Post by Philos Connections on May 31, 2007 16:33:33 GMT -5
Here's part two. If you haven't read part one, it may help to go back and read it for this to make sense........
You wrote:
Can't we have older women helping us to learn our jobs as mothers and giving us hope that one day we will have the option of doing other things as the Lord leads?
What other things are you speaking of? See, as a woman grows and learns her job as a mother - there will be a whole new generation of young mothers who need be taught and it is the older woman's job to teach, encourage, and train them. Still, your question sounds as though raising children is just something to get through and "hope for that one day when we will have the option of doing other things" - I personally don't ever want to get rusty in mothering - I am a grandmother now - I have a daughter-in-law and soon will have another (my oldest son is getting married in August) - my "mothering" will never be over or finished.
When all is said and done - I'll probably have 10 children instead
of 5 if all of mine get married. Then if they accept God's norm of
bringing children into the world - there will be another generation
for me to pour my life into. It never ends in this life till Jesus
comes. I better not ever get rusty.
You wrote:
When talking about Mrs. Lotz and Mrs. Briscoe, you discuss their frustration with mothering. Although I get your point about how they were not encouraged to find joy and fulfillment in mothering, do you honestly feel as though every women will LOVE IT? My friend struggles. She loves her children, she loves her family, but she doesn't love the job of mothering. After reading the article, it seems that you leave no room for women of all makes and temperaments. I do believe that mothering is a choice. I know older ladies that gave their children their all, but they are glad that season is over with. They don't miss the diapers, the dirty dishes, or constant laundry....but they were diligent and committed during that season.
I don't know your friend, but if I had some time with her, I would
ask her why she struggles. And I would ask her if there is a
misplaced longing to be somewhere other than where God has placed her. One of the biggest reasons so many young women struggle with mothering is because they are trying to do too many other things at the same time. They want it all. I know women with young children who are gifted Bible teachers and I tell them all the time - teach your children the Bible - teach children!
If your friend has a husband and children, they are her priority -
they are her fulltime job - and a fulltime job cannot be done
properly in a woman's spare time. It is not a hobby - it is a
calling. If God has given children to your friend, then she is
called to be a mother. And we have to ask God to give us the heart for it - an undivided heart. Yes, there are struggles with any calling and/or job. I immediately think of Jonah whom God had called to go to Ninevah but he did not want to go. His struggle with his calling didn't relieve him of his responsibility or his obedience to God.
Most women, I believe, just need a fresh perspective about this
high and holy calling. God never promised us that being a wife or
mother or homemaker would be easy. What job is? I mean, really?
In fact, God's curse on women was in these very areas. God didn't change His plan because Eve sinned - she'd still be a helper to her husband and mother to children - yet now these areas in her life would bring struggle. This is the VERY REASON God says that young women must be taught even to love their husbands and children.
This is the very reason older women are supposed to know doctrine as it relates to home and family. Temperaments have nothing to do with it. I constantly have to bring my feelings, attitudes, and selfishness under the scrutiny of God's Word. He is the One Who gave this calling to women. Not me.
I am a sinful fallen woman who wants what I want - yet God hasn't given up on me. Satan is always there tempting women to place everything and anything above His calling - even good, spiritual things.
Now, about your saying that you believe mothering is a "choice."
Do you mean the choice to have children? Or the choice to mother them? Mothering is not a choice - God is the author of life. He is the One Who opens and closes the womb even though we think we have it all under control.
If a woman chooses to get married - then the physical act brings
forth children. That's God's plan - His way. He wants His people
to raise a godly heritage and once again this job cannot be done in our spare time.
We're seeing as a nation what is happening when women celebrate themselves so much that they don't invest the best hours of their days to their families.
Also, just because a woman is past the diapering, dirty dishes,
constant laundry stage in her own life (though frankly, I don't
know if that ever ends unless you have a full time housekeeper -
smiles), doesn't mean that any of that was demeaning or beneath her. Those very things are humble service - a way to demonstrate to our families what Jesus taught when He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
Women have far too long screamed for the place of honor - rather than humble service. It is in the home we learn to be like Jesus.
Any woman can be all spiritual with her Christian friends at a
women's retreat. But the rubber meets the road in the home. I
could teach on this the rest of my life and still not even scratch
the surface.
Well, I guess I have just about written a book - in between taking care of my grandson, Jack and my thirteen-year-old
son, Jameson. Jameson flew up to Boston with me to help out but he has been throwing up all day so I have been taking care of both of them!
Thank you again for taking the time to write. Occasionally I feel
compelled to write a long answer - this was one such time. I hope I didn't blow you away!
I pray God's blessings on you and your family.
Audrey Broggi
You wrote:
Can't we have older women helping us to learn our jobs as mothers and giving us hope that one day we will have the option of doing other things as the Lord leads?
What other things are you speaking of? See, as a woman grows and learns her job as a mother - there will be a whole new generation of young mothers who need be taught and it is the older woman's job to teach, encourage, and train them. Still, your question sounds as though raising children is just something to get through and "hope for that one day when we will have the option of doing other things" - I personally don't ever want to get rusty in mothering - I am a grandmother now - I have a daughter-in-law and soon will have another (my oldest son is getting married in August) - my "mothering" will never be over or finished.
When all is said and done - I'll probably have 10 children instead
of 5 if all of mine get married. Then if they accept God's norm of
bringing children into the world - there will be another generation
for me to pour my life into. It never ends in this life till Jesus
comes. I better not ever get rusty.
You wrote:
When talking about Mrs. Lotz and Mrs. Briscoe, you discuss their frustration with mothering. Although I get your point about how they were not encouraged to find joy and fulfillment in mothering, do you honestly feel as though every women will LOVE IT? My friend struggles. She loves her children, she loves her family, but she doesn't love the job of mothering. After reading the article, it seems that you leave no room for women of all makes and temperaments. I do believe that mothering is a choice. I know older ladies that gave their children their all, but they are glad that season is over with. They don't miss the diapers, the dirty dishes, or constant laundry....but they were diligent and committed during that season.
I don't know your friend, but if I had some time with her, I would
ask her why she struggles. And I would ask her if there is a
misplaced longing to be somewhere other than where God has placed her. One of the biggest reasons so many young women struggle with mothering is because they are trying to do too many other things at the same time. They want it all. I know women with young children who are gifted Bible teachers and I tell them all the time - teach your children the Bible - teach children!
If your friend has a husband and children, they are her priority -
they are her fulltime job - and a fulltime job cannot be done
properly in a woman's spare time. It is not a hobby - it is a
calling. If God has given children to your friend, then she is
called to be a mother. And we have to ask God to give us the heart for it - an undivided heart. Yes, there are struggles with any calling and/or job. I immediately think of Jonah whom God had called to go to Ninevah but he did not want to go. His struggle with his calling didn't relieve him of his responsibility or his obedience to God.
Most women, I believe, just need a fresh perspective about this
high and holy calling. God never promised us that being a wife or
mother or homemaker would be easy. What job is? I mean, really?
In fact, God's curse on women was in these very areas. God didn't change His plan because Eve sinned - she'd still be a helper to her husband and mother to children - yet now these areas in her life would bring struggle. This is the VERY REASON God says that young women must be taught even to love their husbands and children.
This is the very reason older women are supposed to know doctrine as it relates to home and family. Temperaments have nothing to do with it. I constantly have to bring my feelings, attitudes, and selfishness under the scrutiny of God's Word. He is the One Who gave this calling to women. Not me.
I am a sinful fallen woman who wants what I want - yet God hasn't given up on me. Satan is always there tempting women to place everything and anything above His calling - even good, spiritual things.
Now, about your saying that you believe mothering is a "choice."
Do you mean the choice to have children? Or the choice to mother them? Mothering is not a choice - God is the author of life. He is the One Who opens and closes the womb even though we think we have it all under control.
If a woman chooses to get married - then the physical act brings
forth children. That's God's plan - His way. He wants His people
to raise a godly heritage and once again this job cannot be done in our spare time.
We're seeing as a nation what is happening when women celebrate themselves so much that they don't invest the best hours of their days to their families.
Also, just because a woman is past the diapering, dirty dishes,
constant laundry stage in her own life (though frankly, I don't
know if that ever ends unless you have a full time housekeeper -
smiles), doesn't mean that any of that was demeaning or beneath her. Those very things are humble service - a way to demonstrate to our families what Jesus taught when He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
Women have far too long screamed for the place of honor - rather than humble service. It is in the home we learn to be like Jesus.
Any woman can be all spiritual with her Christian friends at a
women's retreat. But the rubber meets the road in the home. I
could teach on this the rest of my life and still not even scratch
the surface.
Well, I guess I have just about written a book - in between taking care of my grandson, Jack and my thirteen-year-old
son, Jameson. Jameson flew up to Boston with me to help out but he has been throwing up all day so I have been taking care of both of them!
Thank you again for taking the time to write. Occasionally I feel
compelled to write a long answer - this was one such time. I hope I didn't blow you away!
I pray God's blessings on you and your family.
Audrey Broggi