I've been hearing that description often lately, sturdy woman, and for a very good reason. A sturdy woman is a lady who is not weak or lazy or foolish. She knows her mind, what she believes and why. She is ready to work and doesn't complain. She is prepared to battle against this world's prince of darkness by whatever means God calls her to. She is brave and she is able, but she is not independent of the Lord. She needs the men God has placed in her life and she seeks to encourage and build them up.
Our Pastor has been preaching about this sturdy woman for the past couple of weeks- I've really been enjoying the sermons and I'm glad we get to hear more a third week! But the real reason I've been hearing about this woman is because there is one who exemplifies her in my life.
She is my sister.
She has been ready to be a mom and a wife since she was in her early teens. She knew that was God's high calling for women, so she rose to meet that goal. She is every bit the woman I described in the first paragraph and I am so inspired by her! There are times that I miss her dreadfully, but I know that she is fulfilling her role in God's Kingdom and there is no better place for her (and she's got a super husband, so that is reassuring).
Peter Marshall once wrote to the women of America:
It is a much nobler thing to be a good wife than to be Miss America.
It is a greater achievement to establish a Christian home than it is to produce a second-rate novel, filled with filth.
It is a far, far better thing in the realms of morals to be old-fashioned than to be ultra-modern.
The world has enough women who know how to hold their cocktails, who have lost all their illusions and their faith.
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 woman who are popular.
It needs more who are pure.
I love you Kayla!!
5 comments:
What great pionts.
I've been been missing your posting because you always have such wonderful things to say.
I am a smart, brilliant woman who is also brave. I am a woman who is old-fashioned in some respects but ultra modern in others. I am neither popular nor pure (at least by the Christian standards). I do not enjoy cocktails but hold fast to my morals (I do not attach myself to any particular religion). My higher purpose in life is to teach and to lead, not to be subservient to a husband or to birth children.
Please keep in mind that the narrower your statements about the Christian faith, the more people you alienate that might have found a different path with the Lord than you hold dear. You cannot know what the Lord has called other women to do, and if it is different than what you have described in your entry, it is not your place to tell them that what they have been called to do is any less than what you do. A person's faith, path, and life's work is between themselves and their god.
Keep that in mind when you tell a Christian career woman that she should be back in the kitchen building up her husband, disciplining the children, and building a good Christian home. That is essentially what you are doing with this blog.
It might be your path, but it is not the only way to serve.
Thanks Tasha! You're so encouraging!
Anonymous- My intention was not to demean smart or brilliant people. They are creatures of God who have been give the gift of knowledge. This post was simply to uplift, honor and encourage my sister. As for my view on the role of a woman, well I didn't make it up myself- it comes straight from the Bible and if my standards are high and narrow, as you say, so be it. God will use His truth. I didn't purpose to offend anyone with this post and if you are offended by my entire blog, please do not feel as though you need to read it. I really don't know who you are, but I will be praying for you!
Thank you amanda for sharing, i love your posts and this one is great!
Thanks for that great post Amanda!
I'm sure Kayla is very happy to have a sister like you!
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