Our chapter this week is about heroes and it’s pretty timely in my life because I’ve been doing some thinking lately about the people I would consider heroes. In some ways, it disturbs me that many of my heroes aren’t real people – they’re people I’ve met in books! Although I do have a list of personal heroes that either exist now or did so some time in the past, that list is pretty small.
I have to agree with the author’s statement at the end of the chapter that Christian women often think their choices are more limited than they really are. I see it often, and have held myself back that way at times. I see moms say they can’t serve God because they have children, as if there is no middle ground between serving every moment and not serving at all. I see women who work outside the home say they have no time for a Bible study as if there’s only one “right” way and time to do it. The “all or nothing” approach keeps us from seeing that we have fare more choices than we take opportunity of.
On another note, I also loved her admission that something about the Bible bothered her. (She kinda upped her spot on my hero list by doing so, in fact!) I think something like that on occasion and then wonder if I’ve just committed blasphemy. But the truth is, I often wish more had been included or some details given to clear things up. And some of the Bible is hard for me to accept. I’d love for it to be some other way and often struggle with the “whys” as I study. It’s nice to hear I’m not alone in that.
One of my heroes is my paternal grandmother, Margaret Fair. She lived a hard life with a difficult first marriage and a large number of children to raise in near-poverty. But she was a gracious, loving woman who had a tender heart for others and lived her life with simple faith that stayed strong until the end. I’ve been convicted lately about how much I seem to whine about. God is sooo good, and I’m too busy whining to notice. I want that tender spirit that my grandmother had to be evident in me, that trust in God that kept her gracious and humble.
How about you? Who are your heroes? What thoughts did this chapter stir in you as you read it? Sound off in the comments section.
