The LORD has blessed me with three of the most beautiful girls any man could hope to marry, and I'll tell the world- without hesitation- that my girls have a safe place to live until the day I give them away in marriage. I love them, and when you love something, you protect it. How many men wouldn't even leave their xbox out in the rain, but would have no problem leaving their daughters out in the world unprotected, unprepared, and unloved. Oh, but, "I do love my daughter," they'll say, and I say, "nonsense," you love your freedom and extra money more than you love your daughter, and that's why the wolves are well fed tonight!
A daughter should be protected by her dad until it's no longer possible to do so. When he walks her down the aisle and places her hand into the hand of her husband, the exchange should be more than tradition, it should be symbolic of what has truly occurred; she was cared for and protected by her dad, and now that duty passes to her husband. And while we're on the subject, may I say that the white dress should mean she's a virgin?- or would that upset too many people? Indeed, to raise a virgin daughter to adulthood, and give her away pure and undefiled to her husband is a lofty goal in the culture we live in, but guess what, we serve a God who has declared that with Him, "all things are possible."
Nehemiah says that men are supposed to fight for their sons and daughters (Neh. 4:14), not give them to the enemy for his own pleasures. No age is mentioned in scripture when men are to stop doing this either. We can apply wisdom to this, and understand that not all families are in tact and walking with the LORD. We all know girls who, for one reason or another, don't have a dad to protect them, and to them I say, there's still a way. Maybe other Godly men in your family can oversee your affairs, or perhaps an Elder or Deacon at your church. I'm sure any Godly man would relish the opportunity to protect and invest in the life of a sister in Christ.
So go ahead, men, dream big for your daughters, don't settle for the low, sleezy standard that our culture says is normal. Get a vision for beautiful girlhood from scripture and take the steps necessary to see it come to fruition. They don't have to look like Miley, LiLo, JLo, Gaga, Britney, or Katy to be special, accepted, and loved; all they have to do is be who God made them, and not who culture hopes they become.
Your girls should not fear growing up thinking that they'll have to move out, get a job, and make it on their own: they should grow up knowing that their dad will always provide a safe a place for them to live and grow, to prosper and mature, to learn and develop, and to be courted and wed. God has a plan for girls, and it isn't what we see all around us. Give your daughters to the LORD and see what He does with them. Don't give them to the wolves, because we all know what they'll do. Protect your girls...they'll be eternally grateful you did!
~Strength and Honor~
6 comments:
Hi. I just wanted to comment on your post because it really spoke to my heart.
When I was 17, my family let me know it was time to get a job and make plans for where I would go after graduation. They wanted me to either go away to school or start thinking about where I would get an apartment. I remember this as being a scary time for me. I wasn't ready to leave home. I still felt like a child. And, I was a child! I wish my family had let me be that young girl rather than pushing me into the world when I was not ready.
I'm so proud that my husband has said that our daughter will leave home when she is ready, and that her home is her home, it never ends at a certain age.
Thank you!
Hi Brighide,
Thanks for sharing your story with us. I was saddened to hear about your experience, but happy that your husband is breaking that cycle.
May God's grace continue to flow in your life making whole that which was broken... :-)
Fathers must protect their daughters, mothers must raise up them in a perfect feminine way.
Thanks for this post, some feminist fathers are trying to raise up their daughters like boys. So do not allow this thing to happen. we must refuse the whole concept of feminism.
Thanks for the comment, Dulantha!
Hi, I am now a single mom with four of my six kids at home, one in college and engaged and another married. I am single. I have asked numerous men in my church to mentor one of my sons that hasn't had much over the years from his dad. None have stepped up. I just keep lifting him and the others up to God and reminding Him of their needs. I can not be male and I find now it is best if I step back so he will have room to become male. It is hard for me not to nurture him so much but I must step back.
As to safety, my former husband would put me out front to take the blows and protect the children. I always figured if someone broke in I would be his body sheild and the kids'. This is not the place of a wife and she is not designed to handle the stress of being the head of the household, as I am now, nor a protector. And from day one I was never wanted or loved by my husband. I reamained for more than twenty years because marriage is to be for life- but not for abuse.
Thank you for encouraging men to be men for their families. Women are not designed in a way to take those roles on.
Joy,
Thanks so much for the kind words of encouragement.
It's very upsetting to read about men who have abandoned their positions and responsibilities, and have left single moms bearing a burden the LORD didn't create them to bear.
I will pray that the LORD provides someone who will mentor your son and there's anything I can do from a distance, please don't hesitate to ask!
Post a Comment