Preparing for Motherhood

062008
1 Timothy 2: 11A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. 13For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15But women[a] will be saved[b] through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

Paul is writing to Timothy, giving him instructions for worship. Women must worship God through quietness and full submission. Earlier in the passage, Paul says that he tells the truth. God has a design and order for all things. It sounds like Paul is blaming the woman, but then he also says that women will be redeemed, or saved, through their offspring if they continue to worship God in faith, love, holiness, and propriety.

Reading this passage is a bit difficult for me. A sense of injustice flares up inside. I feel pride well up in my heart as I think to myself, “So I’m just good for making babies? I can’t teach or voice my feelings, my thoughts, or my convictions?” But because I have a relationship with God, I know that He loves me and that He values me. He sent His only Son to die for me! So I must look beyond the surface of my pride and see the true lesson that I must learn here. When I am silent on issues, it gives my husband an opportunity to speak up. I noticed that when I allow Hanzo to be the leader, he takes the lead. But when I take the lead, I often steer us in the wrong direction. Like the other day, I had impulsively agreed to some things, and then Hanzo had to come and show that he was the leader and fix it for us. I had indeed led us into a mess! I’m grateful though, that my husband will take the lead and get us out of those messes. However, that’s not to say he is blameless and never leads us into a mess. He’s still learning. We are both still so young, but if I continue to allow him to be my leader, then God will deal with him and show him how to lead better. Another gem that I find in this scripture is that God is finally preparing me for being a mom! I see that if I continue in faith, love, and holiness with propriety, that I will be a godly woman and a godly mother! Propriety means to be appropriate, or proper. I need to examine my ways and align them with what is proper. This is a very good thing for me to work on as I prepare for future motherhood.

Heavenly Father, thank you for Your love. Thank You for Your word. Lord, please forgive me for missing the mark and sinning. Lord, please show me how to be a noble wife. Prepare me, Lord, to be a mother. Lord, reveal to me things that I do that are not appropriate. Lead me in Your everlasting way! Lord, I pray for my husband, that You continue to raise up the leader in him. I thank You that I come under his covering, Lord. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.