Holy Women

Holy Women

This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands.

1 Peter 3:5

It is a sad fact that many children in the United States grow up in single-parent homes. That is not typical in Amish communities, as The Amish Way describes:

Except in cases where the husband has died or become severely disabled, the head of an Amish family is always a man. Amish men demonstrate their family leadership in a number of areas. As we have seen, family devotional practices such as prayers and scripture readings are typically led by the father, except when young children are the focus. The husband usually takes the lead in dealing with outsiders. Although most schoolteachers are women, the trustees who oversee the schools are invariably men.

Most other committees in Amish communities are composed entirely of men. An Amish wife is to be “subject to her husband” and “help and support her husband in every way.”

One might think that Amish women would despise their role, but the majority find joy in it. They receive care from their husbands and return the care. They even have fun in their roles. Here is a humorous story from the Budget: “This past week a young couple was on their way home from a friend’s house. As they were driving the wife noticed that the curve ahead did not get the attention of her husband. He was looking the other way. She wisely checked, and seeing that there was not much of a ditch with no fence posts close, she held her tongue. A bit later Mr. Byler found himself driving in a field.”

How do you see your role as a woman? If you are married, do you appreciate the role your spouse has? Do you see your own responsibilities as a gift rather than a burden?

Find a way to have fun in your role today. Doing so will lighten your load!

Dear heavenly Father, may I always see the role You’ve given me as a gift from You and appreciate it with a joyful heart.