Being and Doing – 19 June – Power of Women

Note: The language of some posts about women are very much of their age and may be seen as victim blaming and mansplaining – even when written by women.  Please read them with care.

WHAT the woman is to be within her gates, as the centre of order, the balm of distress, and the mirror of beauty, that she is also to be without her gates, where order is more difficult, distress more imminent, loveliness more rare.

And as within the human heart there is always set an instinct for all its real duties, an instinct which you cannot quench, but only warp and corrupt, if you withdraw it from its true purpose; as there is the intense instinct of love, which rightly disciplined, maintains all the sanctities of life, and misdirected, undermines them, and must do either the one or the other; so there is in the human heart an undistinguishable instinct, the love of power, which, rightly directed, maintains all the majesty of law and life, and, mis-directed, wrecks them.

Deep rooted in the innermost life of the heart of man, and of the heart of woman, God set it there and God keeps it there.   Vainly, as falsely, you blame or rebuke the desire of power!   For Heaven’s sake, and for Man’s sake, desire it all you can.   But what power?   That is all the question…   Power to heal, to redeem, to guide, and to guard.

Will you not covet such power as this, and seek such throne as this, and be no more housewives, but queens?

RUSKIN

POWER is a gift of God, and may not be laid aside.

H. MONSELL

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These quotes are from ‘Being and Doing’ A selection of helpful thoughts from various authors arranged for daily reading.

Collected by Constance M Whishaw and first published in 1908 for members of the Being and Doing Guild whose object is to do all they can for the relief of suffering and misery.

Most of the writers are 19th Century Christians from Britain and Europe who were committed to living their faith through deeds as well as words – Being AND Doing.

For many years these words have kept me company and encouraged me on the journey of faith.  I hope they will encourage others also.