Sheep May Safely Graze

The Shepherdess by Johann Baptist Hofner
Courtesy of Allposters.com

"And I will give you shepherds after my own heart who will feed you with knowledge and understanding." ~ Jeremiah 3:15

My growing girl and I got away for a weekend together, just the two of us. It was delightful to have conversations with her about her interests and what she is thinking or concerned about.

We continue to slowly get through the Secret Keeper Girl Mother/Daughter Dates. This one took us to art galleries to observe God's beautiful masterpiece: woman.

Let your fountain be blessed,
and rejoice in the wife of your youth,
a lovely deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight;
be intoxicated always in her love.

Proverbs 5: 18-19

As women we were made to intoxicate one man, our husband. The responsibility to guard that power of intoxication for marriage is not easy when the world screams, "If you have it to flaunt and it feels good, do it." The fashion industry has also encouraged this in teenagers but also in younger girls of ages 8-12. Dannah Gresh addresses this issue on her website and in a four minute klove podcast.

As a parent I am the shepherd that God has appointed to guide my daughter in understanding what God designed femininity to be. The beauty of a woman's face and the curves of her body are God's design. It is meant to be admired and enjoyed in the context for which it was made. The world has twisted that and removed all the safe boundaries.

There is an enemy that wants to distort, lie, and ultimately destroy what God has intended true womanhood to be. The question is: Can we identify the lies and do we know the truth? It amazes me how even something as practical as what my daughter should wear comes back to theology (the knowledge of God) and His Master Plan for life. This will then shape my worldview and my decisions as to how I will instruct my daughter.

John Piper said, "Wimpy theology makes wimpy women. Wimpy theology simply does not give a woman a God that is big enough, strong enough, wise enough, and good enough to handle the realities of life in away that magnifies the infinite worth of Jesus Christ. Wimpy theology is plagued by woman-centeredness and man-centeredness. Wimpy theology doesn’t have the granite foundation of God’s sovereignty or the solid steel structure of a great God-centered purpose for all things." (For the whole message given to a group of women at the 2008 True Womanhood Conference click here.)

As I study the Scriptures and develop a strong theology regarding what God intended for true womanhood I am the shepherdess preparing to lead my lamb to a safe place to graze. This also uncovers what I didn't know as a young person and the errors that have occurred. The enemy has tried to play havoc in my heart and mind. Lies I once believed about myself creep up again. I was once a lamb and a wolf injured me at one point. As Jesus is my shepherd, he continues to heal and breathe life and truth to my heart and soul. My faithful actions to obey his call on my life to be the shepherdess to my daughter's understanding of biblical womanhood are steps toward continued healing and strength.

I don't want to be a wimpy woman. So, as I study theology and pass on what I'm learning to my daughter we will be strong women who can see the wolves coming. As I play Sheep May Safely Graze by J.S. Bach on the piano I pray for continued clarity from the Chief Shepherd. He promises to guide all who lack wisdom if we only ask for it.