Dream Job

I had my ‘dream job’ – near enough – for about 25 years (then the job was externally-transformed changed into the usual, mainstream bureaucratic drudgery) – for which I am grateful.

But even a *dream* job is not enough to be the focus of a Man’s life.

At *best* (and few ever have this best) a dream job is a means to higher ends – and what then matters is those ends.

I got my dream job almost 33 years ago – wife, mother, homemaker. It is difficult for me to understand other women who want to leave home to work for someone else. I like being “the boss” and setting the work agenda and schedule. I like being able to take a mental health day when I need one. I like being the most important person in my husband’s and children’s lives. All our children are adults now and they all call me to check in, ask cooking questions, tell me about their achievements and share funny things that happen. Paydays are few and far between, vacations are practically non-existent, public accolades are really non-existent, but I have had the best (and most difficult) job in the world for me. I wouldn’t trade it for any other.

@Bruce. Charlton, hey Bruce!

That’s why I like the idea that whatever your job is is your “secondary vocation”, your primary vocation is basically being a Christian and good at being a Christian.

It’s great because I’ve seen with my own eyes, men who pour their everything into “a dream job”, and some of these jobs are quite salutary, but I see that it always ends. Eventually it goes away in the normal course of events. And then “who” are you?

@Rozy – I take your point, but of course the deeper point is that being a mother, wife, homemaker is Not a ‘job’. It is the opposite of a job – but loving human relationships.

Evil strategists have long been working on the project of making people conceptualize being wife, mother, homemaker (family life in general) as a set of jobs – which ‘ought to be’ paid, monitored and regulated by the state etc. – to prevent ‘abuses’ etc (because bureaucracy is SO much better at preventing abuses that loving parents).

Indeed the very definitions of family, wife, mother, homemaker etc have been officially changed (all over the world), so as to bring them under regulation and to subvert/ invert them.

This has now gone so far that I see no way of reforming the system (even if there were will to do so, which there is not) – the system itself will have to be allowed to Go, at whatever cost (which will be extremely high, I don’t doubt), or else All that is good in this mortal life will be redefined, monitored and regulated out of existence.

@Bruce – Actually I consider my role of wife, mother, and homemaker as my chosen career. A job is short term, a career seems to be more long term consisting of many “jobs”. It’s also an eternal role, at least the wife and mother parts are. (I hope that some ministering angels take care of all the mundane stuff in the eternities!)

The fact that “Evil strategists have long been working on the project of making people conceptualize being wife, mother, homemaker (family life in general) as a set of jobs – which ‘ought to be’ paid, monitored and regulated by the state etc. – to prevent ‘abuses’ etc (because bureaucracy is SO much better at preventing abuses that loving parents).” makes the prophetic and apostolic proclamation on The Family that much more important. I vividly remember sitting in the session of Women’s Conference (or whatever it was called back then) listening to Pres. Hinckley read it and thanking God for a Prophet, wiping tears off my face. I gave a talk about it, and shared it on my blog. http://plainandpreciousthing.blogspot.com/2012/03/family-proclamation-to-world.html
Some (many?) wondered why the prophets would proclaim something so recognized and accepted. Well, they’re not called prophets and seers for nothing. The current attacks on the family, and the role of women began long ago (at least 100 years) and have steadily gained traction and acceptance until the tactics and plans of Satan are completely out in the open and there is no middle ground any longer. Perhaps this is why the Lord warned us about preparation so that the church (and its members) could stand independent above all other creatures beneath the celestial world. D&C 78:14
I appreciate your comments!

Rozy, I always love your comments. I love the way you bear joyful testimony of motherhood. I read the talk you linked and really enjoyed that too. Thank you!

G, I love the story you shared in the post. I admire that woman both for the choice she made, and for sharing it in her testimony! That must have taken courage, because even in Latter-day Saint circles, I’ve noticed that people can be very defensive about their work situations! It sounds like she wasn’t trying to “make a point” but just share her experience—which is such a good way to testify!