Today’s guest columnist is Katie Pitts. As a wife and mom, Katie serves her family with grace and humility. As a Christian woman, she advocates for women and men in unplanned pregnancies and promotes a biblical view of femininity. She’s an avid reader, Star Trek Next Generation authority, and Arsenal devotee. Follow Katie on Facebook and @kt_pitts on Twitter.
My name is Doctor Pitts.
I rarely use the title “doctor” to address myself, only with patients when I am working. I am a doctor of audiology, but my profession does not define me, nor do I want it to. I like to be defined by a more noble title.
When I began my college career, years away from being married or having children, I believed what many believe about the role of education and pursuing a career. I was a hard-working student, obtaining honors and earning Latin words printed on my diploma. It would have been such a waste to give up that hard work just to focus on marriage and children, right?
God blessed Chris and me with children in His timing. Our first arrived during my third (out of four) year of graduate school. I praise God for His timing; but I wish I had known at the beginning of graduate school what I know now – children are infinitely more valuable than any job or career.
Women are told they can do all things men can do. Women are told they can have any job they want and that traditional masculine and feminine roles are holding women back. We live in a world that has denigrated womanhood, and as a significant branch of that, motherhood. Even for women who are stay-at-home moms, there is a movement of bitter YouTube mothers who post videos about the annoyances of their children. Motherhood sounds burdensome; children are a pain. We have said to women, for generations, quoting Summer Jaeger of Sheologians, “Your full potential is to be a man.”
Like other divine expressions of biblical femininity, the Bible says something different about motherhood and children than what we hear from culture. “Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward… Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! (Psalm 127).” Jesus says to us in Matthew 18, “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” To me, this sounds like a rousing endorsement of children! Proverbs 17 takes the joy of children to the next generation, “Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,” and grandchildren are the blessing of God, “May you see your children’s children! (Psalm 128).”
I am not saying women should avoid education and aspire only to graduate high school and track down a husband, nor am I saying women should never work outside of the home. However, there is a significantly greater purpose for the role of women than the career that follows receipt of a college degree. To once again quote Summer Jaeger, “I believe that women are so essential to the church that if you just get them out of the home and get them acting like men, you weaken the church substantially.”
So, rather than idolizing what our culture describes for the role of women, women are wise to consider what God has to say. What He has defined for the role of women should guide us as we make future-shaping decisions. God has given each of us talents and strengths to use, and we use them for His glory, to fulfill His purposes, not for ours. God created everything good, and while we live in a world marred by sin, His created order remains beautiful, including the role He intends for women.
Practically speaking, what does this mean? Women have responsibility to their families. Young women who don’t yet have a spouse or children might find this hard to see, but decisions made at a young age can have a significant impact in years to come.
I have learned the hard way; there is no greater calling than motherhood. Every circumstance will have a different nuance. In my case, pursuing a degree put my family in debt and requires me to work outside of the home for the time being. I would give up my degree without hesitation if it meant I would be home with my children full-time.
I may be a doctor, but that is not the title I prefer.
I prefer to be called, Mom.
As always I welcome your feedback and any suggestions you might have for an upcoming Lunchtime Musing.
Mike VerWay
Pastor for Preaching & Vision