Gratitude Friday...

* WARNING: This is long. Longer than my normal long. Maybe break it up over a couple of days. You know. Pretend like I actually wrote posts on more than two days this week.

Chris tells me his new work computer should be in next week. So that means, his current laptop will have the dubious honor of being at home. With me. Which might mean that I could use it more frequently.

I know ya'll are overjoyed.

The only time I can usually get to a computer is at night. There's stuff to do during the day. But Chris needs to work at night too. We do spend time together but he still has work to do. Hopefully, with the new computer, we can work together. How cute is that? The both of us sitting on the couch working on laptops.

That's almost like a date.

Okay, so this week in our ladies bible study we discussed the story of Leah and Rachel. Really, the whole thing is just plain sad. Anger, deceit, jealousy, loneliness, competition. Yuck. I doubt there is woman alive who can claim to have never felt any of those feelings in regard to another woman. We've all been there. One of the ladies even used an example from elementary school. Seriously, we start early.

Apart from being sad, I love how completely relatable God's word is to our modern lives. The entire story could easily be a soap opera. A random day in Middle School USA. Or a reality show.

The Real Housewives of Haran.

I think Rachel was the original Drama Queen. I love the explanation point when she says to Jacob "Give me children or I'll die!" Seriously. Can you not just see her pleading with him and hanging on to his robes? And then she uses her period as an excuse not to get up from her seat. Anyone else know of a girl in middle school who would use her period as an excuse to skip gym? So annoying. If I have to wear the ridiculous green gym outfit, you should too. Of course she was trying to hide the fact that she'd stolen some gods from her father. Which only makes her the original Lindsey Lohan.

Totally modern.

Leah doesn't get my sympathy vote either. She had to be a willing participant in the whole bridal switch plan. I even imagine her concocting the whole scheme herself and presenting it to her father. Can't back that up but that's what I know women are capable of. As much as Jacob loved Rachel, Leah loved Jacob. But oh how many times did I feel like a Leah! Why doesn't he like me? Why does he like her better? And haven't we all hoped something we DID would win them over? Maybe if I lost 5 lbs? Maybe if I baked him his favorite meal? Maybe if I provide him with a son? Heavens, the chick traded some apples (mandrakes) for a night with Jacob.

And honestly, not much of a fan of Jacob in this story either. It appears he's just a fool being played by these two women. Dude, exactly how dark was that tent after the wedding?

Of course, our bible study is about false idols. And there's so much to say about that in relation to this story. But this also got me thinking about how women treat each other. By nature, we can be awfully manipulative and down-right mean. We can say and do hurtful things to each other. Sometimes we know exactly what we're doing and other times its completely innocent.

While I was at home on maternity leave, I remember reading through a friend's blog and finding something that broke my heart. She had met with some friends and left in tears after hearing the ladies discuss the pros and cons of being a full-time homemaker. Mostly there were pros to being at home and cons to working. Those are pretty much the same thing. She is a working mother and wife and feels called to be both. She loves her job and she wrote she does not feel guilty about working outside the home. I remember thinking how wonderful it was to hear a woman say that. It's always nice to read stories of women fulfilling God's calling in their lives.

When I left my job, I was literally stunned by the responses I got. So many people telling me what a wonderful decision I was making and how blessed our family would be because of that sacrifice. Don't get me wrong, I was happy to have the support and considering how nervous I was, the affirmations were welcomed.

But I wonder why we don't say the same thing to the women who choose to work?

Do we affirm their decision? Do we offer them our support?

From my personal experience, no. Instead, when I would say I was going back to work, women would ask me if I had sick days saved up since you understand of course that the baby will be sick all the time. Or women would point out how hard it would be to balance everything. And sometimes they would just say Oh and then move on to something else.

I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs HEY, I LOVE MY FAMILY JUST AS MUCH AS YOU DO!

In my study of God's word, I don't find that being a stay at home mom or a working mom is the only path. The Wife of Nobel Character in Proverbs 31 makes garments and sells them. She even runs a vineyard. There are women of all kinds in the bible. Women who work (hello Deborah - anyone else hear the She-Ra theme? Totally on youtube.), widows, mothers and yes, deceivers and adulators. We're all there.

So what does this have to do with my gratitude list?

That I am grateful for God's calling. I am grateful He calls each of us and grateful that my call is unique in His kingdom. Just as my friend who's called to work is unique. Only she can fulfill the job He ordained for her. Like Jonny Diaz' song says "You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do."

Whether you have a full-time job, a part-time job, have kids, don't have kids, are married or single, we are all called as women to manage our homes and minister to our families. And that's not always the easiest thing for any of us. Especially when one of those family members is whining because mommy is busy trying to cook dinner.

My prayer is that we won't become like Leah and Rachel constantly competing to win the title of Most Loved and Adored. We all won that title when Christ hung on the cross and bore our sins. He loves us that much. I pray we will seek to love each other through Him and encourage every women as she seeks to follow God's unique calling for her life.

Thank you Lord for my family. Thank you for the opportunity to minister to them. Thank you for laundry and bottles to wash and floors to vacuum. Give me the wisdom to serve them as You would have me do. Thank you for leading me to this place in my life and thank you for my friends and your calling for their lives.