Then Saul outfitted David as a soldier in armor. He put his bronze helmet on his head and belted his sword on him over the armor. David tried to walk but he could hardly budge. David told Saul, “I can’t even move with all this stuff on me….And he took it all off. 1Samuel 17:38-39
Considering the current political uproar of a female V.P. candidate, Sarah Palin, I wanted to, again, comment on women’s roles in society. It is possible to be both strong, moral, and feminine. I am thankful to the new generation of women that are rising up, women I am proud to point to my girls as examples and role model. In the past we have had such extremes, either left or right. I am glad to see women who love God, love their children and their husbands, and can be leaders in their communities, churches, and in the world. This is the example I want for my life, and for my daughters:
Have you ever heard the insult “You fight like a girl”? Well, have you ever seen a mother fight when her child has been threatened. No man has ever been so tough. While women may not be as physically strong as men, God has created a resolve and inner strength in women that rivals any man’s muscle. Thus the saying, “Behind every good man is a good woman”. It is her inner-strength and resolve, not his muscle, that has pushed through to greatness. Genesis clearly shows that women are not the problem, but the solution. God says “It is not good for man to be alone”, and then he proceeded to create the beautiful specimen called WOMAN! Therefore, I have always been confused by the outspoken groups who obviously hate men, but apparently hate being a woman. And while I am very confused by their contradictions, I am very much in favor of any gender or race doing or being anything they want to be. I believe if a woman wants to be President of the United States she can. ( However, I vote for my political leaders based on their ethics, morals, and political views, not their race or gender.)
With two girls, it is very important to teach them that they can do anything they want to do in life. So here is my thing. Why would I ever tell them they can do anything a man can do? Who ever decided that “man” was the standard for what can be accomplished. I say that my girls can do ANYTHING they want to do, period. This encompasses being an athlete, being a leader, being a scientist, being a construction worker, and also… being feminine, being lady-like, being a Princess, liking the color pink, and choosing it as the color to paint their fingernails.
Lisa Bevere’s book, “Fight Like A Girl, The Power Of Being A Woman” helps best define my beliefs of being a woman; we have something to offer this world that no man can. How can a woman feel good about being female when society paints it as a negative thing? Why is it that our success as a woman is measured and weighed by that of a man? Why can it not be that being feminine actually brings its own strength to the table?
So my desire for this generation of young women is to swing the pendulum back into balance. I want to teach my daughter that she can be anything she wants to be in life, Doctor, Lawyer, Minister, Athlete, U.S. President, ballet dancer, Olympic Champion of Catapulting, or Stay-At-Home-Mom and Devoted wife. Whatever she desires to be is encouraged by me. (I would discourage the pole dancer thing, seems degrading no matter what your views 🙂 ) I want to help her embrace femininity and know that she has something to offer to society because she is a strong woman, not in spite of it. I believe that difference between the sexes does not mean inequality, but rather that we each have our own strength. Just like when David tried to wear Saul’s armor, it was not wrong for Saul, but it was not fitted for David. His strength and defense was different. I want our daughters to view femininity as our greatest strength, not our greatest weakness. Instead of my girls trying to adapt to the ill-fitted mold of a man, I want them to see the power God has given them to make their mark on the world… as a woman.