image courtesy
What is "real" womanhood?
I find our culture in a sad state of confusion over the role and duty and demeanor of Womankind.
Is clothing meant to cover- or cajole?
Are men protectors- or predators?
Is home life a burden- or a blessing?
Are children our great assets- or our greatest liabilities?
An honest soul lamented, “This business of womanhood is a heavy burden.”
Finding our way amidst the confusion of a culture gone awry... that is the greatest burden placed upon the shoulders of young women today.
When the culture is implacable, and the church is silent...
When grandmothers are resigned, and mothers are disillusioned...
When manhood is scorned and leadership is exchanged for passivity...
What is left of womanhood?
"We hear about every other type of women: beautiful women, smart women, sophisticated women, career women, talented women, divorced women..."The world has enough women who know how to be smart. It needs women who are willing to be simple. The world has enough women who know how to be brilliant. It needs some who will be brave. The world has enough women who are popular. It needs more who are pure."We need women... who would rather be morally right than socially correct." (Peter Marshall)
My dear sisters, until we are untangled from the world's lies, we will not be free to embrace and live out God's Truths. As Christian daughters, wives, and mothers, it is high time we tune out the clamor of the world, turn off the sitcoms, and ask ourselves the question-
What does God say about womanhood?
The world says: A woman's body is a tool for sex.
God says: Our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14), with the ability to bless our husbands (Proverbs 5:1-20) and nurture our children (Isaiah 66:10-13).
The world says: Outward beauty defines the woman.
God says: Character and integrity are to be held in higher regard than outward appearance (I Peter 3:1-5, Proverbs 31;30).
The world says: A woman has the right to dress and live as she pleases, without regard for those around her.
God says: Modest dress is a necessary trait- we are our brother's keeper and will be held accountable if we provoke him to lust (I Timothy 2:8-10, Matthew 5:27 & 28).
The world says: A woman's highest goal should be to draw attention to herself and solicit the admiration of men.
God says: The purpose of an unmarried woman is to please and serve the Lord, and the attention of a wife should be focused on pleasing her husband (I Corinthians 7:32-35).
The world says: Fertility and child-bearing are a burden to be avoided.
God says: The cycles and seasons of life have a purpose, and should be embraced with thankfulness and wisdom (Eccclesiastes 3:1).
The world says: Children are an encumbrance to personal fulfillment and success.
God says: Children are the heritage of the Lord- a blessing, not a burden (Psalm 127:3-5, Psalm 128:1-6).
The world says: A woman can never reach her full potential when she is subservient to a man.
God says: Women were created in God's image (Genesis 1:27), with the purpose of helping and working along side their husbands (Genesis 2:21-24).
The world says: Domestic affairs are a waste of a woman's talents and intelligence.
God says: Managing a home and caring for a family is a high calling (Proverbs 31:26-28, Titus 2:1-5).
-----------------------------
Our culture has sold us a bill of goods concerning womanhood.
Somewhere, somehow, we have lost our way on this journey. The Old Paths have been forsaken and generations of women have reaped the consequences of believing The Lie: Yea, hath God said?
Yet, God's Word stands true. The promises, the patterns, the principles... all remain. Unchanging.
What will we believe?
**************
Kristy Howard is a believer in Jesus Christ, a pastor’s wife, and homeschooling mother of four.
**************
Kristy Howard is a believer in Jesus Christ, a pastor’s wife, and homeschooling mother of four. She is passionate about living simply, naturally, and Biblically for the glory of God.
Kristy is the editor and owner of LittleNaturalCottage.com, where she furiously writes about her loves during nap time. She is also the author of the Cottage Mama ebooks The Cottage Mama's DIY Guide, Wholesome (make ahead) Mixes, and Holiday Gifts and Mixes in a Jar.
10 comments:
This is a post for all women to read. Thank you for for posting. I can't believe how true it is. Woman need to look to the Book for their lessons in life, not the media.
I really appreciate this post. My husband and I are in the midst of a class at church based on the book "Love and Respect", and I'm learning so much about God's definition of womanhood.
In my marriage, you know when we see the most conflict and struggle? When we're both fighting against the roles God has called us to, and we think we/society knows better and we go that route. But when we embrace and strive for the amazing relationship of marriage described in Scripture, and the Biblical roles that come with that, our home has peace.
Thanks for the reminder and encouragement this morning.
Kristy! Such a beautiful, encouraging and convicting post!
I'm blessed that both my mother and mother-in-law embraced their calling as women. It's such a blessing for me to be able to learn from them and seek to follow their example.
Many don't have the same blessed heritage, but as a dear friend said, "I am so excited that, by grace, I get to create a better legacy for my daughters!"
Anna, so very true!
Thank you, ladies, for the kind words and feedback. Lisa certainly said it right: when we fight against the roles God has placed us in, our marriages suffer.
LOVE the book, Love and Respect. Highly recommend it!
Amazing. So needed this today!
this was a great post. Thank you for saying all that is in my heart for women!
I love this, because I went through this struggle of realizing what I was called to be as a woman. I was so confused, because I was raised by my own mother to believe almost everything you had written up there under what our culture says. I was a feminist, thought children and a husband would drag me down, thought the show "Sex and the City" was so cool...how wrong I was. But I thank God that he opened my eyes and gently led me back down the correct path. I'm so fulfilled being a wife and mother, much more fulfilled than I ever was with a degree in my hand and a career. I wish all women could see this post! Thank you so much for sharing.
Such a beautiful post, I am so glad I stopped by today. I need these reminders.
Such a beautiful post. I so desire to be the woman He created me to be. Blessings to you for sharing this.
Darlene
What a joy to find your site today! This is a great post and I truly look forward to exploring more of your blog. Thank you for encouraging Christian women, all women, to embrace the joys we are called forward to live out
Post a Comment