Good Christian Woman

I was at work today, and thinking about how I should explain my blog name. Please don't misinterpret and think I'm calling myself a good Christian woman... it's something that's been on my heart a while. Since I read Captivating, and really spent some time meditating and reading what the Bible says about what a good Christian woman is, I realized I was striving for and admiring the wrong traits. I feel like so often we, as Christian women, are expected to be gentle and quiet in everything we do. My personality isn't always gentle, and I'm not always quiet. Does that mean that in those times I'm not fulfilling my abilities as a Godly woman? Absolutely not! I don't want to quote the entire chapter that talks about the value of a good wife, but I do want to point out several key verses:
Proverbs 31:10
10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.

¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

***

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

²⁹ "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."

³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

I love how this passage talks about a woman being strong. And I think this is applicable to women who aren't yet married, but plan on being married at some point. We're not tied to the kitchen, we're not tied to teaching a Sunday school class. I'm not putting those things down, because I do believe women should spend some time in both of those areas, I'm just saying we can explore other things as well. We are gentle, kind and sympathetic. I can't deny my natural drive to comfort hurting people, and I can't deny that I do feel gentle and kind, but when I'm feisty and strong I believe I'm also acting on my natural instincts. I grew up in a house full of girls. My mom, my sister, and myself. When there was something heavy to lift, women did it. When there were groceries to get, women did it. When the yard needed to be mowed, or a TV needed to be hooked up, or a piece of furniture put together, a woman did it. Now that I'm married, I do appreciate my husband taking the initiative to do manual labor things. He has more of a drive to build things or lift heavy objects than I do. However, that doesn't mean I'm not capable of doing those things, and it doesn't mean I don't want to every now and then.

I am the furthest thing from a feminist you will ever meet. Ask my husband... I am constantly calling myself a Princess, and almost everything in my life is done a "traditional" way. I do believe certain positions should be held by men, and others held by women. My husband is absolutely the head of our little family. I am submissive to him, but he is considerate of me. I trust him, and know that he is a great leader, especially for the two of us. When I call myself a princess, however, I am imagining the kind of princess that would go into battle if needed. But when the battle is over, and her family is safe, she puts on a big puffy pink dress and sparkly crown :) I BELIEVE WOMEN CAN BE BOTH GENTLE AND STRONG. This is the type of woman I am aspiring to be. I believe we need a good balance of strength, gentleness, kindness, and wisdom to be effective as a woman of Christ.