girls

Today I returned home from a week at Girls Camp. I had a fun time learning and working in the kitchen, watching (from afar) my eldest daughter enjoy the camp I loved as a little girl.

The theme for the week was about being a Princess (a child of the King!). There were princess songs, games and crafts; a princess tea party, talks on royalty (Queens) from the Bible and tiaras on every plate at the closing banquet.

Being in the kitchen was new to me, and I didn't get many opportunities to interact with the campers but I made one (fairly obvious) observation:

Girls are very unique and diverse.

Some of the girls didn't need instruction on how to behave "royally" or which pink would look best on their toes.

Some of the girls played hard at sports, ate hearty dinners and kept their nails clear.

Some girls studied hard to memorize the daily scripture verses (and bonus verses) and were always the first to answer the quiz questions - for the joy of achievement.

Some girls cooked in the kitchen!

There are so many things that I love about being a woman, and about having daughters, but I am also concerned about what the world tells us about being female. So many mixed messages. And how does the church counter or contribute to challenges we face?

Don't get me wrong, I'm no feminist - I love many of the things that defined the 50's wife and mother: taking loving care of her husband and children, baking, sewing, creating a haven of peace and rest for the family. I also loved being able to take my daughter to a camp focused on girls and their specific needs as part of the family of God.

I guess there are days, though, that I long for the Kingdom to be as Paul described it in Galatians 3:26-28

"You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

I don't think that means we will be genderless, but that we will no longer fight against being the complete woman God has called us to be, and we will no longer feel like we need to fight for our "rights." The curse given to Eve in the garden and passed down to us will permanently be lifted and we will each enjoy our unique version of femininity, exactly the way God intended.

Until then, I will continue to bake and teach my children how to put their napkins in their lap at dinner. I will love my husband the way he wants to be loved, not the way I feel like showing it. I will serve the Lord in my church and community.

And tomorrow afternoon, I'll even sew a new blankie for my youngest - just because I can and she asked nicely!

pause

Last week we enjoyed a family vacation, given to us as a gift.  We had hoped to get away with the kids (somewhere besides camp, though camp is great!) but it didn't look like there would be a way for us to make it happen.  When the opportunity came to head out to the West Coast - we happily jumped at it!

A week on Vancouver Island showed me parts of God's creation that I hadn't seen before, or at least not like this.  I savoured the moments in my heart, but had very busy hands helping the kids with this, that and the other.

On the flight home last night, I finally had a moment to ponder the things I had seen.  The word that came to my mind was

Splendor!

I scanned my bible concordance for this word and immediately found a passage of scripture that perfectly fit my response.

1 Chornicles 16:29-34

      Bring an offering and come before Him;

worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness

Tremble before Him, all the earth!

The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.

Let the heavens be rejoice, let the earth be glad;

let them say among the nations, "The Lord reigns!"

Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;

Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!

Then the trees of the forest will sing,

they will sing for joy before the Lord,

for He comes to judge the earth.

Give thanks to the Lord, for His is good; His love endures forever!

I'm very thankful.

I'm thankful for people who want to include us in their vacation.

I'm thankful for old friends that give freely, lovingly, with such warmth.

I'm thankful for twisty roads that, though they make us a little nauseous, always open up to a new and beautiful scene to behold.

I'm thankful for safety and fun, for being together.

I'm thankful for movies on the flight that gave me time to praise my loving Lord for all He has done, from the beginning of time to today in my little life.

His love goes on and on.

when i grow up

When I grow up, I want to be:

....a doctor

....a firefighter

....a lion?

When I was a kid, the only this I ever really dreamed about being was a mom - well, I did go through that phase when I wanted to be Pinky Tuscadero from Happy Days....

But beside that, all I wanted was to be a married lady with a couple of kids.  I remember as I got into my middle teen years (never having had boyfriend!), I thought I would never achieve my goal.  I would go to prophecy conferences and hear "the end is NOW" and I would hope, wish and pray that this were not the case.  I had things I needed to see (like if I would ever get a boyfriend!), and babies to have.  

When I met the love of my life, I prayed the Lord would hold off on His triumphant return until I could have a wedding....and then a little one or two....or three.

The other day, there was a  tv show playing in the background as I cleaned. (I shouldn't admit what show it was....it started with O...)  The topic was LONGEVITY.  I listened as the doctor talked about what kind of diet, exercise and lifestyle could increase your expected lifespan to 125 years.  yikes!  organ regeneration?  raw food, calorie restricted diet?  oxygen chamber?

for what?

What would I gain by living on the earth for that long?  Maybe I'd get to meet my great grandchildren - and complain that they have no interest in my life.  Maybe I'd receive a letter from the Queen of England (do they still do that?) - I guess it might be King Harry by then...

I have no interest in dying young, and I have a significant fear of degenerative and incurable diseases, but I praised God as I dusted and listened to the program, because I felt ready.  

I'm so content with the life the Lord has given me and the opportunities I've had to love and grow and serve. 

Psalm 90:12

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

One time, I heard it said like this:

"So cause us to know how to assign significance to our days that we may gain the ability to see life as You see it."

each day - a little bit more....