Darrow Miller and Friends

The High Calling of Building a Family

In my family it was very important that I would have a professional career. My father often reminded me that I must never be dependent on anyone else. I was active in a family business, a school which our family had owned for generations. I earned my Bachelor Degree in School Psychology and did a specialty in Human Development and Neurological Organization.

Then I got married and had my first child. Due to my responsibilities at work I had to leave my baby boy in the house with a maid and before he was two I enrolled him in a nursery. That broke my heart. My second child, a baby girl, arrived premature and needed special care. I didn´t want to leave her in the care of others. That is when I became convinced by the Word and the Spirit that God was leading me to lay my job aside and devote myself to being a wife and mother. Many people, even in my closest circle, could not understand why I would leave such an “important” position to “take up a broom” and become a housewife. But I knew it was right, and I knew that the calling to be a mother was so much bigger than that.

family is mom's callingI spent six years in my home. I built a strong relationship with my children. I taught them and learned with them. I cooked meals, nurtured bodies, washed, talked, listened, laughed and cried. These were the richest years of my life. From these years God has brought wonderful fruit.

Proverbs 14:1 says, “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.” That rich verb “build” captures so much of what God designed the woman to be and to do. What a privilege to build a home!

“The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.”

God has a unique design, plan and purpose for each individual (Psalm 139, Eph 2:10). As the Divine Equipper of human workers, He carefully designed the home as the place for children to be instructed, nurtured, and guided for His plans and purposes to be fulfilled in earth.

The woman who chooses to be a homemaker arrives at a godly and wise decision. By this choice, she becomes a partner with God to fulfill His plans in the home. She is the “wise woman” who “builds her house.”

To build means “to edify, construct, make, cultivate, carve, form, bring out.” It implies action and willingness. The word in Hebrew for build is banah which means “make, pattern, plan.” A synonym is kun, which means “prepare, be ready, fix, establish.” In order to build, a woman must have a personal relationship with God. She must commune with Him, listening to His directions and following His steps. She builds with the Lord´s blessing; without Him it is impossible to build (Psalm 127:1).

A woman has multiple and diverse opportunities to build in her home. She is co-laboring with God to bring into existence what is already in His heart and mind. Through her love and care she is leading her children to the love of Christ.

She builds when she gets on her knees to pray by her childrens’ beds; when, alone in her house, she intercedes for each of them while they are away. She builds as she reads Bible stories at bedtime.

She builds as she respects and cares for her husband.

She builds as she prepares a meal, choosing the best groceries, planning a healthy and tasty menu, organizing an outdoor meal, cleaning the kitchen of germs, bacteria, and diseases.

She builds when she takes time to listen to her husband or children, when she hugs, when she runs and plays with them outside, or sits on the floor to share a table game on a rainy day.

She builds when she cleans her house and teaches her children to store their toys, when she does the laundry or sews their socks, when she sits up all night nursing them in their sickness.

She builds when she teaches them to enjoy and love creation, to respect and love one another. She builds when she creates opportunities to form Christ´s character in them.

When a woman makes the wise decision of becoming a homemaker, she builds God´s Kingdom in her house.

–  Cristina Inchaustegui

Cristina Inchaustegui loves her family Cristina Inchaustegui is a School Psychologist with a specialty in Functional Neurological Organization. She was born and raised in a family of educators. She has worked in education for more than 30 years, as a teacher, General Director, and School Psychologist. Recently she became Regional Director of the AMO® Program for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Cristina has been married for 28 years and has two children, Rafael Alfonso (26) and Lourdes Cristina (24). Her call is to listen and answer to the voice of God; her passion, to see a new generation raised to love and serve the Lord with a Biblical worldview; her conviction, that transformation for the nation begins in the home and at a school desk.

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9 Comments

  1. Jerry and Judy Jenness

    September 16, 2013 - 11:28 am

    Christina, Your life is such a reflection of the nature and character of Christ, you are a true blessing to His Body. Amo is fortunate to have you and Darrow Miller is as well!!!! Blessings, and love to you from Jerry and Judy in New Hampshire

  2. Karen Pelt

    September 17, 2013 - 6:14 pm

    Cristina, Thank you for an excellent account of a woman after God’s own heart. May the Lord continue to open the eyes of women and men to the heart of the Father for children and the family. For such a time as this, may we take the time to visit with God about His Kingdom and His way. May the Lord give us clear direction for heralding His heart to those around us.

  3. Esteban LS McCune

    September 17, 2013 - 7:05 pm

    Cristina, thank you for your life and ministry; God thank you for giving us the privilege to cross paths with Cristina last week during a seminar in Panamá. Cristina’s knowledge, wisdom, practical experience and her willingness to share will provide eternal returns on her investment.
    The AMO® books were so popular at the seminar that they quickly sold out. I soon found out why when I found their website at
    http://www.amoprogram.com
    Excellent resources in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish will help a lot here in Panamá. I hope to have some very positive feedback after we digest and share the material.
    Thank you very much for marking the difference between ‘very good’ and ‘the best’ and DOING it.

  4. Lourdes Cristina Poy Inchaustegui

    September 26, 2013 - 4:22 pm

    This is an article my mom writes of what is to be a “Homemaker” for the Darrow Miller’s and Friends Web Page!. I thank God for the mom I have and for the decision she made when I was a little girl, to build my character and to nurture my life pointing to the one who Gives me life. I can’t be more proud of her and I will always thank her for leading me to follow Jesus as the most important thing in my life and for always support me to fulfill God’s plans for me! I love you mom and I’m very proud of you, I’m the living result of everything you write about in that article, and I just can say: “thank you” for choosing to be a Home maker.

    • admin

      September 27, 2013 - 1:38 pm

      Dear Lourdes

      It is good to hear from you. Thank you for the tribute to your mother. She is a dear sister with great passion for her family and for education. I never fail to be amazed and surprised with the enthusiasm with which she teaches and interacts with people. In the DNA, we are grateful for the partnership with AMO and her work. Hope you are well.

      Darrow

  5. David Diaz Gell

    September 27, 2013 - 7:32 am

    Doy Fe y Testimonio del embarazo visionario de Cristina por el programa AMO desde que escucho hablar de EL. Desde el principio evidencio una pasion sobrenatural por el curriculo y la metodologia, es increible como hablaba en aquel entonces y se que habla con mayor profundidad hoy dia. Es un placer conocer a Cristina, su familia, su vision, su pasion y su ministerio.

    Dios te siga abriendo puertas y te de salud para que muchos ninos sigan disfrutando de esta fresca presentacion de la palabra de Dios desde una perspectiva integral.

    Tu amigo y hermano
    David Diaz Gell

    • admin

      September 27, 2013 - 1:40 pm

      Gracias, David.

      Gary Brumbelow

  6. Lynn Scrutton

    November 3, 2013 - 11:06 pm

    Good article. I once was walking across a parking lot with my three children after giving blood (a teachable moment), and a man yelled out across the parking lot, “A dying breed!!” He was referring to me as a mom with my children. Although I did not care for his approach, I understood his meaning. I also had decided to stay at home, and I would do it again and again. God provided numerous opportunities for building our relationships with one another and in our community. We had good times, we had rough times; all times have been used for good.

    Being a homemaker is viable, wonderful, and blessed decision to make.

    • admin

      November 4, 2013 - 3:32 am

      Lynn

      Thanks for your comments and for living a lovely life that model’s God’s intention. The man who yelled at you was indeed reflecting a dying culture, but not ” a dying breed.” Because of the anti-natal mindset, over 80 nations in the world today are living a cultural suicide, as it becomes vogue for women not to have babies. But there are those rebellious few who buck the trend, who know who they are,and who continue to form families and have children. May God bless you and may your tribe increase.

      Lynn, thanks again for writing,

      darrow

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