The power we hold as women cannot be measured in the size of a paycheck.  Women have been holding the keys to true strength from the beginning of time.  When I hear some complain that life isn’t giving them a fair shake, or that they still aren’t equal to men in value, it makes my heart sad.  Much of that thinking is self-inflicted and doesn’t stand up to great testing.

Woman was designed by God to be a partner – a coworker – an encourager – an equal to man.  She was crafted from the rib of the man so she actually was taken from him.  This was God’s original design for His people.  When sin entered the world through disobedience, that partnership, along with our perfect union with God, was broken.  As the years went by and Satan infected the souls of men, there has been a constant power struggle over who is the best.

Throughout history, we’ve seen women trying to outdo men.  They use whatever means they have available to make that happen – whether it be their beauty, charm, seductiveness or lies.  Many women in power would take advantage of their position to put a man down or lay him victim to even the grip of death.

In modern times, the woman has often become the bread winner of the family.  Because of this additional stress on her, she feels used or abused, rather than appreciated or placed on a pedestal.  In addition to bringing home the bacon, she’s still responsible for putting it on the table.  She makes sure children have done their homework, she’s done two loads of wash, made appointments, done the shopping and numerous other jobs.  Who wouldn’t feel oppressed and stressed?

Getting back to that original idea of marriage being a partnership – somehow things have turned upside down.  When we look at our world today it seems that everything is that way.  The laws we used to hold sacred are now simply guidelines for living. They bear no consequences.  Respect for those in authority has deteriorated so much that no one trusts anyone anymore.  Not only that, but the roles of men and women have changed so much over time, there is often no difference in gender.  Maybe it’s time to go back in time. Maybe we should all jump into a time machine and go back to the Garden of Eden.  What was the difference then?

During the past fifty years, I’ve seen a huge change in the role of men in our society.  We’ve always had the womanizers – those who use women to their advantage by letting them do the bulk of the work, while they take the credit for it.  There are those who have been henpecked into believing they have no value in the family.  There are the dolts and idiots we see on the TV screen or in the movies.  Advertising also depicts men as fools.  Fathers now believe that they must become friends with their children, rather than guiding them through this thing called life.  They are not the spiritual leaders they once were in the family.

So where does our power lie as women?  Because God placed both men and women on a level playing field from the beginning, maybe we should start thinking of marriage as an equal opportunity relationship.  Both have jobs to do.  Both have responsibilities to each other and the rest of the family.  Both can work together to make that happen.  As soon as we realize that we have the same goals in mind, the job becomes less of a job and more of partnership.  When we add the most powerful ingredient – love – we have the perfect recipe.