Day Seventeen: That she would not be embarrassed of her femininity*
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. –Genesis 1:27
Elisabeth Eliot wrote this 15 years ago, it is even more true today:
I find myself in the sometimes quite uncomfortable position of having to belabor the obvious, and hold up examples of femininity to women who almost feel apologetic for being feminine or being womanly. I would remind you that femininity is not a curse. It is not even a triviality. It is a gift, a divine gift, to be accepted with both hands, and to thank God for. Because remember, it was His idea… .
The world would have our daughters believe their femininity is something to apologize for. It is not. Let us praise God for giving us the gift of femininity in our homes. Also let us pray that she might not be embarrassed by her femininity but “accept it with both hands” and glorify God through the gift of being female.
Lord, thank you for my daughter’s femininity. Thank you for her tenderness and sensitivity. I’m glad that she is a woman—and I’m thankful for all that this means. I pray Lord that she delights in this sacred calling of bearing your image as a female. Help her to rejoice in this gift and not be embarrassed by her femininity. Help her be the woman that you call her to be. May she reflect your glory.
—
*We prayed this same prayer for our wives a few months ago.
