Sisters Chat (Womanly Sisterhood)

Lizzi: Okay. Today I wanted to talk about sisterhood. Not only sisterhood by blood, but sisterhood through the blood of Christ, and also the sense of sisterhood with other women though the womanly bond

Maude: deep...

Lizzi: haha

Do you all get a sense of this sisterhood? It could be through good friends or even a bond with someone not known well

Maude: yes

Lizzi: Is there someone who has been there for you, like a sister? Can you think of a time when that has happened?

Esther: I remember a women I used to work with at Geyers. She was an older women (I was 16 at the time) but we had instant connection (or bond) I remember her looking at me and saying "you're christian, aren't you?"

Lizzi: That's so awesome!

Esther:  We just knew without talking to each other (or barely) that we were both Christians- it was such a neat experience! I have had moments like that with other people but never so strong immediately

Lizzi: That is so neat. It is so cool when the light shows through so obviously

Maude: I worked for the conservative Christian women's organization, Concerned Women for America, several years ago and the woman who was my boss there was one of those people. I am not a sensitive woman. I cry only on extremely rare occasions but this sister-in-Christ saw me at my most sensitive and was such a sweet support and friend. Like a sister.

Lizzi: That is really wonderful

Esther: I have been SO blessed by different women in my life. Obviously my sisters and Mother are huge! But, I have also had an older women really come along side me and journey with me on a particularly difficult year in my life. I was and continue to be so blessed by that relationship!

Lizzi: That she stood with you in your moment of need and was such a support

Esther: Maude, isn't it amazing how God brings the right people at the right time?

Lizzi: That's so true

Esther: I feel like my list could go on and on of all the special ladies in my life

Maude: It is.

Lizzi: I've been thinking about that and about the women who have touched my life and how I want to be a friend/ sister to other women in the same way

Maude: I'm a pretty big introvert so I don't have as many examples as Esther would but it is amazing the special bond one can share with another woman

Lizzi: Because sometimes physical, blood sisters aren't right there! Yeah, so true

Esther: I feel very strongly about loving, reaching out, and being vulnerable with sisters in Christ. This is something I actually feel very called to and have been very blessed by

Lizzi: That is one of my questions!

Maude: It is stinky that us girls can't be together but wonderful how God provides other sisters-in-Christ instead

Esther: beat ya to it

Lizzi: In what way do you feel led to be there for other "sisters"?

Esther: I think being willing to take some time for them that shows them that they are special to you. Listen to them. Invite them over

Maude: I like to prepare scones and tea and other delicate treats... Feed them, mostly! haha

Esther: YUMMY! I know I would be your best friend then! Bribe 'em with scones huh? Nobody could resist that!
Maude: That's how I get my friends!! lol

Lizzi: I have really felt the blessing of that since we've moved recently to a new location. Some women that have taken time to come out and have coffee and reach out to me when I needed it was invaluable. I want to be a woman like that. Focusing on other's needs instead of my own

Maude: Actually, I've been thinking a lot about women of young children in a new area - because I am there too
Lizzi: And in that, you get blessed too!

Esther: I think sometimes initiating a "book study" or something can be helpful though not necessary

Maude: Especially non-Christian women who don't have a church family

Lizzi: Yeah, those are really good ideas

Esther: I think that is great!

Lizzi: I have felt isolated in the past, and so I'm sure others get that way, too. It's important for ME to reach out to THEM, ya know?

Esther: It is way too easy to get "inward" focused. That's something my little family struggles with, so just looking for other people to love on is always a good thing.

Maude: I have moved zillions of times and I cannot understand how non-Christians find friends without a church.

Lizzi: Yeah

Esther: I know! Honestly, how do they?

Maude:  Work, I guess. Which makes it even more important for women to work outside the home then, you know?

Esther: Everybody wants a friend. So, instead of waiting around for someone to say "Hey, you look like a good friend!" Go be that good friend to them. You know? I try to make that my motto

Lizzi: That's good

Lizzi: What encouragement do you feel other women might need to hear in this day and age?

Esther: "You're not alone." I think a lot of Moms (women?) feel isolated. Like you were saying, Liz.

Lizzi: Yeah

Esther:  Getting so caught up changing 200 dirty diapers can really get to you after awhile

Maude: I think more than encouragement to "hear" is to get together with them - that is harder for me since I am not a naturally friendly person but important, I think.

Lizzi: And it is so easy (at least here in "city-mode") to pass people by without smiling. You know, to forget friendliness

Maude: The midwife who taught our birthing class said that in the first year of a baby's life he produces over 3,000 diapers. DEPRESSING!!!

Esther: I believe it! That is depressing

Lizzi: A good friend of mine blogged about the importance of moms just listening to other moms and repressing the huge desire to brag about their own kids or go on and on about their own stories. Listening is really important. That's great, Maude.

Esther:  Or complain about their husbands!

Maude: I was in DC the other day and smiled at a girl I passed on the street (I've been living in the country too long!) and she just stared blankly back at me!!

Lizzi:  Yup

Esther: I think some women also need to be encouraged to stop complaining and being so negative

Lizzi: Very true

Esther: I think we (as Christian women) need to have fellow sisters around us who have the right to say that to us and they only gain the right by us letting them enter our world and life

Lizzi: Yep. It is really a Christian necessity!

Esther: That is so sad, Maude! People don't know how to respond to friendliness anymore

Maude: It is sad

Lizzi: Has the recent feminist movement affected true feminism positively or negatively?

Maude: Negatively.

Maude: The "feminism" movement of the 60's or 70's taught that men and women were the same. Not equal, the same.

Esther: which is a LIE

Maude: That is just not true! Ask any married person!!

Lizzi: I feel that it greatly lends to that negative attitude you were talking about, Esther. Well, not really equal....That women are BETTER

Esther: hello look at little kids. Little boys and little girls could not be more different... and there ain't nothing wrong with that

Maude: True, the hyper-feminist say that we are better but only within the context of a man's role.

Lizzi: And look at how negatively masculinity and manliness is portrayed! Poor men. They have it really tough. We are taught that there is not really a "feminine" role.

Maude: Why can't they see the honour that a woman gains by being the best woman she can be and not trying to be a man?

Esther: I agree, Liz! I think a lot of women are "bogged down" but that is because they are taking on roles they never should have. And men are often sitting back not knowing how to take back the reigns women snatched from them

Maude: We are equally loved in the eyes of the Lord but we have different jobs. It isn't demeaning to have a different job, it is just different!

Lizzi: Well, and since it is no longer okay to simply be a woman, women are no longer content in their homemaking roles, right?

Maude: Women work and raise kids and take care of the household tasks. Men work and watch sports/play video games. Who exactly did feminism help?

Esther: Liz, right. Maude, nobody.
Maude: Except that so many women want to be able to stay home with their kids but feel compelled from society, their husbands, or their pocketbooks to work. They have as few choices as before!

Lizzi: And the men that want to step up and be the leader are squelched and demeaned Not good, ladies!
Maude: You're good at reprimanding, Lizzi! I can tell you're a mom!

Lizzi: Haha! Okay, so with all these heavy, depressing influences, what can we do to help change things?

Maude: I'm so glad you asked that question because a few lines ago I was thinking "I hope she asks what we can do about it!"

Esther:  We can display to the world (our friends, fellow women) what it looks like to be truly "feminine women" and that we are okay with that. We are okay with submitting to our husbands and letting them be the leaders

Maude: First of all, I think we are doing something. All three of us have chosen to stay home with our kids. That in and of itself, is influencing other women and teaching our children by example what we hope they will do when they are older.

Lizzi: And we can constantly seek the Word for guidance and encouragement in our own lives, so that we can share that peace with our "sisters"!

Maude: I think educating other women (and men!) about the importance of accepting our roles as women and the consequences feminist choices bring. I think I am able to relate to other women on this subject because I always wanted a career and never wanted children.
Lizzi:Yeah, that is very helpful! God can certainly use that as you minister!