The home is the fundamental establishment of any society. Like the rudder of a ship, the condition of the homes will steer the direction of the nation. The home is where future world leaders are molded, where brilliant minds are nurtured, where world views are established. Any investment made in the home has ripple effects that last for generations. So when we talk of a woman overseeing the home, this is not to lessen her importance, but to elevate it. God has given us influence over the most important establishment in all of society.
Are men and women equal in intrinsic value and dignity? Yes. Should we fight for this? Of course! But let us not strip each gender of their unique beauty, purpose, and strength by forcing them to be the same. Men and women most certainly are equal, but they are not the same.
And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." Luke 15:2
Tonight, we will turn our porch lights on, set out a sign, and be handing out king sized candy bars to hundreds of kids, moms, dads, and teens. Some will grumble that we receive sinners. But they said this of Jesus too.
The first shall be your slave, the greatest shall be your servant. This goes against the grain of every natural inclination in me. It is my default to see how I can climb the ladder of greatness, whether in the realm of motherhood, the world of blogging, or within my own circles of friends. I often find myself trying to become "greater" without even realizing it.
It seems I have a knack for forgetting the lessons God teaches me through His word over time. I am glad for the reminder of this well-known, but often forgotten truth: that seeking Him first should be my number one goal.
To what end am I seeking excellence as a wife and mother? Is it because that's what I'm supposed to do? Or because Scripture calls me to consider others as better than myself? I know that God values my roles as wife and mother, so maybe that is why I am supposed to strive to be good at them. Maybe it's simply because I love my husband and daughter and serving them is a natural response.
Though all those things are good reasons, there is still a greater end than this.
It has been just over 2 weeks since Lively was born and I thought I would take some time to share some of the things I've learned in these first weeks of parenthood.
