| | I read something on a random blog the other day which said:
"Every woman deserves to be treated like a princess at least once in her life."
And whereas I emphatically agree with the statement at face value, I'd also like to suggest that once in a lifetime, or even once every 2 or 3 years, really just isn't good enough. I believe that every woman has the right to feel precious, loved, confident and secure on a daily basis. The question that I raise is what does it cost a man to show a daily dose of love and affection to a significant woman in his life? Understand that I'm not just speaking in a romantic context; every man has at least a handful of special women in their life: I'm talking about the mothers, sisters, daughters and co-workers we interact with day by day. These are precious people whom God has placed in our lives and we are called to be faithful stewards of these relationships.
When I look in the world today, there is such a need for healing and restoration. One of the areas of greatest need is the family. In the past 10 years, divorce rates have soared through the roof. I would argue that the brokenness we witness in the family structure is a serious threat to the very fabric of society itself. What does it say about us as a people when we are no longer able to hold together stable households? When I was younger there used to be a saying that "a man's home is his castle". Of course such a saying would probably be considered sexist today, as it can be taken to imply a male-dominated household where women play subservient roles. In a lot of ways I agree; marriage is not a dictatorship. However, I cherish the idea of the home being a place of refuge from the chaos of a typical day at the office; a stronghold with fortified walls of trust and understanding which have been meticulously built up over years of team work and even forgiveness; walls that are strong and have weathered the storms of conflict; walls that are able to stand the test of time and most of all - protect the precious inhabitants within.
It's a terrifying thought that if we continue to follow the current trajectory, that our generation may truly grow to be a fatherless remnant. Imagine a world where in more than 50% of the households in North America, children grow up without having an accurate picture of a solid marriage. What does that do to an 8 year old boy when his only model of fathering comes from dim recollections of a man who was only present in the first 3 years of his life? What legacy will such a boy go on to leave behind? Will we ever reach a day when the very ideal of a husband and wife having children and growing old together will be altogether forgotten?
Problems within the household are only the tip of the iceberg. I had a chat with a female friend of mine not too long ago about emotionalism. She shared how she doesn't like showing too many emotions because they can be a form of weakness. I was so discouraged when I heard this. Of course every person has the right to carry themselves however they wish, but personally I don't believe that emotions should be viewed as a weakness at all. Biology shows us that the vast majority of the female population have been wired to embrace such tendencies naturally. I just thought it was so sad that because of the mistakes of men like myself, many women no longer feel safe to simply be the way they have been created to be. I think there's nothing wrong with women freely and by their own volition choosing to embrace that aspect of their nature; however what has so often been missing from the equation is the support and protection of brothers, fathers, friends and even strangers in creating an environment where such emotions can be safely expressed.
We live in a world today where the media bombards us with images of sexually and materialism. Long gone are the days when clothes were simply costumes to communicate or celebrate, but never to hide. Today it's the clothes that make the man; or the breast and the chest that make the woman. I realize how offensive that last statement is, but it's the grim reality which is stamped on every commercial, article of clothing and box of cereal - it's everywhere.
I don't personally know how to change the world, nor do I arrogantly assume that I have the answer for every single one of these complex issues. We each have a small role to play in the greater whole. I believe that if we can positively reinforce a set of positive values and beliefs into young women today, we can raise up a remant of virtuous women whose self worth will not be found in their external attirbutes or the opinions of others. Once again, it's my humble opinion that women have the right to be adored for who they are on a regular daily basis (not just for what they do or how they look). Furthermore, I'd argue that it really doesn't cost that much to slip a note of encouragement to a sister or express heartfelt appreciation to a mother on the part of any man. Our choices and actions today will be the building blocks upon which generations to come will be established. Let's strive together to create they type of world we would be proud to entrust our children to.
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| | Posted 5/18/2007 11:15 AM - 22 Views - 0 eProps - 1 Comment
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