Dear Men
Happy Women's Day to You too! Yes, each of you :)
We've come a long way in history with gender equality and it's something to be celebrated! My dream for this Women's Day would be for men to know that they are not somehow a side show on this day but to know that this is a 'battle' for all humanity. If we are not all treated with dignity then what have we gained?
I'd be a feminist if that meant that we showed consideration to all and gave anyone a voice who might otherwise be silenced; ff it meant loving all and serving all. However I honestly feel that the person or movement which represents what I would hope for, is found in Jesus.
As a follower of Christ, rather than a feminist I believe in the dignity of all people no matter which gender, and it would be my joy for you (men) to really truly know that we (women) are not opponents in any way or form. We are neither superior, nor inferior.
As Charles Wesley put it in verse:
Not from his head was woman took,
As made her husband to o'erlook;
Not from his feet, as one designed
The footstool of the stronger kind;
But fashioned for himself a bride;
An equal, taken from his side
We're in this game of life together. We're here on this planet side-by-side. If I could change one thing about how we interact between the sexes, it would be to quit pointing out the extremities of behaviour which characterize the genders and rather focus on our commonalities.
We have so much in common! Think again of that rib of Adams from which Eve was formed. What could be more close to his heart? A corny thought perhaps? Or comforting?
I have a very strong desire that all men would know that women are not some strange, never-to-be-understood creatures and there is much richness to be found in relating across the genders, as hard as it can seem at times. I hope you will be encouraged by these thoughts :)
Here are some further quotes which I find encouraging and inspiring in times of miscommunication and misunderstanding, and I hope you will appreciate them too:
"You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back" - Barbara De Angelis
"A conversation is a slippery creature. A conversation is a risk. A
real conversation changes the people who have it. It's about exchanging
ideas, considering other opinions, shifting positions. That's why
conversations are so difficult: You risk changing yourself, admitting
you were wrong, coming to appreciate the other person's perspective."
Jennifer Braunschweiger
"Difficult people are usually hurting people" - A saying of sorts, not sure of the origin.
"I always prefer to believe the best of everybody - it saves so much trouble" Rudyard Kipling
Love and appreciate you men!
Fondest regards,
Cath
