I wrote this poem when I was nineteen and the women's lib movement was just getting underway.
Liberated? I was born free.
And each decision of my future made by me.
I chose to be mother and wife,
to fulfill all the days of my life.
Did my husband make me a slave?
Or was that the impression I gave?
Eve had the power of persuasion,
for Adam bit the apple on that occasion.
God gave women many powers to command,
thus to keep her man in the palm of her hand.
Why scream to be liberated?
It's the man who's dominated!
Since all the women seem so frustrated,
Our men's egos have been inflated:
"She feels she is beneath us.
It never occurred to me I was such a manly cuss!"
-gidget
My background is courtesy of Karen and Shirley's Background Archives. The welcome sign, Lion picture and large angel are from Sharons Graphics, the winking eyes and gorilla are from Mikes, he has an easy list which I just think is great! Considering how much time I spend hunting gifs. Thanks Mike.
Like many women, I do not believe in the Women's Lib Movement. Because after we stop and
consider the following, we tend to spoil our men and enjoy it.....
TODAY I DON'T HAVE TO:
1. ...take my carpets up, go hang them on a clothes line, put a scarf on my face and beat the carpets with a broom for hours while coughing in the flying dust.
2. ...go to the creek everyday, or drag out a wash board and tub to do the laundry or even use a wringer washer like my mother and grandmother did.
3. ...stand over a hot wood stove all day cooking meals and baking bread. Or getting up at the crack of dawn to get the stove going so my family can be warm, have hot water and breakfast when they arise.
4. ...strain my eyes trying to read, mend or do hobbies by candle or oil lamp light. Nor wonder what's lurking in the shadowy dark corners where light never reaches.
5. ...have rough, cracked and dried hands from washing clothes in a creek (even in freezing weather) or making soap with lye over a fire in the yard.
6. ...spend from dusk till dawn doing everyday chores just to survive.
7. ...use little paper fans to cool down while I'm doing housework.
8. ...wait until the next barn dance to hear music or go out and hitch up the buggy and drive for miles just to hear another adult voice.
I'm sure many of you could add to this list.
TODAY I CAN:
1. ...kick back in my recliner or my overstuffed rocker and leisurely watch soap operas all day.
2. ...flip a switch for bright light, entertainment, hot coffee and to regulate a comfortable temperature in the home.
3. ...drive my own car and be where I want to go in minutes and stay as long as I like and still make it home in time to care for my family.
4. ...reach into a refrigerator or freezer for ready made foods: loaves of bread, butter, jelly, peanut butter, the list is endless.
5. ...start up my vacuum and steam vac and clean and dry carpets in no time.
6. ...turn on a faucet and have instant water to do dishes or start the washer with the turn of a dial.
7. ...just pop food into the microwave when it is too hot to cook.
Who engineered the items that make our lives easier? Could it have been, MEN? What made them think up these ideas? Maybe because...
...he saw the woman he loved putting salve on her hands at the end of each day?
...he watched her age in a few short years?
...he watched the sweat rolling off her pretty face?
...Or maybe just because he loved her and watched her slave from sunrise to sunset to keep his home clean, his children and himself feed, and wearing herself out in the process?I have been spoiled, demanding, wanting everything my own way but after considering the life my grandmothers for generations must have endured I want to say:
"There are still men like this, that want to make our lives easier."
And to my husband I'd like to say:
"I thank you, Love, and I will never be embarrassed to stand up and say, 'I clean your house (best I can), wash your clothes (when I can remember) and do your dishes (before we run out) and stand silently behind you---HAPPILY AND PROUDLY!'"
The wood stove and front loading washer or dryer were made by me and animated by my daughter, Proverbs Women's clipart. The lavender kitchen is from Granny J's Gifs Galore and the tiny angel is from Dr Fun. They would love to have you drop by, so please don't disappoint them and sign their guestbooks while you are there. Thank you.
Should we work outside the home?
There are unavoidable circumstances where it it is necessary. The woman whose husband is disabled or there is no other provider in the home, etc. However, come, let us reason together. Since we have left our homes to take jobs our families have begun to fall apart.
Isaiah 3:4-5, 12 And I will give children to be their princes, and babes
shall rule over them. And the people shall be oppressed,
everyone by another, and everyone by his neighbor;
the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient,
and
the base against the honorable. As for my people,
children are their oppressors, and the women rule over them.
O my people, they who
lead thee cause thee to err,
and destroy the way of thy paths.
Our children are not supervised and are getting into terrible trouble, our husbands are coming home to chaos and are expected to do our jobs as well as their own. The husband no longer receives any reward for being married, with us working, he would do better with a maid and a lady of ill repute. What good is a wife in today's society?
The job market is so flooded with women that there are men who can no longer find work to support their families.
Many of us have gotten into a position where we have to work because we relied on both pay checks and one is no longer able to pay the extra bills we made as a result of the double income. This leaves two avenues, depending on our assets and what is truly important to us. The job or the family? If it is the family then selling off some assets may be the answer, things that aren't necessary to the families survival. We can also talk to credit consultants, accountants and others who might be able to suggest a way to live on one income and still make ends meet. The most practical way is to ask the Lord for help because He will honor such a decision.
Unfortunately, we live in a society where money is everything and children are learning their values from us. Money is more important than even our children. It's beautiful homes and fast cars that we value, not our children or even our spouses.
Have we sacrificed our loved ones to idols? (Psalms 106:36-38).
Has it fulfilled us?
Made us feel better about ourselves?
Given us a sense of accomplishment?
Or kept us too busy to think about it
If we put ourselves in God's hands can't He help us to start a business that will keep us at home? It would require trust and faith on our part but nothing is impossible with God. (Luke 1:7). Wouldn't it be better to have our own business at home than be a slave to an employer who gets the lions share of what your work has brought into his company? Whose making slaves of us, our husbands?
I submit, Sisters, that those of us who are able should go home to those who await us and throw ourselves into the raising of our children and become our husbands wives once again, to the glory of God. No one in the work place loves us or would even care very deeply if we left. And will those people be there when you are old and need a friend? The same cannot be said for our families. Our loss would be devastating to them. Have they lost us?
Credits: Woman with money, the car, business woman and the girl throwing kisses are from Mikes animated gifs list. The two children are from Jennifer's. And last but not least are my buttons, courtesy of Cottage Row Graphics. Cottage Row has lots of Victorian homes and a lot of other things and well worth the time to look around. Don't forget to sign everyone's guestbook!
© Pondering Profound Concepts
Created: June 2000