“My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For he hath remembered the lowly estate of his handmaiden…He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree…He hath filled the hungry with good things.” -Mary of Nazareth, Luke 1:46-53
Have you heard of the Girl Effect? A movement committed to realizing “the unique potential of 600 million adolescent girls to end poverty for themselves and the world”? If not, watch the video to get an idea of what it’s all about.
Of course, the solution isn’t really a girl. The solution is God. And yet, God is determined to include human beings in his redemptive purposes, and his decision to give girls–marginalized, oppressed, impoverished girls–a primary role in his plan has been scandalizing the power-brokers of society for millenia.
Many theologians consider the proto-euangelion of Genesis 3:14-15–the promise that the woman’s offspring would crush the Serpent’s head–to be the beginning of the covenant theme that ties all of scripture together. Right after the fall, in one of the darkest moments of human history, God says he’s got a plan to make everything right–and he’s going to bring a girl in to make it happen.
I wrote about this in “The Handmaidens Lowly Estate,” published last December in the Covenant Companion.
Even in a culture that didn’t place a high value on women, God was continually up-ending patriarchal social norms. God promised Abraham more offspring than he could count, but not just any offspring would do. Galatians 4 specifies that it was Sarah’s child through whom God’s plan would be played out, the child of the promise. The patriarch Isaac favored his burly, masculine firstborn, Esau, but God let Rebecca in on his plans from the get-go, telling her directly that Jacob, her quiet homebody, was the one who would receive his blessing. It was the overlooked, unloved Leah whom God included in the lineage of the Messiah, not Jacob’s beautiful, favored second wife, Rachel. And of course it was the woman’s offspring, Mary’s son, who claimed the ultimate victory over death, just as God had promised Eve. God refused to exclude women from a full, redemptive role in his purposes, even when society had other ideas.
I could give you a long list of statistics abut why supporting and empowering young girls who are living in poverty is a good idea–the most effective way, in fact, to fight systemic problems like hunger, AIDS, human trafficking, and infant and maternal death. But isn’t the fact that God insists on including girls in his redemptive plans for the world enough to convince us that we need to get with the program?
If you want to read a really good book about the Girl Effect (or perhaps we should call it the Ezer Effect) in action, pick up “Half the Church” by Carolyn Custis James. Here’s the video trailer:
I love this book. I love it so much that I wish I could buy every household in America a copy. I can’t do that, but, I will be giving away ONE FREE COPY of “Half the Church” on this blog! Leave a comment about why you think it’s important to empower girls, or share a story about how you’ve seen the Girl Effect in action. Or, if you prefer, write your own blog post about the Girl Effect (you can join other Girl Effect bloggers and link your post here), and leave a link and short explanation in my comments section for a chance at winning the book.
On Tuesday, Oct. 11, I’ll choose the comment I like the best, feature it on my blog, and mail the winner a copy of “Half the Church.” (Don’t put your address in the comments, though–I’ll email you for that!)
So, what’cha think? How have you seen God use girls to change the world?
I’d like to think that my daughter is irrepressible, that as she desires to follow God and use the talents he’s given her she will not be swayed by society’s mores and judgments. But I know that the hopes and plans of even the strongest people, women and men alike, can be crushed by the words and actions of others. And I know that my strong, smart daughter is no exception just as I am no exception.
She needs to be empowered, of course. We all do. The ultimate source of true power is the Holy Spirit, and I pray that he is carrying my daughter along in the way of Jesus Christ according to the will of the Father. God also chooses to use regular people, even a father like me, to strengthen and build up those around us. So I not only pray for my daughter, but try to encourage her and support her with what she needs – emotionally, physically, whatever .
This wonderful young woman (I practically gag at being forced to face the fact that my wonderful girl is now a wonderful woman) has plans, plans that she hopes to honor God with. She is pre-med and wants to become an Ob-Gyn. When I asked her if she wanted clinical work or a surgical practice (did I mention she’s really smart and talented?) she immediately told me that she does not want to do surgery because surgeons don’t get to develop long-term relationship with their patients and their families. Eventually she wants to work in a developing nation, delivering medical care to those who presently cannot even imagine what it is like to have a doctor of their own.
Why is it important to empower girls? As much as I’d like to say it’s because young women with as much promise as my daughter deserve to be supported and empowered, that’s not the real reason. So I’ll pose your question again: Why is it important to empower girls? Because girls are made in the image of God. And that’s reason enough.
Cheers,
Tim
“Why is it important to empower girls? Because girls are made in the image of God.”
Right on, Tim!!! And go Tim’s daughter!!! God created us all “on purpose,” to work out his will in this world, and as we support each other’s God-given callings, that facet of God’s glory we’re supposed to reflect and radiate to the world, we’re strengthening the body of Christ and working together to build God’s kingdom.
I love girls because God loves girls, and I happen to be one (all grown up on the outside).
My husband and I realize that the most influence we can have on the female world at the moment is with our two spirited girls, ages 8 and 10. Though we have many parenting moments that we’re not proud of, here is what we’ve tried to do to shape our sweet x chromosomed children.
No magazines that pigeon-hole females into man monsters and divas defile our tables in our home.
Our channels stay on programs that give opportunity to my girls to use their imaginations in their life goals.
Being Christ followers, we welcome the tough questions of how females were treated in scripture at times. We frequently talk about God’s heart on these matters.
We take apart commercials that objectify and attempt to manipulate their thinking.
My husband and I do an imperfect job of throwing energy at the positive behaviors of our girls and draining it from the negative. Our hope is that they will live their lives like that as they grow.
We frequently talk about a worthy life partner and contrast him to a poor one.
We make sure that they each have individual time with us so they know they’re worth it.
We know our girls will make their own choices. Some will make us wince and some will add a smile. We are confident that they will continue to practice the empowering things they’ve learned in the world around them. They are and will be our teachers, as we strive to uncover the injustices and dishonoring attitudes and get back to the unconditional love and complete purpose our Lord has for his precious x’s.
I love this, Margaret! So many great ideas for growing strong, happy, healthy girls! Makes me wish I had daughters.
Careful what you wish for there JR!
Tim
Why is it important to empower “girls”? I can answer that question with one word.
You.
You, my sweet girl. I am constantly amazed (and rightly proud) at how God is using you to impact your world. Our world. His world. And, that’s all I am going to say on this subject…ahhhh…except to say that, while I am out with a friend, tomorrow, I am going to buy that book!
Love you, Sweetface!
Thank you, Mom! xoxo!!!