I'm currently reading the book, "Worthy: Celebrating the Value of Women," by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Eric Schumacher. It's refreshing. Rather than being a book on how to be a good Christian woman, it's a book emphasizing the intrinsic worth of women based on the fact that we're God's creation. We make mistakes, we sin, we err, and we praise and honor and are used by God. It talks about our equality with men, the work God has tasked us with from the beginning, and wrong views of women that have crept into and been perpetuated by the church. I was thoroughly enjoying (if that's the right word) this book.
And then it got to one line. One line that always makes me cringe. The line that makes me refer to Mother's Day as "Failure As a Christian Woman Day." It was talking about Eve and her offspring.
"The word offspring (sometimes translated "seed") is a word that can be either singular or plural - and sometimes both. It is ultimately Jesus. But united with him in faith, believers in Jesus become the "offspring" of the woman....Likewise, in a broader sense, "the woman" does not refer only to Eve. It refers to her in the immediate context. It also refers to all women who bear or nurture children of faith as history unfolds." [emphasis mine]
No, no, no! Good book, please don't do this to me! Why?! Why did you have to go here? Why, if I'm being told that I have value simply by being God's creation, are you now throwing in bits about being someone who bears or nurtures children?
I don't have children. I don't want children. I am not invested in the lives of other people's children. Yes, I had my nieces, but other than praying for them, it's not like I majorly invested in their spiritual growth. I did teach Sunday school for one of them, but that was because they needed someone. I don't think I even believed in God at that point. And I sure don't ever want to teach Sunday school again. Why?! Why must it always come back to children? I was so disappointed and discouraged and hurt.
But then suddenly it hit me. "Children of faith." That doesn't mean children. I have always thought, probably because of the unfortunate emphasis churches (and my own family) put on families (yes, I'm going to call it unfortunate), that what people mean when they say things like that is that women who don't have children of their own can still make an impact on the children around them. My nieces are grown. So now what? I guess I'm a failure.
But no! "Children of faith!" All Believers are children of faith. I don't have to nurture actual children, nor feel "less than" for not doing so. I don't have to feel guilty for not wanting to mentor young people. When I encourage, admonish, support, challenge, share my learning with, listen to, pray for my friends, I am nurturing children of faith. Any of these things I do for ANY Believer is nurturing children of faith. Dear God! Thank you for this revelation! I didn't realize I needed it as badly as I did. I've always known that there were ways to serve God other than teaching Sunday school, but part of why I've always felt like an outsider at churches is because kids just aren't where my heart is at and it feels like that's where it's expected to be. Women are supposed to be nurturing. That's kind of our thing. And I don't like dealing with kids, so there's a huge strike against me, who already feels like she doesn't fit because she doesn't give a fig about Norwex or "Live Laugh Love"-ing. But I AM nurturing. Not just compassionate toward old people, which is a good thing, but usually feels like church people just think it's nice of me. Not just someone with a heart for people with addictions or mental health issues, which again, often feels like church people think is nice of me. I am nurturing. I can nurture children of faith just like any mother, aunt, or Sunday school teacher can. Dear Lord, I needed that.
