. It has often been said, “The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.” We can see the force of this remark as we remember that society has its roots in the home; the government is built upon it.

The home is eternal in its influence for weal or woe. A man without a home is like a ship without a rudder. The individual is alone, but God set the solitary in families, and he recognizes the family on earth and the family in heaven. The home is far-reaching in its results. The children go out into the world bearing truth, honesty, and purity, or they give to posterity weakness, depravity, and woe.

Both father and mother are responsible for the kind of home they build. Whether doctor, lawyer, preacher, or laboring man, each goes forth bearing the atmosphere of his home, which will either blight or bless his associates.

But it is of the influence of woman in the home that I wish to speak especially. Julia McNair Wright speaks of it thus: “She makes her home a fountain of bitterness, or a wellspring of strength, bracing her husband’s good impulses, or developing his meaner instincts. She makes her home a model of economy, beauty, and propriety, or it is a false light of extravagance, spurring others to waste. Children are born into this home: they shall be in all their lines what this home makes them; the home never dies. Guests and servants come and go, and carry away its influence; but the home, like God its founder, abides without end.” How important, then, that our homes should be “a little heaven on earth to go to heaven in.”

Influence Over Her Husband

The good influence of woman in her home lies in her purity, her sincerity, and her faith in God. With these she may move mountains. We remember the mother of St. Augustine. Her husband was an idolater, cruel, and of a violent temper. It is said she was so patient he never heard a cross word in his home, and in answer to her prayers he was converted and became a Christian before his death. We might refer to many other wives in history who through their loyalty and devotion have led their dissipated companions up to sobriety and honor. But we need not go beyond the range of our own experience. Many a brave wife during the Civil War stayed by the stuff and fearlessly kept the wolf from the door, while her husband, with a courage born of such loyalty, stoutly set his face to the foe.

The story of Hans Egede and his faithful wife Elizabeth comes to my mind. Hans felt the call of God to carry the gospel to the Eskimos. At first Elizabeth’s faith was too weak to brave the dangers of that bleak, cold country. Like an indulgent husband, he gave up his desire, and for four years, as he mused, the fire still burned in his soul. Elizabeth, too, like Mary of old, kept all his sayings and pondered them in her heart. When again the call came, she was ready to go. Mrs. Ellis, in telling this story, exclaims, “A Christian woman’s faith! A power that, leaning on the arm of the Lord, knows neither discouragement nor failure; a power that takes up mountains and casts them into the sea!”

During the trying times in their new field of missionary effort the spirit of the brave pastor often fainted, but ever the true-hearted Elizabeth cheered him on.

Even before they set sail, one of the sailors on learning of their plans told them such terrible things about Greenland and the people that the good pastor felt he could not take his wife and children to such a cruel country. But Elizabeth’s faith had grown, slowly but surely; and laying her hand upon her husband’s arm, she said, “Hans, be a man and a true servant of God.” She told the people she could hear the heathen calling them to come and help them. “Husband,” she said, “in the name of God we must go.” Then she walked aboard the boat, and the people saw them sail away with the light of consecration shining in their faces.

At the end of a year, their supplies were exhausted, no news from home, no reenforcements, no provisions in sight for approaching winter. Some of the colonists determined to return, and urged the pastor to leave the unpromising field. Again the faith of his devoted wife saved the day. She said to them, “Are ye men, thus to counsel a retreat from the blessed work of God? What is it that hath broken your courage? Hunger? Then take the food which we have kept for our children. Take it and go, and leave us peacefully to our Lord’s will. The sails will come, God will not forsake us.” The people stood silent and ashamed, then resolved to wait awhile. In the evening a ship was sighted, and the colony had news from home, and food, and courage.

Influence Upon Her Children

But woman exerts her most powerful influence upon her children. This power in the lives of her children is like casting a pebble into the ocean; the circle widens in ever-increasing dimensions even unto many generations. Who can estimate the influence of a praying mother?

A young man was once asked while being examined for church membership, under whose preaching he was converted, to which he replied, “I was not converted under any one’s preaching. I was converted under my mother’s practicing.”

What the world needs today is not parents who preach, but parents who practice genuine piety; not more churches, but more family altars. I once read a little story somewhat like this: Several women were discussing the question of children’s meetings, when one of the women spoke up and said, “The best children’s meetings I ever attended were the ones mother used to hold with us. She was a hard-working woman, but in the afternoon she would tidy herself, and take the Bible and read to us. Then she would put her arms around us and pray. I never could forget those prayers.”

The influence of that mother was still active in the life of her daughter, who was herself a mother and a church worker.

Takoma Park, D. C.