The Five Aspects of Woman: A Biblical Theology of Femininity has been one of the most influential Bible study courses of my life. If I had previously thought, based on a cursory reading of Scripture, that women must have been created “a little bit lesser” than men, this study proved me wrong and opened my eyes to the incredible and purposeful design with which God has created woman. Equal in worth, dignity, and purpose to the man, yet distinct in design, calling, and role.

The first three Aspects, based on the author’s seven (or so) year commitment to study and distill the themes of womanhood throughout the Bible, are Ruler/Steward, Helper, and Lifegiver. 

The Ruler/Steward Aspect comes from Genesis 1:

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” v. 27-28

Together with the man she is called by God to be a Ruler and Steward of God’s creation.

The Helper Aspect comes from Genesis 2:

…but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.  v. 20-22

The animals were not suitable helpers, companions, or co-laborers to Adam.  Eve was, and Adam was pretty thrilled about it!

And the Lifegiver Aspect comes from Genesis 3:

I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, In pain you will bring forth children. v. 16

and

Now the man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living.  v. 20

In the midst of the consequences of their disobedience, the couple learns that Eve will, and now with great difficulty, bear children.

All women, no matter their marital status, or childbearing capabilities are called, equipped, and uniquely designed to live out these Aspects – stewards, helpers, lifegivers – they just look a little different for single or childless women. And men obviously have these capabilities, too, but they are not as specific to men, biblically speaking.

It’s the Steward and Lifegiver Aspects I want to focus on and connect today – especially as they relate to motherhood.

I remember the day we brought Kory, our first child, home from the hospital. Kory was born in Austin, TX. It was June, and I had just finished a year of teaching first grade and a subsequent mission trip to Mexico with about 30 teenagers at the end of my eighth month of pregnancy. We’d had a couple of weeks at home before Kory was born. I was actually painting a room at the church when I went into labor. We spent a couple of extra days in the hospital due to a torn cervix, blood loss, and pulled pelvic ligaments. The recovery was pretty slow even once home, but I still went to youth camp the next week, because I did not want to be away from Robert who was one of the directors that year.

(I am a poster child for “pain in childbirth” and probably would not be here today except for the advances in modern medicine. Actually, I know I wouldn’t be here. Nor would Cooper or Kayla. I may also be a poster child for lack of boundaries and knowing my limits. Sheesh.)

Anyway, we got home on a Saturday afternoon, and because Robert had to preach the next morning, he left for his office at the church soon after our arrival to print his notes and practice his sermon. Alone in our home with a newborn, I became totally overwhelmed with this new and huge responsibility.

I almost called the hospital to see if I could come back for a few days. They knew what to do with fragile mamas and tiny newborns there. Tears of fear and helpless inadequacy fell on my precious newborn as I pushed through the evening to feed and diaper and console.

I think that evening alone was ordained by God to build up my confidence, though. He carried me through and opened my eyes to the calling of motherhood. He showed me that I was not alone, and that He was my help. Kory and I not only survived but thrived that evening and in the days to come. I could do this motherhood thing after all – through Christ who strengthens me.

Because she has been created both a Lifegiver and a Ruler/Steward, it logically follows that her main stewardship responsibility is her children. Like the talents (a monetary unit equal to 20 years wages) given to the servants in the Parable of the Talents, a child is given as a gift – something to steward well and to the benefit of the Giver.

Here are some other passages that indicate the inherent authority and stewardship responsibilities of mothers (and parents):

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. Exodus 20: 12

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.  Deuteronomy 6: 6-7

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:11-12

My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching. Proverbs 6:20

The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. Proverbs 29:15

Those verses indicate action and diligence, not passivity and indulgence. Read altogether (and there are many more) they can seem either inspiring or overwhelming. But one thing is clear: mothers are to teach, train, be an authority, discipline, and impart faith (as much as possible) to their children.

There’s an interesting passage in 2 Corinthians 8:

I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. v. 10-11

It’s about generosity – specifically the giving of money to help other churches. It addresses the dwindling desire and willingness the Corinthians experienced regarding this help. They started out excited and eager, but now Paul is having to encourage them to have the same eagerness with which they started. It’s a familiar human struggle.

I’m thinking of a few craft and remodeling projects I’ve been eager to start.

Being pregnant, caring for, and dressing up a tiny, adorable newborn is something many women long for.  Maintaining that same eagerness in caring for, teaching, instructing, disciplining, and imparting spiritual insight for the long haul is so much harder. When that first angry slap or defiant “no” comes from that precious babe, the excitement can definitely wane. More often than we want to believe, mothers abandon the task altogether – in subtle or overt ways. Honestly, it’s not too difficult to understand. Giving up along the way is tempting. The task seems impossible at times.

But just like God’s grace and strength were there in my evening alone with my firstborn, they were there in every day of the twenty or so years of raising them. Accessing grace and strength for the kind of diligent stewardship indicated in that list of verses above takes some thought, prayer, and strategy though. Just like any other long-term project or investment, but with greater rewards and risks.

So tomorrow…

God’s long view approach with His children.

A CEO’s vision for his company?

A teacher’s goals for her students?

What does beginning with the end in mind look like in regard to raising children?

I really don’t have the answers, just some thoughts and principles that I’ve seen and tried.

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Also…there is a book out there by Gloria Furman called Missional Motherhood, but I haven’t read it yet. I did listen to a podcast in which the author is interviewed and from that I think I can heartily recommend it!

But I do love this book by Sally Clarkson: The Mission of Motherhood. It encouraged me to reach beyond some limitations I was putting on myself as a steward of my children and strive to make childhood more of a learning and relational adventure for my own kids.