versus stay-at-home moms was revisited. In one corner, mothers
who work full-time and leave the care of their children to daycare or
others. In the other corner, mothers who left their careers entirely to
become full-time moms. Leaving out for a minute the incredibly
vast array of options somewhere in between (anyone ever heard of a
part-time job?), a comment made by one of the career moms was
perhaps the most startling of the show.
When she discussed her reasonings for going back to work
immediately after her children were born, she made a comment that
children are actually harder to raise in their teenage years than when
they are little (apparently this was meant to justify why children
should do fine in daycare centers full-time). Then she remarked,
quite confidently, "Anyone can hug a young child or read them a
book." A full-time mother nearby visibly flinched at the remark.
While Fishers of Women Ministries is dedicated to the belief that
women of faith can be called and find their destinies in all places of
life, ministry, and the workplace, there is a significant and striking
difference in our philosophy than the one that basically states (as
was perpetuated on the same program by the psychologist, Dr.
Robin) that no choice is better than another. The only thing that
makes a choice right is simply if you decide it is so.
Though we are not called to make rash and harsh judgements on the
choices of others based simply on their differences from our own
callings, there are some basic principles the woman of faith should
live by when making life decisions and following her desires and
dreams. As women of faith, we do not live in a vacuum, where our
decisions do not affect those around us and either contribute to, or
take away from, our ultimate goal in life to follow a path of service
to Christ. As you follow what you believe to be the purpose for
your life, ask yourself some hard questions along the way:
- Are my choices harming my children and family?
- Am I balancing my own needs with the needs of those whom
God has placed in my care? - Is this the right time/place/venue to pursue my own dreams?
- Do I have the proper amount of confidence in my own
abilities, and yet also a humility that will allow God to lead me?
As a woman of faith, you really have a more difficult path to follow.
For you, life will not just be about you and your needs. But neither
does God expect you to not have any needs or dreams. Only He
can help you navigate the difficult path to success for you, but
success for your family as well. It does matter who reads to your
kids. It does matter who talks to your husband about his successes
and failures. It does matter what path you walk in life. Choices are
not good just because you made them with confidence and gusto.
Choices are not inherently good, because we are not inherently
good. But we can depend on the One who is inherently good to
help us make the right decisions for our own lives, and the lives of
those in our care.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your strength....Impress [these commandments] on
your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when
you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your
foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on
your gates." ~Deut. 6:5-9
