Lord, this week we read, in the book of Esther,
that Queen Vashti ignored the King’s command and refused to come to
him. The King’s court was in shock. How dare she?
Well, my first inclination was to
say, “You go, girl!”
Later in the chapter, the King
declared throughout his kingdom that all women would give honor to
their husbands, high and low alike.
Some repressed bit of feminism welled
up inside me when I read that, and I was just a little bit peeved.
And then the king declared that every
man should be master in his own house -- and I found myself grinding
my teeth.
Why did those few lines bug me so
much?
I am not a stranger to Your word. I
know that Ephesians says that wives are to be subject to their
husbands. And First Peter says that wives are to accept the
authority of their husbands.
Why do those bits of scripture make
me defensive and uncomfortable and anxious to assert my self worth?
Why do I feel like I want to reel off
the things I do to keep our household operating… unlike somebody
else I know. . .cook, clean, work, taxi, sew, decorate, buy gifts,
write notes, plan parties, grocery shop, make appointments, check
homework, trim fingernails, cut bangs. . . Oh forget it. You know
what I do, Lord!
I’m not a women’s libber, God. I
didn’t burn my bra. I never wanted people to change the words of
scripture or hymns to make them politically correct.
It’s more that I just admire
strong, intelligent, independent women -- women who have goals and
make decisions and speak for themselves. And women who love and
nurture their children, and, maybe more importantly, love and cherish
their husbands. Yes, women who encourage their mates, inspire them,
excite them, publicly praise them, and stand by them.
You see, Lord, I think that when you
do those things, subjection and authority never really enter the
equation. I know that firsthand.
Before I close, let me say thank You
for making me a woman.
Let me thank You for allowing me to
live in a society where women are respected as human beings and
family partners, not mere possessions. And let me not forget my
sisters around the globe who live in poverty, and marital slavery,
and conditions beyond our comprehension.
And, finally, let me say thank You
for my marriage and my dear husband. I know I’m one of the lucky
ones.
As it says in the fourth chapter of
James, verse seven, we are to submit ourselves to You. Men and women
alike, we are to submit to You. If we did, the world would be a
better place.
In Your Loving Name, I Pray,
Amen
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