“I thought marriage was coming, and soon. I thought I gave up the worldly approach to womanhood in exchange for a beautiful biblical picture that included husband, children, a home to be a homemaker in. And something went wrong. I gave up the world’s picture in exchange for nothing. I have nothing to show for it. I’ve spent 8 years in a holding pattern. I … Continue reading Botkin Sisters: Should I Keep Preparing for Marriage?
In London, the National Portrait Gallery has opened a major exhibition made up of images of Audrey Hepburn, called “Portraits of an Icon”. And as noted by this article in The Conversation, it portrays a world of difference from the celebrity status that currently exists. What is it about women like Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly that makes them truly iconic? What is it about … Continue reading Mercatornet: Feminine beauty that endures the ages
[Editor’s Note: This is a post from the original LAF site that I meant to bring over to the new one but forgot. After a couple of reader requests, I managed to locate the original file. This is excellent material and illustrates why robust biblical womanhood negates any “need” for feminism. Women are already “empowered” thanks to God’s high calling for them and the full scope for their abilities and gifts given to them within that multi-faceted role. Human rights are for both men and women and come because we are “endowed by our Creator,” alike made in His image and worthy of dignity and respect. There is no need to play women against men to guarantee basic human rights. In fact, pitting women against men causes far more damage to individuals, families, and communities. We talk a lot on LAF about the “family economy” and how it eliminates the whole mythical “work-family balance” that causes eruptions in the blogosphere every time it is raised. Family is work, and what takes place within the family unit is far more than washing dishes and making beds. Those are normal routines of any daily life. The heart of the family is really and truly economic in every sense of the word. When the whole family is involved in work (whether it’s a home-based business, a ministry, home education, hospitality and charity, community service, etc.), its members grow together in amazing ways and become more involved in one another’s lives, thoughts, and dreams than if each member of the family goes in a different direction each morning to different locations with differing priorities and goals. Today, this is a radical way to approach life, but our ancestors prior to the Industrial Revolution lived it, breathed it, and built nations upon it. We can, too. What could be more empowering, freeing, or exciting? Enjoy the article!] Continue reading ““The Woman’s Place””
My mother has had over three dozen children. She gave birth to two, but giving birth isn’t really what makes one a mother, is it? It’s the hard stuff. The stuff my mother has done over half her life, with little accolades and with no earthly payment. The mother-stuff. And the most important of her jobs? BEING THERE. Being available….the heart of what it means to … Continue reading My Mother: Reflections on Mother’s Day
On this day when we celebrate moms, it’s amazing there are women in the world who think motherhood is denigrating and without real worth: Simone De Beauvoir famously said that being a full-time mother should be illegal because too many women would enjoy it. Badinter does not advocate criminalizing motherhood. She just wants to keep it heavily stigmatized. Motherhood, when it is trumpeted as something fulfilling and … Continue reading A French Revolutionary Scolds Mothers
From Suzanne Venker: There it was in the grocery store checkout line, in all its glory — a Time magazine headline: “The Richer Sex.” The article is a reprint from Liza Mundy’s new book of the same name. What does it mean? That women “are overtaking men as America’s breadwinners.” Ms. Mundy wants you to know why that’s a great thing. As women have gained … Continue reading Rich Women and Emasculated Men
And here’s a superb follow-up to Dennis Prager’s piece — this from Femina: I have always found it remarkable that sometimes people think that being a homemaker is a somehow limiting occupation. Like there isn’t enough to do. Before I go on to some specific ideas, I’d like to just say a little something about this. I am fairly certain that if you gave yourself … Continue reading How do we love thee? Let me count some ways…
A great piece from the Joy-Filled Days blog: Last night I spoke to a sweet group of home schooling moms about the topic of Keeping Your Devotional Life Devotional. I was so encouraged by their desire to teach their children God’s word. We sat and chatted afterwards and as we spoke, the “topic” came up. Titus 2 mentoring. These young women are raising families and … Continue reading Where Are The Titus 2 Women?
Andrea Schwartz has a fantastic two-part series up on His Heartbeat for Women. Here are samples from each: Far from being a neutral area of life, the issues of labor and delivery, and the customary practices routinely followed, will either reflect the wisdom of God’s created order or they will reflect a humanistic makeover of that order. Too few prospective parents have examined these issues … Continue reading Rethinking Childbirth
Well, isn’t that an intriguing title? And maybe not exactly what you expect at LAF. After all, are we not often accused of “living in the past” of “clinging to the past,” even? So what could an article like this be doing here?
Now, let me start by saying that this is not an article to put down pioneer women. They did not have an easy life, and they worked hard to raise their families, doing their best with very limited means under very challenging circumstances. So often when we feel put upon or worn out, we try to admonish ourselves by thinking of our pioneer foremothers and what they had to endure to remind ourselves how lucky we are. However, sometimes in looking back, we become intimidated. We start to believe in–dare I say it?- -Superwoman. After all, these women did backbreaking work, birthed children, lived in isolated conditions, dealt with livestock and made what they wore, ate, used and sold. Wow… one would get intimidated by less.
Continue reading “Don’t Revere the Pioneer”
