Image courtesy of D. Sharon Pruitt

Okay, so I couldn’t choose just one. 😀 Here are my two favorite comments from my Girl Effect blog post–one is philosophical, the other is very practical. I’ll be contacting Tim and Margaret for their addresses, and sending them both copies of “Half the Church” by Carolyn Custis James. Enjoy!!!

Tim says:

I’d like to think that my daughter is irrepressible, that as she desires to follow God and use the talents he’s given her she will not be swayed by society’s mores and judgments. But I know that the hopes and plans of even the strongest people, women and men alike, can be crushed by the words and actions of others. And I know that my strong, smart daughter is no exception just as I am no exception.

She needs to be empowered, of course. We all do. The ultimate source of true power is the Holy Spirit, and I pray that he is carrying my daughter along in the way of Jesus Christ according to the will of the Father. God also chooses to use regular people, even a father like me, to strengthen and build up those around us. So I not only pray for my daughter, but try to encourage her and support her with what she needs – emotionally, physically, whatever .

This wonderful young woman (I practically gag at being forced to face the fact that my wonderful girl is now a wonderful woman) has plans, plans that she hopes to honor God with. She is pre-med and wants to become an Ob-Gyn. When I asked her if she wanted clinical work or a surgical practice (did I mention she’s really smart and talented?) she immediately told me that she does not want to do surgery because surgeons don’t get to develop long-term relationship with their patients and their families. Eventually she wants to work in a developing nation, delivering medical care to those who presently cannot even imagine what it is like to have a doctor of their own.

Why is it important to empower girls? As much as I’d like to say it’s because young women with as much promise as my daughter deserve to be supported and empowered, that’s not the real reason. So I’ll pose your question again: Why is it important to empower girls? Because girls are made in the image of God. And that’s reason enough.

Well said, Tim!

And here are Margaret’s thoughts on raising strong, confident girls:

I love girls because God loves girls, and I happen to be one (all grown up on the outside).

My husband and I realize that the most influence we can have on the female world at the moment is with our two spirited girls, ages 8 and 10. Though we have many parenting moments that we’re not proud of, here is what we’ve tried to do to shape our sweet x chromosomed children.

No magazines that pigeon-hole females into man monsters and divas defile our tables in our home.

Our channels stay on programs that give opportunity to my girls to use their imaginations in their life goals.

Being Christ followers, we welcome the tough questions of how females were treated in scripture at times. We frequently talk about God’s heart on these matters.

We take apart commercials that objectify and attempt to manipulate their thinking.

My husband and I do an imperfect job of throwing energy at the positive behaviors of our girls and draining it from the negative. Our hope is that they will live their lives like that as they grow.

We frequently talk about a worthy life partner and contrast him to a poor one.

We make sure that they each have individual time with us so they know they’re worth it.

We know our girls will make their own choices. Some will make us wince and some will add a smile. We are confident that they will continue to practice the empowering things they’ve learned in the world around them. They are and will be our teachers, as we strive to uncover the injustices and dishonoring attitudes and get back to the unconditional love and complete purpose our Lord has for his precious x’s.

Can you see why I couldn’t choose just one? Congrats Tim and Margaret, and I hope you enjoy “Half the Church”!