what grieves me most is the thought of not seeking the truth, and please understand, that’s all i’m striving for. i’m not trying to be political or controversial or anti-cultural.
i’ve realized recently, since having more and more disordered eaters and their families asking me how i recovered, and wanting a set answer, that i have no answers. no, all i have is Jesus.
so i tell you this, in the hopes that you’ll have grace. when i tell you that i’m not sure we’re on the right track with our approach to feminism...
(follow me over to A Deeper Family HERE, friends, for the rest of this post? thank you...)
*linking with heather and jen
could I love you more?
ReplyDeletethank you amber. from my heart...
DeleteDidn't want to enter into the conversation over there but I thank you for being a brave and beautiful woman after God's own heart...
ReplyDelete.
oh dea, thank you. i need all of the encouragement i can get right now. :) love you.
DeleteEvery word you write, I love. Thankful for you & your brave heart.
ReplyDeleteoh miranda, thank you. this means so much, friend. xo
DeleteDitto what these ladies have said. Your courage is inspiring. xxoo
ReplyDeletethank you so much nicole. bless you. e.
DeleteI support you in every beautiful, careful word. This is truth, my friend. I didn't read any of the comments, but I can only imagine the range. I will keep you in prayer as you write this series. Jesus is smiling big at you, girl. Love you.
ReplyDeletechristine, do you know what this means, coming from you? i respect you so much. i know you seek God with everything in you. thank you friend.
DeleteLove this, and your candid heart...and especially your pursuit of just truth and just Jesus. The rest is complication, modern day religion of do's and don'ts and should's and should not's. This post is what I base my non-profit on, not the pursuit of being anyone other than the divinely gifted woman God has called us each to be, making the impact in our little worlds He has called us to. Thank you for not being afraid to "go there." I know opinions and thoughts put into cyber world often whip up backlash...praying for your heart to hear the good and be encouraged, in spite of differing opinions. Looking forward to my book in the mail soon :) xoxox
ReplyDelete"the rest is complication." oh friend, don't i know it. thank you for standing alongside me in this. love you.
DeleteDearest Emily,
ReplyDeleteFirst, I love you.
I had just written a long and rambling comment that went missing. Maybe it's the Spirit's way of encouraging brevity.
Here's the thing. Do I agree with you? No. At one point I did, I've rethought some things, but in no way do I feel as if I'm "correct" or enlightened or that I have it figured out.
What I read today wasn't a treatise on feminism - it was a brave soul sharing her heart and her thought process, hoping to engage in some healthy and honest dialogue. I'm sorry you haven't experienced that.
You are a child of God who is spending every moment of every day connecting people to their Creator and helping them find wholeness, whether it is through the boys that run through your home, your art, your writing, or sharing your story. You are to be applauded. Your Father is so proud of you.
I wish I had the energy to get on the DS site and put my comment there. I feel weak, scared, and honestly so tired. So instead I put my words here. I'm sorry I can't be a better advocate for you.
Thank you for sharing your heart and inviting us to your journey. Not many people are able to be transparent. You are a gift.
What I have witnessed in the past two days has saddened me. Whether it is a comment on your piece that is unfair or people's being unkind to RHE - people - Chrisitans - on all sides of the "feminist" debate are not doing a good job glorifying God this week. I'm sorry you ended up in the cross-hairs.
I don't think that all the comments were unfair, and I know you don't think that either, but I think we need to allow space for our brothers and sisters in Christ to dialogue without making everything such a fight.
I walk away from your piece a little sad - I turned off Twitter for the night because my spirit just felt sick.
But most importantly, I walk away, not thinking about feminism, but thinking about those who fight human trafficking. Those who are abused by their husbands both here and abroad. And I think about how blessed we are to be able to read the words of someone who wants to point people to Jesus.
Well done, Em! I'm proud of you.
oh brenna. yes. this is the heart of what i wanted to say. thank you, for hearing my heart, my longing. for seeing me, in spite of all of my flaws. you my friend are a kindred spirit. and your advocacy here is more than enough friend. it strengthens me to carry on. love you. xoxo
DeleteThis was such a brave post for a woman of your generation. And, maybe because you are a woman of your generation you will be heard. I know if it were me, a 50 something woman, I would sound like a teacher in a Charlie Brown special (whaa, whaa, whaa,). We are blessed to live in nations where there is the promise of working hard and bettering your position. We are blessed to live in nations where marriage between a man and a woman can result in a partnership that not only encourages raising a family, but paying your bills and prospering. God bless you and your family, my friend.
ReplyDeleteoh friend. thank you. i know i sounded brave but i'm actually a huge weakling. but i just felt so convicted that i needed to write this. i really appreciate your encouragement. love to you.
DeleteI've got to say I enjoyed the entire article because it made me think. I love things that make me think. I noticed that some of the comments over at deeper are maybe missing the point, or they have not followed your previous writing.
ReplyDeleteI have always found the things you write are not written to strong arm someone into a position they aren't comfortable with. Instead I find your writing opens windows of understanding between us the reader, and your subjects, and above all challenges us, your readers, to grow stronger.
You do not write to make us weak.
Thanks for this. Hang tough. I'm dedicating the last verse of my post over at everyonelisten.com today to you, as it most reflects what I think you bring to the Christian blogosphere, namely seeking out the good, and sharing the peace that passes understanding.
this makes me teary, robert. thank you. for standing in the gap for me, this way. bless you friend.
DeleteI think this has been a tough day for you, Emily. I disagree with some of your ideas here, but it makes me sad that you have had such a difficult day. You are one of the most gracious and loving people on the internet. I wanted to make sure you know that's how I feel.
ReplyDeleteoh kari, thank you. you're right. it's been a very tough day. i appreciate you saying this. love you friend.
DeleteEmily,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, pure, honest writing. One of the things I love about your writing is that you are fearless. You lay hour heart out there as you write about your search for His heart on some pretty deep, intimate issues.
I am angry that anyone wrote comments that hurt you. I wish you didn't have to preface any part of your post with a caveat that you did not want to offend anyone. I wish that people could read a post like this and respond with the same grace with which it was written.
A robust debate can be healthy and if that's whet you want then engage some of the comentors, but don't be drawn into drama. Some people are cranky and love to be contrary just for the sake of being contrary.
I think you are wonderful, Emily and I think it's a great post.
oh laura, thank you. i know. i was hurt too. but it's okay because i grew through it, and all i can hope is that at the end of the day, God is glorified through me in my search for him. thank you, for loving me, so deeply and profoundly. it keeps me going. xoxo
DeleteI commented on twitter... but I want to make sure you REALLY hear it... Regardless of what my thoughts are on feminism-I would burn a bra, I would!...Regardless of my thoughts on women preaching-I changed churches so that I could support a church in which a woman could preach...Regardless of my thoughts on women working outside the home vs staying at home, or male headship in the home or being taken care of (although who doesn't want a little of that...).
ReplyDeleteREGARDLESS YOU ARE LOVED BY ME.
I don't really know you, only through this space-you are kind, transparent, gentle, authentic, a lover of truth and an advocate for those who need someone to speak for them! You are brave-which is exactly what this post reflects-couragage in knowing something is a little scary, generates all kinds of strong emotions-yet writing it anyway because it was on your heart.
I grieve for the day you had, for the comments, for painful attacking moments.
You, my friend, are beloved by me...and more importantly, by God... who is more than big enough to handle differing opinions. He is grieved by the ungraceful actions of those who call him Lord...as am I.
Thank you for the post... it enabled me and others-reading through the comments on this website is full of support and love for you-to really let you know you are wonderful..
As I always say, praying for you always. God has laid you on my heart something fierce from the moment I discovered your blog, right around the time those two precious boys joined your family..have been praying fierce for you every since..
oh suzin. you are right. i have never felt more loved. like i said on facebook, God's light shines SO brightly in the darkness. you, my friend, are that light. love you so much.
DeleteI always read. Never comment. But I wanted you to know that I loved this. I loved your heart. And that it made people think. And sometimes when people think, they become uncomfortable so they use harsh words to build walls that make it so they do not have to feel. I love the point you are making here. I couldn't agree more.
ReplyDeleteoh friend. thank you. you don't know how i needed this today. i so appreciate you. xo
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