Category: Women

Keeping score or giving 100%?

Published on by lindseybiggs2 Comments

“It’s not about power; it’s about love.”

This is a beautiful statement that I heard last night.

I was sharing with some friends that my husband often gets up with me when I can’t sleep and will make pancakes for me, watch a movie with me or pray for me.

One of our friends was being cheeky and asked him, “how long do you think this power over you will last?” My husband replied, “it’s not about power; it’s about love.”

Beautiful! He summed up the impetus behind our family’s motives and actions much better than I could.

Often we think about relationships in terms of keeping score – making sure we are doing an equal amount of loving acts, favors and signs of affection for one another.

However, there is a more spiritual way to look at things.

Early on in our marriage, my husband and I were given the gift of attending a seminar called “Celebrate marriage!” (we had only been married a couple of weeks at this time). The speaker shared many valuable things; one idea that has stuck with me is that marriage isn’t about each person giving 50%. Marriage is about each person giving 100%. When each person in a marriage gives 100% all the time, there is no withholding of love or affection. Each person is looking for opportunities to give all the time.

Wow, what a revolutionary and spiritual view of relationships! It really symbolizes our relationship to God, who is always pouring out more love than we could ever accept! God’s love is unconditional (this is illustrated in Christ Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son, for instance). And God doesn’t keep score – thankfully! 🙂

So, if we are made in God’s image and likeness that means we are capable of loving unselfishly – the way God loves. We can pour out love to the people around us – taking every opportunity to give and not worry about what we might get in return.

This seems like a tall order, but it’s nothing more than a mental discipline – not giving in to fears about lack, limits or the future that would prevent us from being as generous and as loving as we can be this moment.

Christian healer and teacher, Mary Baker Eddy, wrote:

“Human affection is not poured forth vainly, even though it meet no return. Love enriches the nature, enlarging, purifying, and elevating it.” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 57)

And she asks these pointed questions:

“God is Love. Can we ask Him to be more? God is intelligence. Can we inform the infinite Mind of anything He does not already comprehend? Do we expect to change perfection? Shall we plead for more at the open fount, which is pouring forth more than we accept?” (Ibid, p. 2)

Sometimes we may forget just how big and limitless God is. But maintaining this infinite view of God illustrates just how big and limitless the love is that we have to give to each other. And this love blesses us making us feel fulfilled and joyful.

 

 

 

 

Gender equality

Published on by lindseybiggs1 Comment

“Let the ‘male and female’ of God’s creating appear.” ­(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Eddy, p. 249)

What does this mean to you?

To me, it points to spiritual manhood and womanhood, which is included in who we each are.

Although, we might see each other as limited, mortal genders, we are spiritually created in the image and likeness of God and are already whole and complete including both the masculine and feminine within our being.

For instance, the balance of my spiritual masculine and feminine qualities makes me strong, intelligent, independent, nurturing, supportive and caring. They are in perfect balance and equality, not competing with one another.

Sometimes we see one gender as dominating over another. But right there we can recognize that each individual includes spiritual womanhood and manhood. Because the “male and female” of God’s creating are spiritual, they have to be seen in everyone.

When watching a burly guy walk down the street, I love to acknowledge, despite the rough exterior, that he includes gentleness, peace and spiritual intuition.

When we recognize our completeness, it frees us from sensuality, lust and a false desire to dominate one another.

It can require humility to see that one gender is not superior over another and that we are all in fact equal. But I know that as we do this our relationships will become more kind, trustful and spiritual.

For instance, how can a woman walking down the street fear a man when she sees his spiritual womanhood as well as manhood? How can he be attracted to her in a malicious way when he sees her as complete – capable, strong and beautiful – acknowledging both her spiritual masculinity and femininity?

“Let” means to allow or permit. So allow the spiritual manhood and womanhood that God created in to your consciousness. It will completely expand your view, enrich our divine family, and foster safer communities with more opportunities. Misconceptions about who we are get cleared up. And we will no longer be limited by harmful stereotypes.

“Let us … give up imperfect models and illusive ideals; and so let us have one God, one Mind, and that one perfect, producing His own models of excellence. Let the ‘male and female’ of God’s creating appear.” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Eddy, p. 249)

 

Reblog: Golden Rule Day (a spiritual perspective on Valentine’s Day)

Published on by lindseybiggsLeave a comment

by Virginia Harris, C.S.B.

Do you remember Valentine’s Day when you were a kid in elementary school? What I remember is coming to school with a brown paper sack filled with valentine cards for everyone in my class, to be placed on each desk at the first recess. No one was left out, everyone received a Valentine – even the kid(s) who I was sure didn’t like me much. But it was the one day I could make a little gesture to be a friend to everyone…so said my mom. Read more