A recent heartbreaking and brutal crime in Delhi, India has sparked much conversation about women, safety, rights, crime, rape, etc.
I am praying that a problem that has long been present here…thru being brought into the LIGHT…will see some alleviation
This article says so much.
After reading it…I remembered this that I wrote a while back.
Actually, it is dated September 3,2011
(15 days before Adam was born..that is crazy…I had NO IDEA what was a comin…anyways back on track…)
09.0.11
“She is clothed with strength and dignity and laughs at the days to come”.
Solomon wrote of this woman.
Over the years I have read of this woman.
But.
I must confess.
The words of Elizabeth Bennet have always echoed in my mind, a bit derisively, to be honest.
For, “I never saw such a woman. She would certainly be a fearsome thing to behold”.
For this woman is up early.
To bed late.
Clothing her family in scarlet.
Considering and buying property.
Quite efficient in her household management.
Proactive in the community.
Skilled in her handiwork.
Loved by many.
Her intelligence is evident.
Yet she has a joy that can let her laugh at the days to come.
It seems as though it is a type of laughter that comes in submission.
Or freedom.
But I did not think that till recently.
<in case we need to be reminded of what “laughter” is>Then I read of the laughter of Elizabeth.
At the birth of son promised.
The son named for laughter, “he will laugh”
Why did she laugh?
When she realized.
Him.
Only.
Him.
Could bring such a life to be.
Circumstances.
They proved nil.
She tried to control many times.
Even caused much suffering and pain from her attempted control.
Yet.
He.
Prevailed.
So she laughed.
With promised babe in arms.
She laughed.
<love her. Asha Mission, 2009>Then the man of old, Job.
Infinite suffering seemed to follow him.
Through reading of him.
Suffering is understood.
Endurance shows strength.
Sovereignty is submitted to.
Fifth chapter speaks of a list of afflictions.
Wounds.
Calamities.
Famines.
Battles.
Swords.
Even destruction.
Wounds, they come.
From Him, even.
But rescue also.
Is from Him.
Calamities will arise.
Even seven of them.
Famines, battles, swords.
Nothing can separate us.
We are never told they will not come.
But we know Who is with us through it all.
Perhaps that is why verse 22 says
“you will LAUGH at destruction and famine and need not fear (beasts of the earth)”.
Really?
Laugh at destruction and famine?
Really, Sarah, laugh at all the years of infertility you have been through?
Really, Renaissance woman? Laugh at all the years of uncertainty ahead?
Why?
<Asha Mission, 2009>He.
Reigns.
He.
Sustains.
He.
Redeems.
He.
Never leaves.
He.
Nor forsakes.
For.
We do not serve One is who unable to sympathize with our weakness.
And because of this.
We can approach.
The THRONE.
Why? What kind of throne could we possibly approach?
A throne of Judgement?
No. (Not now atleast.)
A Throne of Grace.
In fear right?
No, in confidence.
How?
Through blood shed.
Our blood right?
No, His.
His blood.
So we just approach out of duty?
No, out of love.
Not fear.
For “perfect love casts out fear”.
So we approach this throne, say we love the One on the throne, and leave?
No, for at the throne.
We receive.
HIM.
What is Him?
Mercy.
Grace.
For what?
Our time of need.
Whether.
Famine.
Battle.
Infertility.
Swords.
Destruction.
Uncertain futures.
Broken families.
Those are times of need.
And we have a throne.
To approach.
In confidence, not in fear.
To receive grace and mercy.
What does that look like?
It looks like.
Him.
Behold.
Him!
<New mom>So I say all of this.
Yet around me I see many women who do not know.
Of this Throne.
They know of ‘thrones’.
For there are many attempted “thrones” here.
Beings are said to dwell in them and and ask of different things.
Perhaps obedience may merit approach.
Or gifts may merit it.
Or their suffering may merit it.
Or offerings may merit it.
But they do not know.
Of this Throne of Grace.
<Streets of Bijwasan. My mom said this pic makes her sad>But what do they know?
That they are suffering.
What do they know?
That 300 women die/day related to pregnancy in their nation. (1)
< India, new mom 3 days after birth.>What do they know?
That 45 women around their nation are raped every day. (1)
What do they know?
1 woman is trafficked every 46 minutes in their nation. (1)
<Siliguri, India; 2009; Taken by Liz Dawson>What do they know?
12,134 women committed suicide in their nation in a 4 year period.
(These suicides specific to dowry’s only)(1)
110, 124 housewives committed suicide in that same time (1)
What do they know?
So much more than stated here. And more than I will ever know.
Dark secrets and shames that stain their past.
Shadows that lurk in homes wrought with fear, suffering, and injustice.
Not knowing of the Throne.
What do they know?
<South India beach>They do not know of this High Priestly throne of grace and mercy.
Surely, His divine nature and eternal power.
Are clearly seen.
In creation.
But to approach this eternally powerful divinity seated on this throne?
They do not know that is possible.
Free for them.
Because the debt has been paid.
They do not know.
<Tamil Nadu, Gypsy woman selling beautiful jewelry>So how can I tell them to “laugh at the days to come”?
That is what I wrestle with.
But I will continue to approach the throne.
For I am promised grace and mercy in times of need.
And aren’t all moments, mercy needs?
Aren’t all moments, grace needs?
I believe they are.
And surely I long for grace and mercy to be known by the women here.
They don’t know it, but I long for it.
<asha mission, 2009, by Amandagrace>I long for them to laugh and see joy and meaning in life.
Even in suffering.
As Job did.
“you will laugh at destruction and famine”
It is painful. Not easy.
But nothing will separate us.
When we know Him.
It does not justify.
Nor simplify.
Justice still is needed.
These women should not have a life like this.
Yet while we are on this earth.
I don’t believe we will know an end to this.
<chawla village, 2006>Why?
Because I am here.
You are here.
We are here.
Mankind is here.
Therefore, sinners are here.
But.
One day.
Newness is coming.
Every tear wiped.
And new heavens and earth will stand.
Oh, if only they knew.
Of that throne.
Of that grace.
Of that mercy.
Pray that they would know!
Oh yes, there is nothing new under the sun.
For my elder sister, Amy, wrote of the strife of these women.
More than 100 years ago.
“Listen! Listen, English sisters.
hear an Indian sister’s plea
grievous wails, dark ills revealing
depths of human woe unsealing
borne across the deep blue sea.
we are dying, day by day.
with no light, no cheering ray” (2)
hear an Indian sister’s plea
grievous wails, dark ills revealing
depths of human woe unsealing
borne across the deep blue sea.
we are dying, day by day.
with no light, no cheering ray” (2)
No light?
He spoke “let there be light”.
I long that to be spoken into the deep recesses of souls and lives in this nation.
“Let there be light”
“Everything is beautiful in its own time”
And the hearts of man have been programmed for eternity.
He has set it so.
I cannot fathom what is to come.
In the lives of these beautiful women.
But He has fathomed it.
And He knows.
And He was.
And He is.
And He will be.
Forever, grace and mercy.
So I approach that throne.
Again today.
On behalf on the women.
Trafficked.
Dying.
Taking their own lives.
Yearning for meaning.
On behalf of them.
Please approach the throne.
Where grace and mercy abound.
Plead for them to know the Light.
The Water Living.
<outside delhi, 2006>At the Throne.
1 SWAYAM. Ending Violence Against Women.http://www.swayam.info/swayam_gi_leaflet_31mar.pdf
2 A Chance to Die, Amy Carmichael