It’s funny how these things come full circle in our lives. While working on the message about the need for women to find their identity in Christ, instead of in their relationships with others, I’ve been thinking a lot about the women I know who have embodied this, particularly the single missionary women I knew in Liberia. I’ll never forget seeing them zipping around ELWA on their mopeds, sundresses tucked around their legs, satchel hanging over their shoulder, grey braids flying out behind them. Heavens Angels!
Miss Pecht, in particular, kept coming to mind. Miss Pecht taught third grade at ELWA, and while she was a wonderful woman, I was always a little afraid of her. Miss Pecht was tough-the kind of tough that enables a woman to pick up stakes and move to Africa (in the 1960s, I believe, but it may have been earlier). Miss Pecht took no nonsense from anyone.
These strong, godly female role models are part of why I have such a hard time accepting some of American Christianity’s stereotypes about what womanhood should look like. Would anyone dare tell these fearless, groundbreaking female missionaries that they’re really not acting the way God created women to act? (Well, actually, I bet plenty of people told them that. They just refused to let it sway their decisions.) Pshaw. I’ll admit that occasionally, when I hear a certain famous, foul-mouthed preacher make wildly inappropriate remarks about women, I imagine him crammed into one of the tiny desks in Miss Pecht’s classroom, sweating under the African heat and the intensity of her glare. And I will tell you, friends, my money’s on Miss Pecht. No recess for him!
I was actually thinking of Miss Pecht so much this week that I typed her name into Google. And do you know what I found? Her obituary–Dorothy Pecht, 91, passed away one week ago, April 27, 2012.
Eschet chayil! Woman of valor!
So this post is in honor of Miss Pecht, and all the other strong, fearless female role models who have dared to break the mold for the sake of the gospel.
Let’s redefine femininity to fit THEM, shall we?
Fearless femininity is taking a job to support your family when your alcoholic father can’t.
Femininity is haranguing a university in the 1800s into letting you become a doctor, so you can do medical care for women in India.
Femininity is trekking through the jungles of Calabar, barefoot and in your underclothes, to save women from being executed as “witches.”
Femininity is staring down Liberian warlords and demanding peace.
Femininity is sitting under a palm tree, meting out justice and declaring the word of the Lord.
Femininity is hanging out on the streets and in the clubs, to become a safe person for women in the sex industry to turn to.
Femininity is loving the dying with a reckless, unbounded love.
To be feminine is to act like a woman, so there are as many ways to be feminine as there are women in the world. As long as those ways honor God, we should honor them.
Here’s to fearless femininity!
Thanks so much for this encouraging article! Lately this has been a big theme for me as a woman. I am currently a full-time ministry major because God called me to it in the midst of my reluctance. If it were not for Him, the opposition women face would have me pursuing all the wrong things and trying to be someone I am not. His call was greater than my insecurities and I thank Him for the boldness that He gives these outstanding women, which along with His gifts cannot be stored away from the world, even among the ignorant American loud mouthed personalities (’cause preaching is a gift and that title is too big for some people) on TV.
May we all, men and women, pursue God with all our heart and serve others with all His strength. Thanks again for letting us know about Miss Pecht’s
Glad to be an encouragement, Mimi!!! Keep going strong in His strength!!!
“… there are as many ways to be feminine as there are women in the world. As long as those ways honor God, we should honor them.”
Preach it, Sister! Whenever I hear someone try to say that they have discovered a “biblical model” for masculinity or femininity, I compare it to ways I see real life godly men and women glorify God and then I find that the proposed model just doesn’t stand up well to the real thing. Too often their model has more of a cultural base than a biblical base.
Godly gray haired pigtailed missionaries on mopeds glorifying our Savior through their lives and ministry sounds biblical to me. That moped rider could even be a man for all I care!
Tim
“Too often their model has more of a cultural base than a biblical base.” Preach, Brother! That can be applied to SO many issues the church faces, gender issues being just one of them.
Hi Jenny! God Bless you sister in Christ. I wish people wouldn’t worry about How we spread Gods word….but that we Are spreading it!! I am just a ladie who at 57 years old ended up learning to ride a Harley . The bike I have has the Lords hands on the tank, cross and thorns, and a white dove….it gives me so much joy to see people enjoy it, and starts conversations about faith! We each will stand before Him one day….and I just want to hear , well done good and faithful servant [smile] Thanks for this site to share!! And may Gods protecting angels be with all of us who ride..in Jesus name I pray …<3
Hope maybe another sister in Christ from Ohio runs across this!! Check out FB
Hello, I’ve only recently discovered your blog, so sorry my comments are so late.
Thanks heaps for the encouraging message here! Whenever people try to tell me that when a woman steps out in the way of your Miss Pecht, they are going against their God given role in life, I ask them- what exactly do you think Mother Tereasa was doing? And how could you say that wasn’t her calling?