Let Me Be A Woman / Elisabeth Elliot / Children / Mothers Day Series

Happy Mothers Day week!  To all the moms out there...

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Let Me Be A Woman by Elisabeth Elliot


Chapter 8:  The Weight of Wings

Perspective makes all the difference in the world...The special gift and ability of each creature defines its special limitations.  This analogy is an excellent one so I'll share the whole thing:  As a bird comes to terms with the fact that it has wings which in fact, bear it up, away from the world, into the sky, into freedom, so the woman who accepts the limitations of womanhood finds in those very limitations her gifts, her special calling--wings, in fact, which bear her up into perfect freedom, into the will of God.

Sometimes the perspective comes in hindsight, sometimes in prayer, sometimes in a quiet place where we have time to think and ponder without distraction.  But if you are one of those women who feels that womanhood is an inconvenience or who would rather be anywhere than at home with your children and husband, maybe it's your long-term perspective that needs adjustment.  Before I had children, I worked in the corporate world as a trainer and a manager.  My perspective was completely different than what it is now.  In fact, looking back, I see that how I lived and what I learned in the business world as a "working woman" was directly opposite to what God's perspective of godly womanhood is.   Thankfully mine was adjusted when I was in my 20s and I am happier now than I have ever been in my lifetime as a wife and mother at home.   Looking back I never would have imagined this would happen.  Be patient.  Be honest.  Be real.  

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Prayer #6 for Your Children:  Love for God's Word

May my children grow to find Your Word "more precious than gold, than much pure gold; sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb."  (Psalm 19:10)

Homeschool Curriculum For Sale Apologia Chalk Dust Learning Language Through Literature

Homeschool Curriculum.   I am cleaning out our homeschool bookshelves and am selling various books and bundles for Apologia science, ChalkDust math, Learning Language through Literature and more. Too many to list but you can view them all  in my Ebay store.   Here are just a few.

Free Mothers Day Coupon Book for Kids to Give

Free downloadable Mother's Day Coupon Book.  Perfect for kids to print out on card stock and give to their mom for Mothers Day, this Sunday, May 9.


Originally posted by The Happy Housewife

Let Me Be A Woman Pride / Elisabeth Elliot / Children / Mothers Day Series

Let Me Be A Woman
by  Elisabeth Elliot


Chapter 7:  The Right Kind of Pride

The pride that Elisabeth is referring to here as she puts it, is the idea that God had when He made each of us.  He is in love with his destiny. (paraphrased via Isak Dinesen, from Out of  Africa).  Some women whose vision is grotesquely distorted are trying to redefine for us a woman's "success", and to tell us that our happiness lies not in the idea of God in the making of us but in obliterating that idea altogether.  Of course, she is referring to the feminist movement that arose in the 1960s.  

The rest of this short chapter gives examples of what Valerie saw growing up at a very young age among the Auca Indians of  South America.  She observed the distinct roles of the men and women in all aspects of daily life. What she took away from it all, bottom line, when asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, said--I want to be a mommie.  

Throughout my college years and into my mid-20s, I fell hook, line and sinker into the feminist movement and never would have believed that I would be as content as I am now as a wife and mother.  That time came in my mid-30s and I am SO glad that it did.  I really do know firsthand that restless feeling, always searching and trying to deny what I knew to be true.  God's ways really are best.

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Prayer for Your Children:  Self-Control

Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them "be alert and self-controlled" in all they do. (1 Thessalonians 5:4-7)

Elisabeth Elliot / Let Me Be A Woman / Mothers Day Book Study

For Mothers Day Week

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Let Me Be A Woman

by Elisabeth Elliot


Chapter 6:  Jellyfish and Pride

This chapter is a remembrance of a conversation Elisabeth had with her daughter when Valerie  was about three years old.  Valerie wonders why  God made jellyfish and tigers; the jellyfish because one stung her once, the tigers because she was afraid of them.  I love Elisabeth's answer that by being a jellyfish (or a tiger), it glorifies its Creator and fulfills its Creator's command.  These creatures "know" what they are made for.  We have been specifically told what we are made for--to glorify God also in all we do and say in the place right where we are today. 

When we choose to rebel against that and live in a way that we know is not pleasing to God or goes contrary to His known instructions to us, it's similar to the jellyfish or tiger deciding to act like a whale.  Nothing will seem right.  Nothing will go smoothly.  We will have a hard time deciding what is best for us.  We will not be content.  We will constantly be searching for something better.  The next time I / you have that "restless"  or discontented feeling, we should examine ourselves and see if our pride is standing in our way of obeying what we know God would have us do.  There is only one God and He is not me (or you).  

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Prayer for Your Children:  Honesty / Integrity

May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection.  (Psalm 25: 21)

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Choosing the Right Bonsai

I know absolutely nothing about bonsai trees. My sweet husband has wanted one for ages and finally bought one at Disney World in January. Unfortunately it did not look like it was doing well this week.  We decided to go to a REAL Japanese bonsai nursery (I did not know there was such a thing) to get an opinion as to what to do for it.   We found one about 30 minutes away from our house, so we drove there on Saturday afternoon.  One little Oriental man  owns this nursery.  He took one look at our bonsai and said:  Dead.  No roots.  No good.   I thought my husband might cry.   :(

So I suggested we just get another REAL one here with someone who has them as their main business.  The search began.  I never knew there were so many types or that there was even a significant market for these types of plants. I just thought it was a secret Japanese tradition how they were grown.   To my surprise, this is what we found:

Hundreds of plants being trained to be bonsais...there must be lots of secret bonsai owners out there...

This one is about 50 years old!

So, an hour later,  after much hunting and dickering...

...my husband found a new "pet" and we came home with this one.  It is living happily on our back porch.  No, we didn't pay $79.90; ours was $19.90.   Mission accomplished and my hubby is now a happy one.  :)

Let Me Be A Woman / Elisabeth Elliot / Children

Let Me Be A Woman 
by Elisabeth Elliot

Chapter 4:  A Daughter, Not  a Son

This chapter is the story of Valerie's birth (Elisabeth and Jim Elliot's only child--Valerie Elliot Shepard).  Both Jim and Elisabeth had prayed for a son, as is usually the natural order of things--firstborn son, older brother, the heir... When Valerie was born, of course, they were both content to have a daughter.  The primary message from this section is:

If you believe God who controls the big things, you have to believe in a God who controls the little things.  It is we, of course to whom things look "little" or "big".  Amy Carmichael wrote:

There is no great with Thee, there is no small, for Thou art all, and fillest all in all.

Chapter 5:  Creation--Woman for Man

In this section Elisabeth refers back to the book of Genesis where, after creating the world and everything in it,  God says, it is not good for man to be alone.  She discusses animals and the gulf that separates us from them.   A suitable helper for Man was not found among any of them.  God filled the gap by creating a woman from the man.  Note that He did not create another man or a new animal but a new being in God's image--a woman.  It is reassuring that God specifically created us women for a specific purpose--to be a  specific man's helper.  The word helper is similar to the word for the Holy Spirit who is our ultimate Helper.    

What about the women who do not marry? or who do not marry a believer who understands this concept?  Well, I have my own opinions but I'm sure Elisabeth will get to them later in this book.  Keep reading.  :)

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Prayer for Your Children:  Love
Grant, Lord, that my children may learn to live a life of love through the Spirit who dwells in them.  (Ephesians 5:2, Galatians 5:22)

Sunday Worship / Elisabeth Elliot / Prayers for Your Children / Communion

Let Me Be A Woman by Elisabeth Elliot


Chapter 3:  Where to Hang Your Soul

These three pages are a short reaffirmation of the Apostles' Creed that many of us grew up with in church or probably current either recite or read together during a worship service.   Here it is for you if you are unfamiliar with this piece of liturgy:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

    the Maker of heaven and earth,

    and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

    born of the virgin Mary,

    suffered under Pontius Pilate,

    was crucified, dead, and buried;

He descended into hell. 

The third day He arose again from the dead;

He ascended into heaven,

    and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

    from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit;

    the holy catholic church;

    the communion of saints;

    the forgiveness of sins;

    the resurrection of the body;

    and the life everlasting.

Amen. 

In reciting these words we submit to these truths which are foundational to the Christian faith.  As Elisabeth says, This is where I stand, this is Reality.  This is the Gospel in a nutshell, in a form easily memorized and learned by children at a young age to remain with them throughout their lifetimes.  I learned this in my childhood from simply repeating it each week in church.   It was not until I out of college that these words became my reality.   Now they serve to remind me each time I say them, exactly what I do believe and what my faith rests on.

Everyone comes to church with a multitude of feelings.  Some are genuinely ready to praise God, others have argued in the car or at home before arriving, the stresses of the week about to begin are already upon them, etc.  These feelings are natural.  Worship is not a feeling.   Worship is not an experience.  Worship is an act, and this takes discipline.  Never mind about the feelings. We are to worship in spite of them...I hang my soul on those strong pegs of truth, those "I believes" and I am strengthened...  

In some ways worship is like love--we can show acts of love to others whether we feel them or not.  Most often, the feelings follow after a time.  We can worship whether our feelings want to or not as well.  It is an act of obedience but the blessing returns to us as we lift our hearts to our Creator.

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Prayer for Your Children:  Their Growth in Grace

I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and that they will not be led astray from following Your Word.  (2 Peter 3: 17-18)

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COMMUNION

This morning I get to play the piano  during communion with my favorite cellist and violinist at church.   The pieces we'll be doing are:

For the Serving of the Bread

• I Am Thine, O Lord
• O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

For the Serving of the  Juice

• O Lamb of God
• O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

I love playing instrumental hymn medleys because the lyrics (which I have displayed on an overhead while we play) are so meaningful.  Most hymns are quite familiar and the congregation can ponder the words, reading at their own pace, without the distraction of a vocalist.   I have been told many times how worshipful this is and am thankful I can use my gifts to build up the Body of Christ.

Luke 22:19-20 

And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”  And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood."

Saturday Yard Garage Sale

This morning while my husband is out, I'm headed to scope out a few yard sales that are calling my name. Hope you have a great day.

May is Mothers Month / Elisabeth Elliot / Prayers for Children

For the month of May I'll be blogging about motherhood and children primarily, as well as daily life in our family of four.  I'll also be discussing and pointing out highlights from one of Elisabeth Elliot's books Let Me Be A Woman, reading two chapters (about 4 pages) each day.  Also included each day will be a scripture prayer to pray for your children generally taken from another mom's Christian blog called  Inspired to Action.

Next Sunday, May 9, is Mothers Day.  Typically quite commercial, it nevertheless is a special day to show love and honor to women who have been blessed in their lifetime to have children--adopted or biological.  Some women have stood in the gap for children who have not had moms or had one that was an unfit mom.  Those women should be honored at some point as well.  We are the caregivers, the nurturers, the lovers, the counselors...so many different roles...in our families.  Once a woman has a child of her own, her life is never, ever the same.  I've been told it is a lifetime of happiness and joy but also of sorrow and grief as you sometimes have to watch your children make choices that you can see are not in their best interest but that they have not developed the wisdom quite yet to recognize.  

I have two sons, one in college who is almost 21 and the other is 15, going into 11th grade this fall.  I was never a motherly type and really did not enjoy or appreciate other people's children until I had one of my own.  Since I was adopted as an infant, there has never been anyone in my family who looked like me.  When our first son was born I was ecstatic that he looked just like me! And the same thing happened when our second son was born as well!  A double blessing for me.  :)   Of course, now as they have grown into  young men, you can tell that we are related (still an amazing thing for me) but not the extreme resemblance when they were babies.  Through all the stages of life--many I will cover in this series--I will be their mom and as the familiar children's  book says "I'll Love You Forever".  Today is a special day of joy for me since our older son informed us last night that he is moving back home for the summer and will start moving things in on Sunday afternoon.  One moment in time, one that is happily burned into my heart--those words, I'm coming home. Although I have generally adjusted to him not seeing him every single day,  I have missed him  but am so thankful he did not go to college in Ohio!  :)  His dad and brother will be glad he's home, too. :)

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LET ME BE A WOMAN

by Elisabeth Elliot (1976)

There are several more modern looking covers to this book. This looks like the copy that I have.   Elisabeth (I'll call her by her first name throughout this series) wrote this book during the year preceding her daughter's marriage. They would only be together a few weeks out of that year and as a gift to Valerie, she summed up her thoughts on being a woman through various stages of life and roles.   I first heard of Elisabeth Elliot in the early 80's. A friend took me to a luncheon of about 100 people where she was the guest speaker.  At the time I did not realize how fortunate I was to attend such a small group of women where we could actually TALK to her.   She is an amazing woman and one of my favorite Christian women authors.  I have two of her other books on my bookshelf:  Discipline The Glad Surrender, Passion and Purity.

Chapter 1:   The God Who Is In Charge

This is a short one-page  note about the sovereignty of God.  We are not for one moment of our lives at the mercy of chance.  Romans 8:28

Chapter 2:  Not Who Am I? but Whose Am I?

She asks the question:  Is being a woman fundamentally different from being a man?  There are countless books on this topic, some say yes, some say no.  Just a quick Google search turned up several books such as

Why Men Don't Listen and Women Can't Read Maps, The Book of Men and Women, Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus, Are Men Necessary?      I  haven't read any of these but just the titles show how much of our culture thinks.  My opinion:  We are absolutely different.  

I love Elisabeth's "bottom line" on this:  There is no doubt, a superficial sort of consolation and reassurance to be gained from sitting around telling how you feel about things...In order to learn what it means to be a woman we must start with the One Who made her.

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TODAY'S PRAYER FOR YOUR CHILDREN: Their Salvation

Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.  Isaiah 45:8, 2Timothy 2:1.