Sisterhood of Faith

I recently discovered this little devotional book called Sisterhood of Faith, by Shirley Brosius. It's 365 "life changing stories about women who made a difference" and it features lots of names I recognize as well as names I don't.

I'm not a flaming women's rights sort of person, but I do believe that women are often given short shrift -- and I have run into some unfortunate attitudes in Christendom.

I'll never forget one day when I was in college. I was in chapel, sitting in the pew and minding my own business, when I happened to overhear the conversation of two young men behind me. One of them must have been looking around the auditorium, because he said to his friend, "You know, it's a shame about all of these girls here. If they get an education, none of them are going to want to be submissive."

Acccckk! As if only the ignorant can be submissive . . . or as if knowledge leads to stubbornness? (Well, maybe in does in some cases, but the wise woman knows the value of appropriate roles.) This was in . . . well, probably 1977. Things have changed a lot since then, but not in all circles.

(For the record, I do believe that in a head-to-head irresolvable conflict, the wife should let the husband's opinion hold sway. But in 26 years of marriage, I think we've had maybe one irresolvable conflict.) And outside of marriage, Scripture says we are all to submit to each other, each one of us esteeming others better than ourselves. )

In any case, it was a delight to find this little book. I look forward to reading about contemporary and historical Christian women who have made a difference in the world.

~~Angie