by Arlene James
Or maybe not.
God’s spirit had ever dwelled in this place, carried in the hearts of so many of His children. No wonder that love was so easily born here.
“May it ever be,” Hypatia whispered. “May it ever be.”
* * *
Leaning against the fender of his pickup truck, Dale sighed with satisfaction and tightened his arms about Petra’s shoulders. She laid her head back against his shoulder, smiled and lifted her hands to his forearms, which were stacked loosely beneath her chin. Above the dark form of the magnolia tree in the side yard of Chatam House, the moon hung in the night sky, a perfect melon slice against velvet black. They had turned off the electric light of the porte cochere in order to see the starlight more clearly.
“Do you ever wonder what heaven is like?” Dale asked.
“Oh, yes.”
“It must be like this,” he mused in a husky voice.
Petra chuckled. “Maybe a little cooler than summer in Texas.”
He smiled down at her. “Okay, I’ll give you that. Otherwise, this evening is as perfect as you.”
Frowning, Petra turned within the circle of his arms. “I’m nowhere near perfect. In fact, I have to tell you that, as happy as I am, I’m a little frightened, too.”
Dale drew back a little, obviously troubled. “Frightened? Surely not of me.”
She hooked her hands over the strong ridges of his shoulders. “No, of me. I want to be your wife and the mother of your children, but…”
“You want to work, too. I understand that and honor it.”
“I—I’m just afraid that I won’t be able to do it all,” she confessed.
“Well, of course you can’t,” he said lightly, “not on your own. No one can. But you won’t be alone in this. I’ll be right here with you every step of the way. Together, with faith, we’ll seek God’s will at every turn, and He will never fail us.”
* * * * *
Dear Reader,
I have been blessed to work from my home. This has been a joy and a blessing for me and my family, especially as so many moms do not have that luxury. Many wives and mothers work outside of their homes simply because they must. Let’s face it, even those wives and mothers who do not work at “outside” occupations have full-time jobs just keeping their families going. So why would any wife and mother choose to work at a paying job outside of her home, let alone embark upon a career?
Well, because she can and, often, because she should.
Women have so much to offer! The man who understands this fact is wise, and the woman who finds such a man is blessed. As a careful study of Proverbs 31 shows, it has always been so, despite what some would have you believe. Hallelujah!
God bless,
Arlene James
Questions for Discussion
Petra’s parents wanted their daughters to be career women, to “give back to society” and “make a difference in the world.” Is this normal? Admirable?
Petra was confused about what her role should be. Should she marry or should she have a career? Do young women really struggle with this question?
Does conflict remain within the Christian community about a married woman’s role and whether she should work outside her home? Why or why not?
For much of history, a woman’s role was confined to the home. Did good reasons for that exist? If so, what were those reasons? Were some of those reasons unfair? If so, how and why?
Why would a wife and mother choose to work outside her home today?
Might the family of a woman who chooses to work outside her home suffer because of her decision? If so, how?
How can a woman who chooses to work outside her home keep her family from suffering because of her decision?
Dale’s mother and sister both chose not to work outside the home. Why would a wife and mother choose not to work outside her home today?
Might the family of a woman who chooses not to work outside her home suffer because of her decision? If so, how?
How can a woman who chooses not to work outside her home keep her family from suffering because of her decision?
Proverbs 31:10-32 describes the “Wife of Noble Character.” Can this description be applied to today’s woman? Please detail.
As a parent, would you be supportive of an adult, married daughter who chose to work outside her home? Of an adult married daughter who chose not to work outside her home?
As a parent, would you be supportive of an adult, married daughter, who is also a mother, choosing to work outside her home? Of an adult married daughter, who is also a mother, choosing not to work outside her home?
Odelia Chatam and Kent Monroe chose to marry in their mid-seventies, well past the age when they might start a family. Why would they choose to do this? Does it seem reasonable to you? Why or why not?
Not only did Odelia and Kent choose to marry, they chose to do so in a certain style. What do you think of that choice? Does it seem reasonable to you? Why or why not?
ISBN: 9781459227804
Copyright © 2012 by Deborah Rather
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