Attitude - Ann

Good evening Ladies!
I found this to be a refreshing chapter. No, I am not a woman of perfect attitude, I definitely have lots of room to grow in this area but I just feel more at ease in a way after reading this chapter. Its kinda of freeing to be reminded of what it means to be a real woman and that it is okay to be a girl even though the world constantly tells us a different story. As Mary sadly points out, “due to the impact of the women’s movement, today’s women reject the very disposition that makes women uniquely feminine – the one that distinguishes them as Gods perfect counterpart to men.” And that “the biblical stance on the appropriate demeanor for women is extremely counter-cultural.” I like how she points out how valuable it is to be a "kind, gentle, faithful, pure, warm-hearted, tender and submissive" woman.
Now we will move on to my attitude. For the most part I think I have a good attitude, but after reading this chapter I was reminded that the person I that I just about solely express attitude towards is my hubby. My husband is the one who sees my grumpy, tired, stubborn, sassy smart-alicy ways more than anyone. Now, I do not think I give him attitude everyday, but I especially give that “You better do it my way" attitude when he does not pick up after himself or when he does not have the same eye for clean that I do, and I sometimes I even become jealous of his ability to look past a dirty room. I will say that I will work on being more gentle, warm and loving towards my hubby in this area. I also know that I can work on being more gentle, calm and amenable on a daily basis.
I enjoyed reading where Mary points out that I as a woman was created to joyfully and actively respond and receive. In addition I like how Mary points out that when we as women exercise the traits of gentleness, calmness and amenability, we exercise these traits in a uniquely feminine way. Sometimes I have thought it a burden to be a woman, but how special are we?! God is good!
Mary also points out that we must "die to self" and let God take over. Oh what a good reminder, and oh how difficult this is, but I know when I step aside,and listen to Him life is so much better somehow.
At the end of the Chapter Mary asks these questions and I have found them useful to reflect on.
When it comes to my attitude I have some choices to make:
Will accept the deceptive lie that God’s way will diminish me?
Am I going to fight the Fear factor?
Will I hang on to sin’s twisted distortion of what it means to be a woman?
Will I be transformed into whom the lord created me to be?
I am so glad we are reading this together! : )
I pray that as we journey on we will be able to say to God as Mary said in Luke 1:38 "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your work." May we learn to die to self and say "Yes" to God!