Woman, the Helper pt. 2

I know I was a little all over the place in my first “Woman, the Helper” post, but I wanted to touch on the subject of the role of a Christian woman and my personal experiences a bit more. (I wrote this when I wrote the first one, but it’s ok if you didn’t read that one; it shouldn’t make much of a difference when reading this.)

I get tired and worn out fairly easily. I’m working to take better care of myself so I won’t get that way so quickly so often, but some people -some women, specifically- were just made that way. God created men and women different in many ways, and one of them is that women are generally smaller and weaker than men. I feel as though I lack stamina and as I mentioned in my previous post on this subject, I don’t do well working full-time. It’s just not for me. (It’s fantastic if you can do it though!)

Now, while I believe that in general women weren’t made to be the main provider of the household and be the only one to make an income for the family, I do believe that everyone, male and female, are to work hard and not be idle. I certainly don’t condone laziness (not saying I don’t struggle with it!). However, working hard doesn’t mean one has to go out of the house and do something to make money. There is plenty to do at home- laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning, taking care of children and pets, doing yardwork, and so much more. I believe that women are gifted to do this kind of work well and it comes naturally to most women. I am not saying that men can’t do this work too or instead, or that none of them have natural tendencies to do some of these things well. I think it’s sometimes ok if the husband and wife agree that it works better for them and their family for the woman to work and the man stay home with the kids for a time, as long as they’re both doing their part to take care of the household and family. However, I also believe sometimes women do need to submit to the role of what one might call a “traditional” woman even if it’s not what she wants. All of that is between her and God and her husband if she has one.

I know I’ve been talking a lot about a woman and her husband and the husband’s role as the provider, but I know many women aren’t married. I am not one to say she should move out as soon as she graduates high school or college, but I do believe a woman living with her parents should work in some way, whether it’s out making money or helping keep house. (“For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10) I like the idea of a young woman living at home until she marries, living under the protection and provision of her father, but I also believe it’s not “bad” for a woman to live alone or with a female friend. (I personally think saving money by not moving out just to move out is a smart decision!)

If you’re a woman struggling with a workload, whether it’s school or work or something else, there are some ways I want to encourage you to take care of yourself today.

One: Listen to your body. Learn from experience. If you are struggling with work-life balance or aren’t adjusting well to a full-time work schedule, realize that you may not be made to live like that, and that’s ok. There are other options out there!

Two: Seek help and advice from trusted family and friends. If you’re considering quitting a job or dropping out of college, get some different perspectives and make the decisions that are best for you and those you live with.

Three: Live a healthy lifestyle, including getting enough but not too much sleep, eating healthy, drinking plenty of water, and exercising. If you think you need to be getting more sleep each night, get on a better schedule. If you think you probably don’t drink enough water, make an effort to drink more. Only you can make healthy decisions for yourself!

Four: Take one day a week to rest. God tells us to take a day to rest in the Bible. He set the example for us in the beginning after He created the world. We are not made to work seven days a week. I believe this means we are not meant to work a full-time job through the week then clean the house and do chores the entire weekend. We are weak as humans, female and male, and we need a lot of sleep and rest to stay healthy. “It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.” Psalm 127:2

Five: Don’t compare! Maybe the career girl lifestyle is for you, and that’s great, but if it’s not -like it isn’t for me- it’s ok. It’s ok if you’re not athletic even if other girls are, and it’s ok if you don’t feel that continued education after high school would work or is working well for you, and it’s ok if you don’t want to work your life away. Not everyone is meant to be the same or live the same exact lifestyle. Don’t get down on yourself for being you!

Six: Visit a doctor. If you are easily fatigued or are inexplicably tired all the time, talk to your doctor about it. You may get your blood checked, which can help figure out what’s wrong. There’s a chance you’re deficient in something like iron or vitamin D. (Guess how I know that… (-;)

Ladies, don’t be ashamed of yourselves if you’re struggling to live up to what the world thinks a woman should be in this time and culture. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. God has given us His word to guide and direct our lives, and what He thinks is what truly matters.