Anything boys can do...

I think I was pretty much a feminist at the age of five. My favorite shirt was one that said, "Anything boys can do, girls can do BETTER". Who knew that in the early 80's such ideas were being placed into the minds of little girls? Of course I didn't think anything of it back then, in fact I grew up feisty, competitive, and independent and thought that was just fine. I wanted to be a lawyer or doctor and never wanted to get married. I pretty much had a very privileged life as far as things go. I was wild and free and most of the time unsupervised...I was always about doing my own thing and doing things my way.

THEN I went to FSU and met Jesus and my life changed forever. Part of that change was the fact that I did want to get married and that I did want to do high power things with my life, the High Power things of God. I thought I had moved along pretty well in my almost decade of knowing and following Christ. THEN I got married and realized that while parts of my life had changed forever, some of it had really stayed the same. As long as I was single I was free to do as I wanted, (that included moving to the other side of the world for a few years to chase my dream of sharing the One who changed my life with others who had not heard) and run from what I wanted (the parts of me that were not quite aligned with God's ideal). I was free to work where I wanted, when I wanted, and travel as I pleased. I was about me a lot of the time.

Being married has been a sanctifying process for me. I have battled, struggled, and learned more in the last 1 year and 10 months then I had in my previous Christian years before that. And last night, I lay in bed pondering on the fact that a lot of that is because I grew up a feminist. I once read that children who are raised Christian respond to situations in Christ while those who are brought up outside of him must spend their lives training so they may respond in a Christian manner. Never have I felt that so much as I do in this stage of my life. Just when I thought I had my life together, I got married, and realized that I was only a few strides out of the starting gates.

I still dream of being 80, sitting in my rocking chair with my grandchildren gathered all around me, with the white hair of wisdom gracing my head. It is a good thing I still have 50 years until then...it might just take that long...

Today I sat here and pondered with my assistant the fact that William Carey labored for so many years before seeing fruit. I marveled at Carey's faithfulness to the task he was called to despite not seeing fruit for a long time. He wondered if he would be able to persevere for years like Carey did. Then I realized that yesterday I got to talk to a legacy of William Carey's. Right here with me stood an Indian man who teaches at the college William Carey established. Wow, you talk about a legacy.

As for God providing, He did just that. Jon started his new job on Monday and so far seems to love it. This is the most excited I have seen him about anything in a long time. God is good.