Home: a guest post by Mrs. Renee Stam

Home is more then the place you live in.


Have you ever try to explain to someone that you are a homemaker and what you do all day.

Some thinks that a homemaker is a domestic engineer, she cleans and cooks all day and her house looks like the "Better Home and Garden" magazine pictures. But lets face it, most of us (with young children) do not have that type of "well put together" home, and if we compare our house with those magazine, of course we feel like we don't measure up, that we failed as a homemaker. But reality is, life happen in our home, children have toys, they makes spills and write on our walls, and that is ok. We might not be the best housekeepers out there but that shouldn't stop us from being a HomeMaker.

Other view a homemaker as the one who is hospitable, who open her home to grand parties, with sophisticated food,  color coordinated table setting, she is the perfect hostess and people love attending dinner at her home. But really is she showing hospitality or is she entertaining her guest?

Showing hospitality means that the homemaker is seeking to serve needs of her guests.

If her guest needs food or a place to lodge, she will be willing to joyfully be at service, the food might be as simple as macaroni and cheese and a couch might be the place to rest for the night, but offered in love, in Christ love, this will have a greater impact. Maybe her guest needs to talk, to share his/her trouble, being there and willing to "really"listen to your guest, to pray for and with them, to share their burden, sorrow, pain and joy, all of this is part of showing hospitality.


What is a homemaker? what does she do? what would making HOME look like?


Making home could look different for my home then your, God each does give us gifts and different skills, to use for his glory. Making home does not need to cost us lots of money, nor should it be time consuming. Home should be a place where the people who are in it, either living there or just passing by, feel the love of Christ. Where they feel they can be open to share their pain, and joy, where they are welcome to eat and have fellowship, where they know they are prayed over.

But how can I make my home more ready to show hospitality.

• Keep a easy routine to keep certain area visitor ready, not asking to clean your home top to bottom, but dedicate a room or two that will be company ready, no clutter or toys etc, your children can help.
• Have a spot, kitchen table, couch etc... a place you can make comfortable to sit and have ~tea, coffee, juice, cookies ...~ where you can sit comfortably and be free to let you children, husband, guest open their heart.
• Get dress, do your hair, you never know who will pop up, be ready
• pray for your family, pray for your guest that are on their way, pray for opportunities to serve their needs.

Above all have cultivate a servant heart and spirit, share Christ love and smile lots.


Ps the pictures where taken at my mother inlaw home, I love the way she is maker her house a home, what a beautiful example of a homemaker. I love her.

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Guest Post from Mrs. Renee Stam @ The Growing Stam Family :)

I was having one of those days, the babe had been teething and did not sleep much and wanted to be rocked and nursed non stop, the middle child woke up grumpy and whiny for no apparent reason, and the oldest one decided that she couldn't do anything by herself and wanted to be near mama all the time!

I kept trying to keep the house in order, dishes, laundry, picking up the toys and tending our little ones needs trying to make them comfortable and happy.


The toddlers kept hitting each others buttons, every time the babe was almost asleep the oldest HAD to ask for milk, to have the potty light turn on even if the little stool to stand on for her to do it herself was in place, to fix her sock that were crocked on her feet, always ending up waking the almost sleeping baby and me needing to start the rocking/nursing all over again.

All day I was trying really hard to have a cheerful spirit, not to let them know that I was TIRED, that I didn't feel like serving them anymore.  That I wanted to be alone, and I kept feeling guilty for my selfish needs.


Around supper time, I felt drained, the house was still in a decent state, laundry and dishes were caught up and I made a huge pot of chili, knowing that the left overs come handy for the next day. I was alone again to serve supper to my crew, my dear husband was working late and I knew bed time was coming but was wondering if I would I have enough energy to do bath, pj's story and hugs and kisses.

I felt slightly overwhelm, a bit frustrated and trying my best not to get bitter. Looking down into my empty cup of water I taught "I have to get up again!"


I stood up with my cup in my hand, our oldest firmly told me:


" Sit down mama, Rebekah will do it"


She took a chair, brought it to the sink, fill my cup, brought the cup to me and left.Not waiting for a thank you, not waiting to be praised, she served me with a smile and ask nothing in return!


I thank God for this blessing, giving our little 3 1/2 years old such a great servant heart, while repenting of my shortcoming. With tears in my eyes I when to see her, give a big kiss and told her that I loved her.





"I  love you too Mama"


My bad day was all forgotten, it was now a clean slate, my energy was back and I knew It was going to be ok.

Little thing like homemaking can be a teachable moment both for kids and Mama's



I read a book a while ago, it transform my outlook of serving my family, I will encourage you to read it, click on the link below, I'm sure it will change you and bless you as it did me!



Mrs. Renee Stam

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