War on Women: What’s a Woman to Do?

by Hariette Petersen
(Hariette blogs, HERE.)

(comments pre-moderated)

Well, now, that depends entirely upon the woman, doesn’t it? A week ago, a misguided lady wrote a blog-post that sounded like a throwback from the late ’60s. She spewed the kind of blather Phil Donahue hailed in his hey-day. Her thoughts created a bit of a stir on Fox News segments for a couple of days. My daughter came over and asked if I’d seen the scourging the blogger delivered on stay-at-home-moms and if I’d read what Matt Walsh had countered on his blog. Matt dismissed it as rather goofy rhetoric designed to increase ad hits for her blog. 

I read the post in question, and thought it pure silliness to blame happily unemployed moms for other women’s inability to earn wages equal to men. Her bullying tone and disdain was palatable. My decaf coffee tasted bitter as I read. What kind of child-life did she have? Who encouraged her kind of thinking? Teachers? A mother? Grandmothers? Aunts? Where are the older women in this lady’s life?

Who is mentoring her and feeding her such tripe?

I’m set to unleash a few barbs when it hits me. I drank that Kool-Aid at one point in my life. She’s living in a world where every wind of doctrine is chased. A world suffocating in self-saturated indulgence. These ideas rule her. Homemaking and child rearing are clearly not her cup-to-sup, and she doesn’t like women who drink from that well of opportunity. In fact, when I surfed back and read her post again, barbs poked my own heart. I felt sorry for her.

I need to step up my calling.

My calling?

Yes, calling. God calls women to rise up and step forward to mentor younger women, to encourage the like-minded. God has called us to teach women sound values and biblical principles. It’s our responsibility to model every word instructive word in the Bible, including these:

“…you must say the things that are consistent with sound teaching. Older men are to be level headed, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love and endurance. In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine. They are to teach what is good, so they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, homemakers, kind, and submissive to their husbands, so that God’s message will not be slandered” Titus 2:1-5 HCS.

Something is terribly wrong in our society. How is one young woman’s demeaning opinion more laudable than another woman who willingly submits her life to a husband as unto the Lord for the rest of her life and chooses to raise godly children? I’ve seen the carnage of such accusations. It’s troubling that society finds ultimate satisfaction in promoting careers as the number one priority for women. 

Women are much more than a vocation. Deceit colors our world. We’re manipulated by the temporal reward of houses, money, position and status. Some women are content in their own skin and godly choices. They need our support. We are not the sum of one person’s estimation of us. We are more than some stranger’s assessment of our choices. No one person determines God’s plan for another. We are made in the image of God. We are bought by the blood of the Lamb. We are filled by the Holy Spirit and have a purpose ordained by the Great I Am.

Every nose we wipe, every knee we bandage, every fever we tend, every correction we make, every discipline we enforce, every Scripture we utter, every irritation we temper, every heartache we soothe, every rebellion we admonish, every joy we share, every prayer we pray – all these reflect God’s mercy and grace. Each act deflects the fiery darts and sends them right back to the pit of hell. When we invest our lives in the hearts, souls and spirits of our children, we store treasures above. 

Every kindness you show, every sacrifice you make in the name of Christ, is a battle won in the unholy, defeated, Satan-ruled war on women.

We, as sisters in the Lord, are given a calling that supersedes all others in this temporal world. I do not discard the work or efforts of Christian women who work outside the home, either. For “whatsoever we do or say,” when said and done with integrity, diligence and loyalty — the Lord blesses and rewards. When we encourage mothers and young wives in their commitments, we help build the kingdom. When motives and intentions are surrendered unto the Lord, the world will mock us. The world will ridicule us, and that’s okay. 

When you follow the living Word of God and are submissive to your husbands as unto the LORD, God honors every effort, and blesses beyond measure. When you “seek first the kingdom of God,” the earth’s lure and approval of society fades away. 

So, what is a woman to do?

“Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart … so you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man … trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding … In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones” Proverbs 3:3-8 HCS.

It’s up to us, ladies. Women are struggling. Society is doing its utmost to smother our voices and tear down our sisters, our daughters and granddaughters who seek to train up children to honor God. Mentor on. We are not alone. We have each other. We have Jesus. Who can really be against us?

(All comments are initially moderated and checked for propriety, relevance and general content.)