30 November 2011

Some inflammatory rhetoric, because I'm getting bored

It would appear that, generally speaking, one who detests the more normal functions of a woman's body, even if she who detests such functions is herself in so-called possession of that body, is fundamentally un-poetic. Which is to say, out of touch with the metaphysical, with who Woman is as She was created and as She exists even now as the Bride of Christ.

The Bride feeds her children from her Body. So, then, because this is what Woman does, this is also what women do, insofar as they are given to do so by God. To do otherwise when it has been given you to do is to deny your existence as a woman, and to become Something Else.

There are really but two choices for a woman who desires to be fully a woman: to remain a virgin and thence serve her neighbor out of love for Christ; to marry, chastely submit to her husband, and serve her own people out of love for Christ. Either choice is equally good, for the Woman is both virgin and mother, and thus, to have Woman reflected among us today, we need both virgins and mothers in our society, all working in their given roles to the best of their abilities as they have been blessed by God.

However, to try somehow to be both is aberrant and plain weird, because, then, what exactly are you?* There has been but one perfect reflection of the Virgin Mother: Mary, who bore unto us Christ, our Lord. The rest of us can't have it all, because "all" hasn't been proffered to us. We must choose. And if you are married, then you have chosen to have children insofar as they are given to you (Wives have the option of not having children? What does that even mean?). And once you have borne a child, then you have chosen to feed that child from your own body and to pour yourself out as a drink offering over the child, because this is what your Mother does for you. You cannot continue as if you were a virgin, just as the virgin cannot feed a child from her body. And yes, we live in a veil of tears, and it's difficult to die to yourself and to become your child's mother. I daresay, that very exercise is much of the point, for it is this exercise which makes a mother more like the Woman. As such, it is God's gift to women, further evidence that He loves us and counts us among His children. As if we needed any evidence beyond Christ's blood! But see how our cups overflow! Do you see?

Carry on.

*My friends, I know there are Hard Cases. I am sad with you.  

13 comments:

Rebekah said...

Through a glass, darkly.

Thank you.

Jane said...

Gauntlets,

Thank you, that is a great reminder and encouragement for me, as we (baby and I) work through the first couple weeks of feeding.

Katy said...

"There has been but one perfect reflection of the Virgin Mother: Mary, who bore unto us Christ, our Lord."

This reminds me, was someone on here going to comment on or review The Eternal Woman? Just wondering if that will be forthcoming. (Loved the book, although I think much of it was above my head. It ordered and made clear a lot of thoughts dancing in my brain's periphery.) I believe that little tome would cure a lot of so-self-called Christian feminists.

Anonymous said...

Off topic,

Has this been mentioned here and I just didn't notice?

I try to make a point of noticing stuff.

http://www.wittenbergacademy.org/staff.html

Mary P said...

"To do otherwise when it has been given you to do is to deny your existence as a woman, and to become Something Else."

This reminds me again of how false the image of the hard, steely, calloused looking "women" shown on tv really is. Babies (and husbands :-) seem to actually like soft, affectionate, "feminine" women.

I love your blog. It's very encouraging and some days the posts just help me stop taking myself and everyone else too abominably seriously. :-) Thanks!

Melrose said...

overflow indeed...sometimes even across the room :p

And thank you, I was having a detesting type of day today.

lisa said...

>>then you have chosen to feed that child from your own body and to pour yourself out as a drink offering over the child

It sounds so beautiful. You know, when you say it like that :)

cups overflowing = works on so many levels

MooreMama said...

My top three list of when I've felt most Womanly (listed chronologically, not in order of importance):
1) Heavily pregnant
2) Nursing my babies
3) Comforting/holding a sick toddler over the toilet/bathtub/sink while she alternated methods of discharge.

None of these were even remotely Victoria's Secret Worthy, but still, the fact remains...

And *snort* at the cups overflowing. yes, ma'am.

Anonymous said...

I don't know about you, but I often hear that a certain woman wouldn't be able to fulfill her God-given "vocation" if she had (more) children. BUT WAIT!!! If He sends them, they ARE your vocation! Why doesn't that explanation makes sense to others?

Reb. Mary said...

Gauntlets, we wish you were bored more often.

The Mama said...

If this is the fruit of your boredom, arrange your schedule to allow for it more often, please?

Dawn said...

Thank you, ladies. I heart you, too.

And Katy, as luck would have it, yes. :)

Ritzman said...

Wonderful post! That is all.
:D