In Defense of Fathers

Since today is Father's Day I thought I would take this opportunity to write about fathers. My father died six years ago. I loved him and miss him. He wasn't perfect but he was my dad. I am fortunate to have an amazing stepdad in my life who I couldn't ask to be a better husband to my mom. But it seems increasingly in our post feminist/women's movement society that fathers and men in general are being marginalized. On Twitter staring on Friday there was a hashtag #EndFathersDay (there was also an end mothers day hashtag as well). This didn't necessarily surprise me but it did sadden me. Fathers are so important in their children's lives. Not just sons but daughters as well. Fathers have a responsibility to show their daughters how a man should treat them. A girl who grows up with a father who loves her and her mother is much less likely to end up in a bad relationship. Notice I didn't say it couldn't happen but she has a much healthier view of relationships and self respect. She will know that she deserves a man who will treat her like her father treats her mother and shouldn't that be positive? Now I know that not everyone has a good father. But this is not about how certain individuals behave. This is about a culture that doesn't seem to value the role of fathers and husbands for that matter. The feminist movement, which was supposed to be about empowering women, has become about devaluing men. This is a sad thing for our children and our society. I know some pretty great men from family to friends at my church and workplace. Hearing them talk about their kids you know how much they mean to them. God designed a certain role for men in the lives of their wives and children and it breaks my heart to see that mocked and devalued.

More Ramblings From A Contrary Girl

Have you every felt far from God? Have you ever felt that you can never live up to what you know God wants you to be?  Is this normal and how should you handle it? I really don't know the answer to that but I think most of us have been there. We try everyday to be hands and feet of Jesus so that people see Him and not us. I fail more than I succeed at that and I should not be ashamed to admit that. If we cannot admit our failings we will never get past them. I believe as women in the Body of Christ we should be able to lean on each other. We should be able to admit or fears, shortcomings and yes, sins, to one another without guilt and condemnation. But how often do we judge one another? Have you ever thought, well at least I haven't done what so and so has done. And we go on about our business feeling pretty good about ourselves. All the while God is screaming at us to stop with self righteous crap. We forget about the plank in our own eye and focus on the splinter in our sister's eye. Christian women come in all shapes and sizes. Some of us are single with no children (me) and others are married with young children, some with teens and others have grown children. There are also single moms, divorced women, widows, etc. In the secular there seems to be a divide between stay at home moms and those who work outside the home. We need to run as fast as we can from this in the church. Run from using the Bible as a way to bludgeon others because they made different choices than we did. Now, if we see a sister making some really bad choices that are leading her far from God and she's floundering, we should in love address it. But we need to stop the thinking that if someone makes a life choice we wouldn't make that they are wrong. God speaks to each of us individually as to what is the best decision we can make for ourselves or our family. Lavish love and grace on one another and remember no matter what our life circumstance, we are all running the race to win. Don't be a stumbling block to another. The prize is too great.

Ramblings from a Contrary Girl

So this is my blog. I decided to start this at the suggestion of my cousin. She thought my twitter handle 'Mary Quite Contrary' was clever and I should use it for a blog. I suppose she thought I had something to say. So here goes. I have a blog for politics so I really don't want to talk about that here. I would like this to be a place where women can come and talk about stuff we deal with. Whether we are single, married, kids or no kids. I only have a few stipulations: that discussions be respectful, no foul language but sarcasm is welcome :). For those of you who know me, you know I'm a Christian, so that will be a lot of what I write about and the perspective from which I write. I will probably just write what is on my mind at the time and I hope you will join in and tell me what you think. I want this to be a community of support, laughter and fun. So welcome aboard!