The scope of biblical womanhood

I often wonder what it's like to be my daughter.  She's 22, a grad student, and single.  We are fortunate enough to have much biblical womanhood encouragement for young mothers.  I hope there is as much for women like my daughter. 

My daughter faces issues that need a biblical mindset.  She faces issues like being able to support herself, looking ahead to how her job will continue to be a means of living for herself.   She's not in a purgatory-like place, biding her time until a man comes along.  She's living a life she's consciously chosen.  She's a grad student.  That means she faces issues such as academic integrity, faculty and student problems, competing worldviews, and how she can live her faith out in a very post-Christian environment.  There are many women writing about the challenge of being young mothers; are there women writing about the challenge of being a single woman?  There is something very daunting to a 22 year old about supporting herself.  She may marry some day, but right now, she's not in that position, and it is the height of folly and arrogance to assume that every woman will get married and have children.  

I'm thankful that the gospel is big enough to encompass the many different kinds of women it ministers to:  single mothers, divorced women, widows, single girls just setting out, married housewives like me.  May we all encourage one another, and be willing to move outside our little circles and encourage someone from a different place than the one we're in.  Christian women should not give into the temptation to make life like the high school cafeteria, with its little cliques and factions.  May we be generous with each other and willing to reach out (and no, I'm not advocating ecumenism, so don't even bother thinking that). Don't assume that just because a woman has no children to chase after and no barf to clean up off the bathroom floor that she doesn't have stress or struggles.  Also don't assume she's selfish because she doesn't have any children yet.  God calls us to different things at different times.  Oh, if we would all remember that, how much less criticism we'd be prone to doing.

May I be someone who encourages single Christian women as they pursue a biblical life where they are.

Comments

[persis]

"I'm thankful that the gospel is big enough to encompass the many different kinds of women it ministers to"

Amen, Kim! My daughter and I were just talking about this tonight. Too often our practice and preference takes precedence over biblical principles which leads to a one size fits all mentality. We end up comparing ourselves to one another and either feel like we've fallen short or think we've got it nailed.