Not sure I have my head wrapped around this too well yet, but here is what's on my mind....and I welcome comments!
In a session at the Homeschool Book Fair / Convention, the speaker shared this verse (the all caps part)....
"Say to the righteous, it will be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him. AS FOR MY PEOPLE, CHILDREN ARE THEIR OPPRESSORS, AND WOMEN RULE OVER THEM. Oh My people, those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your path. " Isaiah 3: 10-12.
This passage is an excerpt from a warning about God's impending judgment on Judah and Jerusalem. But it sure seems to me that it rings true with our society today as well, at least as far as what things are looking like around us.
Nonetheless this verse has grabbed me lately and I see it as a warning to parents, both moms and dads.
Dating back to Adam and Even in the garden, the woman has tried to be the influencer, the decision-maker, the "fixer" instead of submitting to the husband's authority. In today's world of corporate demands, the lure of power and position, and even in social science fields such as education, we see an increase of women in leadership roles. And BTW,
I don't know about you but one of the things I dislike most is being in a department meeting
with a few particular women who seem to have a need to be in control (and I'm NOT talking
about my boss - she is very humble, actually!) and tell others, who they feel are inferior to
themselves, what to do or not to do, etc.
But where are the children in all of this? At day care centers or public schools, etc. Now, before you think I'm a complete hypocrite, I do know these arrangements are necessary in some cases, but not all. So that is the part about the women ruling over them...
I've actually heard of fathers who said that their children were a drain or a drag! Their reasons for this are that the children are so costly and the fathers can't put money back for this or that... I have even heard people admit that they would rather have fine clothes and jewelery than to have kids, and that you have to choose one or the other!! So this is the part about the children being their oppressors.
But the Bible also says that children are a BLESSING from the Lord! So it is only when society has a culture of disobedience or wickedness that these judgments can come into play.
Where do you think we are in America today? Does this ring true to you?
Granted, some moms have no choice but to work and that is the way they can provide for their children, and that is acceptable. But another factor to women rising to power and being oppressed by the children IS that thing of materialism, and prestige in the workplace to the extent that women are finding their honor or identity in their career instead of in who they are in God. Let me be so bold as to say that if a husband can work and provide for the basic needs of his family (food, clothing, shelter, transportation) the woman's place is at home with the children, teaching and training the children up in the way they should go. But too often we (including myself) are not content with the basics, or having "enough." We want to keep up with Jones', so to speak.
If I had it to do over again, I would not get caught up in the things this world has to offer! I'd keep have Richard for my husband, even though he is unable to work, but I would be more content to have "enough" and not strive to have "more." That saying, "less is more" is so true in many ways! And let's face it. "Stuff" and positions bring lots of stress with them. If you have lots of stuff, you have to take care of it, store it, etc. And if you have a prestigious position at work, you have to often fight to keep it, or in many cases, at the very least you have to devote more time to your job.
There are days that I stay home from work just because I want to be a mom. My kids ask me every morning if I really have to go to work... and that it is just so hard, knowing they are still too young to understand. I often think of the things I'm missing with the kids (those little moments, expressions, etc) while I'm away at work, yet be happy for the time I do have with them.
So while I don't have any real solutions to this dilemma, I can say that I will work with my children to help them understand what God's design for a woman is, the calling of woman, of mom, of wife.
Another thing we do with our daughters is pray that God is now preparing the man they will one day marry. We pray that he will be saved at an early age and love the Lord, and that God would bring them together in due season. And most of all, that they WAIT for that right person, and they will know it because God will show them! By this maybe my husband and I can begin impacting the next generation not to be ruled over by women and be oppressed by children, but instead to realize the blessings of children!
Now, I don't think all women everywhere should quit their jobs tomorrow. I'm not quitting mine! I can't. I do encourage you to take time off when you can and just be "mom". Last summer I was really dreading summer because all my friends (other moms) were off for the summer to go do fun things with their kids and get caught up on household tasks. Not me. I'd be working all summer long. So one of them pulled me aside and suggested I talk to my boss about working less days this year. So I did. I was expecting a huge pay cut. But I reduced my days from 223 days to 215. That gave me another 8 days in the year to be with my kids and feel more like a "real" mom and wife. There was a slight decrease in pay, and at times it has been a little difficult, but God has provided our needs and I have no regrets. In fact, I plan to reduce my days a little bit each year until I'm only working the minimum days required of my position. So I encourage you to take steps to have more time as a family, to devote to mothering, to serving your husband and the Lord, or the Lord and your kids if you are a single mom. When children are young it is time to "embrace the call of mother" as my Pastor's wife says. And I don't know yet about older kids and all, but I can't help but think that preteens and teens REALLY need a strong mother and father figure to look up to!
Children are a BLESSING and to the largest extent possible, they need their mothers to guide, nurture, and prepare them for life. We don't want our path (as designed by God) to be destroyed!
Love and Blessings to You All : )
Dawn
In a session at the Homeschool Book Fair / Convention, the speaker shared this verse (the all caps part)....
"Say to the righteous, it will be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him. AS FOR MY PEOPLE, CHILDREN ARE THEIR OPPRESSORS, AND WOMEN RULE OVER THEM. Oh My people, those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your path. " Isaiah 3: 10-12.
This passage is an excerpt from a warning about God's impending judgment on Judah and Jerusalem. But it sure seems to me that it rings true with our society today as well, at least as far as what things are looking like around us.
Nonetheless this verse has grabbed me lately and I see it as a warning to parents, both moms and dads.
Dating back to Adam and Even in the garden, the woman has tried to be the influencer, the decision-maker, the "fixer" instead of submitting to the husband's authority. In today's world of corporate demands, the lure of power and position, and even in social science fields such as education, we see an increase of women in leadership roles. And BTW,
I don't know about you but one of the things I dislike most is being in a department meeting
with a few particular women who seem to have a need to be in control (and I'm NOT talking
about my boss - she is very humble, actually!) and tell others, who they feel are inferior to
themselves, what to do or not to do, etc.
But where are the children in all of this? At day care centers or public schools, etc. Now, before you think I'm a complete hypocrite, I do know these arrangements are necessary in some cases, but not all. So that is the part about the women ruling over them...
I've actually heard of fathers who said that their children were a drain or a drag! Their reasons for this are that the children are so costly and the fathers can't put money back for this or that... I have even heard people admit that they would rather have fine clothes and jewelery than to have kids, and that you have to choose one or the other!! So this is the part about the children being their oppressors.
But the Bible also says that children are a BLESSING from the Lord! So it is only when society has a culture of disobedience or wickedness that these judgments can come into play.
Where do you think we are in America today? Does this ring true to you?
Granted, some moms have no choice but to work and that is the way they can provide for their children, and that is acceptable. But another factor to women rising to power and being oppressed by the children IS that thing of materialism, and prestige in the workplace to the extent that women are finding their honor or identity in their career instead of in who they are in God. Let me be so bold as to say that if a husband can work and provide for the basic needs of his family (food, clothing, shelter, transportation) the woman's place is at home with the children, teaching and training the children up in the way they should go. But too often we (including myself) are not content with the basics, or having "enough." We want to keep up with Jones', so to speak.
If I had it to do over again, I would not get caught up in the things this world has to offer! I'd keep have Richard for my husband, even though he is unable to work, but I would be more content to have "enough" and not strive to have "more." That saying, "less is more" is so true in many ways! And let's face it. "Stuff" and positions bring lots of stress with them. If you have lots of stuff, you have to take care of it, store it, etc. And if you have a prestigious position at work, you have to often fight to keep it, or in many cases, at the very least you have to devote more time to your job.
There are days that I stay home from work just because I want to be a mom. My kids ask me every morning if I really have to go to work... and that it is just so hard, knowing they are still too young to understand. I often think of the things I'm missing with the kids (those little moments, expressions, etc) while I'm away at work, yet be happy for the time I do have with them.
So while I don't have any real solutions to this dilemma, I can say that I will work with my children to help them understand what God's design for a woman is, the calling of woman, of mom, of wife.
Another thing we do with our daughters is pray that God is now preparing the man they will one day marry. We pray that he will be saved at an early age and love the Lord, and that God would bring them together in due season. And most of all, that they WAIT for that right person, and they will know it because God will show them! By this maybe my husband and I can begin impacting the next generation not to be ruled over by women and be oppressed by children, but instead to realize the blessings of children!
Now, I don't think all women everywhere should quit their jobs tomorrow. I'm not quitting mine! I can't. I do encourage you to take time off when you can and just be "mom". Last summer I was really dreading summer because all my friends (other moms) were off for the summer to go do fun things with their kids and get caught up on household tasks. Not me. I'd be working all summer long. So one of them pulled me aside and suggested I talk to my boss about working less days this year. So I did. I was expecting a huge pay cut. But I reduced my days from 223 days to 215. That gave me another 8 days in the year to be with my kids and feel more like a "real" mom and wife. There was a slight decrease in pay, and at times it has been a little difficult, but God has provided our needs and I have no regrets. In fact, I plan to reduce my days a little bit each year until I'm only working the minimum days required of my position. So I encourage you to take steps to have more time as a family, to devote to mothering, to serving your husband and the Lord, or the Lord and your kids if you are a single mom. When children are young it is time to "embrace the call of mother" as my Pastor's wife says. And I don't know yet about older kids and all, but I can't help but think that preteens and teens REALLY need a strong mother and father figure to look up to!
Children are a BLESSING and to the largest extent possible, they need their mothers to guide, nurture, and prepare them for life. We don't want our path (as designed by God) to be destroyed!
Love and Blessings to You All : )
Dawn
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