When I browse through magazines or read the news, it is commonplace to read articles telling women that you can do it all — which is another way of saying you can have it all.  After all, who wants to “do everything?”  It’s really about having everything: reputation, meaningful employment, money, cars, family, house, vacations, etc.

The common wisdom espoused by our broader culture tells women: you can have a full-time job outside of the home, be a faithful mother, be a desirable wife, and enjoy all the possible blessings thereof (including happy well-adjusted children).  What most of these sources neglect to address, however, is that even though most women can do it all, the vast majority cannot do it “all” well. In order to do something well (for example, your job at the office) you need to devote time and energy to the job.  In order to raise children and do it well, you need to devote even more time and energy.  When women are split between two full-time commitments, it is nearly impossible to do ithem all well.  Something’s gotta give! The same could be said of men, though it is usually the role of mothers to stay at home.  When both parents are working, it is often the case that both parents are not necessarily able to pull everything off well.

The corollary to this typical thinking, by the way, is that far too often, stay-at-home moms are looked down upon by our culture for “giving up” (a fair use of the word) the opportunity to be in the workforce for the sake of their children.

But I believe this is akin to criticizing an athlete for the opportunity to relax on a couch, instead exerting himself to train and be best in class.  Despite what we hear all around us, some jobs — especially the job of being a parent — cannot be scheduled, outsourced or juggled without losing something along the way.  Of course, I am primarily thinking of those who have a choice, not those such as single parents or the like.

What then? We Christians need to examine our lifestyle choices and make choices according to the Scriptures.  We need to realize that what is eternal (for example, the souls of our children) is far more important than what is temporal (material comforts).  We need to weigh carefully under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and His Word whether we’ve sought the whole world only to lose our souls.