I read an article about Gen Z females’ interest in being a tradwife. I knew what Gen Z meant, but I had no idea what a tradwife was. I asked Google and received a logical answer. This is what I gleaned from the answer.
Some Gen Z females desire what the generation before mine wanted – get married, have children, raise the family and then go get a job if they wanted. I was a bit surprised to read this. Why? Because in my growing up days, it was the women’s liberal mindset. We are women; we’re just as good as men. We want a career and then maybe marriage and a family later.
I’m so thankful that I never followed that path in my life. I completed two years of college where I studied elementary education. Then Ed requested my hand in marriage and I said, “Yes.”
Even though I didn’t complete college to receive my teaching degree, God still provided opportunities in teaching. At the age of 16, I started teaching Vacation Bible School classes for children. I have spent 25 years teaching Sunday school classes and 23 years homeschooling. God knew my passion for teaching and gave me plenty of years to serve Him in this way.
As I considered the desires of some Gen Z women, I realized that I have slacked in recent days on fulfilling Titus 2:3-5.
“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”
In years past, I have taught several women how to can vegetables and fruits. I showed a couple females how to sew. I taught a class on the Titus 2 verses. Also, currently one granddaughter and I are actively learning all sorts of new handicrafts and skills as we anticipate entering lots of projects at our local fair in September.
Although the homemaker skills are important to know, I believe the greater goal is to train the younger women how to love their husbands and children. This, in turn, would reflect the women’s willingness to serve their husbands which is the same as serving God. Being self-controlled, pure, kind and submissive to their husbands reflects the characteristics of a godly woman.
With this new information about Gen Z, I think I need to dust off my teaching skills and invest some time into the lives of those who really want to follow God’s guidelines in scripture. I’m really thrilled to hear this change of heart in our younger generation. But I must do the tasks God mandated for me, an older woman, to follow His guidelines.
I toss that challenge out to any other older women who can be a mentor to any younger gal desiring to follow God’s guidelines. Being available is a good start.
Gail loves the Lord most of all. She delights in her calling to be a wife to Ed Malick and a mother to seven children and grandmother of 19. Ed is the sixth generation on the homestead family farm in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan.
Seeds of Hope
A teacher encouraged his class to be kind and think of the needs of the people around them. “Remember, kids, you were put here to help others.” One student protested, “But what were the others put here for?”
Life is not meant to be lived in isolation, focused only on our own needs. Without the countless acts of help we have received – from parents who nurtured us, teachers who patiently instructed us, friends who stood by us and strangers who offered kindness – we would not be where we are today. The love of Christ, who laid down His life for us, challenges us to remember: If we have been so generously helped, how can we withhold help from those around us?
As we choose to extend a helping hand, something beautiful happens. God meets us in our obedience. Every time we lift someone else up, we ourselves are drawn higher, closer to the heart of the One who helps us most. May today be marked by small, intentional acts of help: a listening ear, a word of encouragement and a helping hand. In giving help, we reflect the love we have received and discover anew that God is faithful to strengthen and sustain those who live for others.
Let us hold out our hands today and watch how He draws us all upward together.
Today’s Prayer: Lord, help me to be open to seeing others’ needs and strengthen me to help them. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Today’s Scripture: We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.
1 John 3:16-24
This article originally appeared on Farmers Advance: The tradwife trend: An older woman’s perspective on a new desire for old ways
Reporting by Gail Malick, Farmers’ Advance / Farmers Advance
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
