In Celebration of Being a Woman

Mrs. Lungleng (Tharawan) Sood *

"We love you Ningols" :: Ningol Chakkouba at MBC Church, IMphal on November 15 2012 :: Pix - HL

I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

India is a land where most of the people worship goddesses and believe women as the "spring of wealth" (Luxmi) of the family. Moreover, most of the festivals are closely related with women. But female fetus was removed before they were born, or baby girls were abandoned.

Girls are often considered a burden, less privileged, weaker sex and a commodity. Still in our modern society, some parents don't want to educate their daughters. They thought that educating them is a wastage of money because they will someday go to other/another family.

We failed to acknowledge the beauty, the strength and the potential of a girl who will someday become a wonderful mother, who has great role/influence in reforming our society/future, women have been an oppressed throughout the history and somehow considered as a baby-making machine. Many women feel defeated because their pasts have been a series of bad choices and leave them forever bitter and empty.

Even today many gifted and talented women are dumped in their kitchen, completely cutting off from society as if they have no other choice, or desire or rights of their own, like a bird caught in a cage, ceased its freedom to fly.

On the contrary, there were also women who held powerful impact. And there is no denying of the truth in this characterization of the sayings like, "Never underestimate the power of a woman" and "The hands that rocks the cradle rules the world", and "There is a woman behind every successful man".

Just being a positive woman in this negative world is a big challenge, and can be a strong testimony to God's grace and power. As a Christian woman, the more I read "The Living Word" the more I understand and realize the beauty and strength of a woman.

The book of Genesis gives a clear account. God saw everything He had made and it was very good. But it is not good that man should be alone, I will make him a helpmate. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and have dominion over everything. Let them rule". It is a mandate that they are to rule together; neither is to rule over other. God's idea in creation is equality, unity and mutuality. So, leadership should not be gender based but according to the gifts and talents God has placed upon them.

During one period of Israel's history, Judges were the highest ruler. Canaan had oppressed Israel for 20 years. Deborah, a very successful judge led troops with the military commander and won over Canaan and reign Israel in peace for 40 years. Both men and women played important parts in freeing Israel from the bondage of Egypt.

There are also few women in the Bible who are described a physically beautiful. Among them are Abigail and Queen Esther. Their stories were given to us as an illustration for women who used their beauty with discernment to achieve God's purpose. It was their qualities of sacrifice and obedience that enable them to become powerful women to save their household and community from annihilation.

There are also women who brought glory and have been praised: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba and Mary. The Samaritan woman at the well is the only person we have recorded of whom Jesus made a clear statement that "He was the Messiah", she became the first evangelist. And to Martha, Jesus first entrusted the message of comfort, "I am the Resurrection and the Life, anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die". The risen Christ first appears to women, and He sent women to tell the Good News of His Resurrection to the Eleven disciples.

Man is never complete without a woman because one of his ribs was taken out from him in order to create a woman 'helpmeet'. Infact, they complete each other, and together show forth God's Glory and wonders more fully than either can do alone. Both of them are interdependent. Nevertheless, in the Lord, woman is not dependent of man nor man is independent of woman, for as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman.

But everything from God. (I Cor. 11:11, 12) Man and woman are created equal but different. Motherhood is one of the most beautiful differences. Nothing on earth can take the place of a mother. Mother's love reflects God's love. God used women to carry out His wonderful plan. He gives more intuited power/sense to woman. It was woman who led the whole world into sin, and again after a long time of suffering in darkness, a ray of hope shone through a woman. Jesus Christ our savior was born a Virgin Mary. God blessed women with such great blessing and entitled with great names:

i) mother of all livings,
ii) Motherland/mother tongue,
iii) Crown to her husband,
iv) even the main board of the computer containing all the circuits is called motherboard.

She shall be mother of all nations; Kings of people shall be of hers. We are the mother of every great leader, of the best and of the worst. So, we have to be very careful and wise while choosing our part for we are wholly involved in reforming our society/future.

Praise and curse are the two weapons we have in our mouth. "Life and death are in the power of tongue. The choice is ours. (Prov. 18:21)

Prov. 31 talks about the wife of noble character; she is a good mother, virtuous wife, successful home maker, active investor, an efficient entrepreneur, vineyard keeper, weaver, tailor, clothes with strength and dignity, speaks with wisdom, she is also compared to a merchant ship for she is resourceful in providing for her family. Much more than these a modern woman is a pilot, astronaut, scientist, politician, social worker, pastor, doctor, etc., etc.

Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all, Her Children arise and called her blessed; Her husband also praises her. Charm is deceptive, the beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. She is more precious than precious Jewels. Give her the reward she has earned, let her works bring her praise at the city gate."

We are created very unique and very special to Him. We are His masterpiece. If you believe in yourself you can do great things. So, let us not hesitate to take our rightful place in the body of Christ and be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of our home.

I hope and believe that through this article, the world would learn to love and respect a very special and beautiful people called 'Women'. Let us be thankful to our Creator for having created us as women. Celebrate the womanhood!