A Woman's Touch

How blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
Who walks in His ways.
When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands,
You will be happy and it will be well with you.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
Within your house,
Your children like olive plants
Around your table.
Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed
Who fears the LORD.Families are important. God ordained them so. The Bible speaks about the value of family at every turn. Think about it, we call God in Heaven, “Father”, and our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ, His “Son”. The very essence of the Godhead is expressed in familial terms. Jesus also referred to Himself as the “Son of Man” throughout the Gospel Books. Furthermore, the Word of God refers to godly Wisdom as the “woman of the house”.Wisdom has built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars;
She has prepared her food, she has mixed her wine;
She has also set her table;
She has sent out her maidens, she calls
From the tops of the heights of the city:
“Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!”
To him who lacks understanding she says,
“Come, eat of my food
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
“Forsake your folly and live,
And proceed in the way of understanding.”While a man can labor with all his might to build a castle, might we agree that God has given women the privilege of making each shell of a house a home? A woman’s touch can turn even a cave into a delightful place of rest.Now before you single men get all up in arms, I’m not suggesting that your home isn’t “right” somehow…or lacking or incomplete…not at all. I’m merely pointing out that a woman’s touch is a grace gift from God…and it cannot be manufactured by the will of man. We humans must remember that God made man and woman in His own image, which means that this intangible quality that I’m writing about existed first, with God, Himself. I point this out so that we don’t write off femininity as mere semantics.A woman’s touch, especially in a home, is real. You can call it whatever you’d like - that’s not important - but, you’d better recognize it for what it is - grace.I suppose much of this has to do with the simple fact that man’s curse from the Fall in the Garden of Eden is to provide for himself and his family by the sweat of his brow (Genesis 3:17). When a man completes his daily labor, he comes home and leaves said labor outside of his abode. This must be why the proverbial bachelor pads are as much like hunting cabins as anything - LOL (I really hope you’re following this).God created women to complement man. It’s a beautiful thing. May I again suggest they are inclined to transform the inside of houses into homes?…will you give me that space (I know it’s difficult in today’s feminist society)? I’m not being a chauvinist; rather, this is my way of saying, “For once, let’s celebrate a woman’s God-given talents, especially in our homes!” Whether we are looking to our moms, our wives, or even our sisters, especially in the faith, we ought to see what God intended to give us…part of Himself!" God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27).You’re not a failure if you’re a woman who embraces being a homemaker. I’m not suggesting that you relegate your life to being “barefoot and pregnant”…I’m not that guy…and, more importantly, neither is your Creator (all you have to do is read Proverbs 31:10-31 to know this). I’m just saying that if you’re a woman, you’re a gift…just being a woman. Dwell on that…and then share the good news!Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.Ladies, celebrate your femininity. I know I am. Every good man does. Being a woman brings with it precious gifts from above, complementary to man’s. Embrace them wholly and stop allowing this sickening world to mar your beauty! Quit second guessing God’s perfect plan.Some might say, “Boy, that Ed Collins guy is a real doozy…I think he’s still living in the dark ages!” And the feminists will cheer. Say what you want about me, but at least I’m happy you’re a woman, even if you’re not.And remember, the resounding message to women in this world, under the guidance of the “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4), is that they ought to be disappointed with their lot, with how their Creator has made them. Ugh. From that perspective is sown the seed of malcontent and therefore a life of misery. Instead of embracing the idea of homemaking, the miserable woman tears it down along with her own happiness.The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.A woman’s touch is a precious thing, especially in the home. There’s an undeniable presence of femininity in the home of a godly woman. The doormat reads, “Welcome Home” rather than merely, “Food and Shelter”. Her home is draped in the most virtuous of ways. It’s an honest, humble, loving place. It’s warm and inviting. It’s precious.Let’s encourage the women in our lives to remember how beautiful God has made them, how very special they are to us. They are truly gifts, after all. Let us not even stop there, for the “god of this world” hates me for writing this…hates the idea of you being inspired by it…hates anyone who dares make a house a home.Satan hates a woman’s touch, as do his worldly followers, because it’s an indictment on all those who suggest God’s grace is insufficient.

Love in Christ,

Ed Collins