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Submission With a Smile

by Lynn_Powers

I used to cringe at the word, �submission.� Although I love my
mother dearly, I will say that she did not do much to teach me
what submission really means. She was an eighties woman (aka: a
women�s libber). A recent divorcee�, men weren�t exactly on her
likeability list. Helen Reddy�s �I am woman, hear me roar!�
constantly blasted from our stereo. With so many women�s rights
messages invading my brain, it�s no wonder that the word
�submission� was not a word I used often; and when I did, it was
usually followed by laughter.

Many years have since passed. And although I am now a born-again
believer and understand God�s purpose for submission, I�ll admit
it�s still not easy for me to submit to my husband. I no longer
have a Helen Reddy album, but her words, and my mother�s, often
play in my mind�s CD player.

God�s Purpose for Submission

Unfortunately, the term �submission� has been (and still is)
largely abused. But God�s purpose for submission is not to
degrade women or make them less valuable than men. God never
intended for husbands to rule over their wives or for women to be
doormats. Genesis 1 tells us that God created us equally, in His
image. Submission of woman to man was only introduced after the
fall, for which both genders share blame.

God�s ultimate purpose for submission is to maintain a sense of
order. And although men and women were created with equal value,
God has not assigned us equal roles.

Submission or Permission?

In my own marriage, it sometimes helps to think of submission as
giving permission. I am choosing to give my husband permission to
set certain rules, balance the checkbook, or whatever it might
be. Personally, it�s easier for me to think, �I am preferring my
husband over myself,� than, �I am submitting.� There really is no
difference � it simply sounds better!

But, you know? A funny thing happens when I prefer my husband�s
opinion to mine. More and more, my husband seems to take extra
interest in my opinion. I find it interesting that Paul addresses
the women first in Colossians 3:17-19. Is it possible that when
women submit to their husbands, men find it easier to love them?
It might not seem fair that we have to submit in order to get our
husbands to love us the way we�d like them to, but, to me, the
end result is all that counts.

A God Idea is always a Good Idea

In 1 Peter 3, Peter writes that a submissive woman is of great
worth to God. When speaking of Sarah�s submission to Abraham, he
says something that strikes me. He says we are Sarah�s daughters
if we do what is right and do not fear. Is Peter telling us that
we may actually fear submission? Isn�t that precisely what has
happened over the last few decades? Today we tend to steer clear
of the word, �submission.� Even the church seems to focus on
equality in marriage, when really, what the church needs is more
teaching and understanding. Submission is not a bad word, just a
misunderstood one.

In my own marriage, I sometimes still struggle with submitting.
I may even find myself scowling. But as I take control and ask
God to provide me with the will to submit, somehow He gives me
the grace to turn my scowl into a smile.

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