Friend, let me start by saying that if you don’t have a Daughter or a Grand Daughter or a young female relative or friend you care deeply about, reading my thoughts today is going to be too long for you and isn’t going to be moving or interesting or important.
These are Uncle Larry’s thoughts about a Country Music group called “Little Big Town” and their new soon to be big hit and introspective song by Karen Fairchild, who is herself a mother, Titled “The Daughters”
If you got this far and you like music I encourage you to open the link immediately below this sentence and listen to the song “The Daughters” – performed by two Moms to their Daughters. https://www.billboard.com/video/little-big-town-about-2019-academy-of-country-music-awards-on-billboard0y-sourceflv-8506064
If you aren’t sure about the lyrics and would like to read them just open this link. I opened them both with no issues.https://lyricsfa.com/2019/04/05/little-big-town-the-daughters-lyrics/
Having had only one Son, Marty and I are not personally and experientially aware of the pressures and expectations placed on “Daughters” as they grow into young women. This song really hit a chord with my spirit and I would like to share a few thoughts with you – one being the potentially controversial line Karen Fairchild sings “I’ve heard of God the Son and God the Father – I’m still looking for a God for the Daughters.”
Songs are often meant to stir people’s hearts and minds on a subject close to the Artist themselves. It seems fairly obvious this mother (Karen Fairchild) has strong feelings about the expectations society puts on young women. I think it’s fair to say she is asking the question, will God be there for her daughter?
It may also be that the Way God chose to reveal himself to us – His creation – as The Father, The Son and later The Holy Spirit – brings a certain sense of “maleness” to God. It’s my personal view that at the time Scriptures were written Society was considerably different than today. The “nuclear family” with a father who provided leadership to the family he remained with was an example the people who lived at that time could relate to. The first born son in those families was loved by the father and was given a greater portion of the inheritance. I can’t begin to know why “The One, True, Living God” chose to reveal himself in this way. It may be so that the people who lived at that time could relate to what He was saying.
I do know this! In Genesis 5:8 God through Moses said: “When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind” when they were created.” There are three important points I see here: 1. God created the male and female in His likeness. 2. God blessed both the male and the female. 3. God collectively called the male and the female “Mankind.”
In my eyes this passage tells me that when God sees men and women he sees them as having his likeness or characteristics – they are equally blessed by Him and both make up what God calls “Mankind” – hence not discriminating one against the other.
Personally it helps me to think of all this in the light of Isiah 55:8 where God through a man named Isaiah says; “My thoughts are not your thoughts, says The Lord, and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” In the Uncle Larry Living Loosely Translation it says “God’s thoughts are so deep and spectacular and eternal that even if God told us exactly what He was thinking and planning we wouldn’t have a stinking chance of understanding it.”
Recently a strong Christian female friend of mine offered the thought that one day in Eternity we may find that our God, who is not limited in any way, has all the best attributes of both his creations, Male and Female!
Here is something I do believe and know from Scripture. At just the right time The Son took upon flesh and dwelt among us as the only begotten son of the Father. Thus if I want to get an idea or a good look at what God thinks about something the logical thing to do is to look at the life of the Son, The Christ, the man named Jesus.
My suggestion to the Artists who sing this song and to anyone who has questions about God’s view of women and their daughters is to simply look at the life of “The Son.” In Jesus time on earth over 2,000 years ago society degraded women and often treated them more like their property that partners. Yet Jesus, “The Son” showed respect and loving kindness to women and set the example all male believers should follow.
How did The Son treat women? Jesus only had three years of public Ministry. Yet in that short period of time Jesus placed a great deal of emphasis, respect, concern and compassion on women. The examples are far too many for me to cover them all but here are just a few.
Let’s start with when they were young. In Matthew 19:13 and 14 we read of a day when our Lord and the Disciples had been busy with Ministry and a group of children gathered around Jesus. Matthew writes: “One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.” Jesus loves the little children!
Later in Matthew’s account of Jesus life in chapter 25 we read of Christ, The Son, teaching about the “Final Judgement” at the End of the Age. He says all the people who ever lived will be gathered into two groups – those on his left and those on his right. He says to those on the right come into the Kingdom that I have prepared for you. Why? In verse 40 we read: “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ Then he says to the group on the left depart from me you cursed generation. Why? In verse 45 we read: “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
Jesus showed compassion to both male and female children. At the Final Judgement He will separate the sheep from the goats based on what people did to help His Brothers and Sisters.
Who was the first woman in Christ life? His mother, Mary. Jesus loved His Mother. In John 2 we read about the first public miracle which came as a result of Jesus showing respect for His Mother and doing what she asked. Three years later as He hung on the Cross of Calvary in physical and Spiritual agony, we read how Jesus showed His love for His Mother and told his best friend John – behold your Mother and care for her.
While most of the attention on Jesus followers and disciples is given to the 12 Apostles it was a seldom mentioned woman, Mary Magdalene, who traveled with them and provided financial support. Another Mary and her sister Martha and brother Lazarus were disciples, friends and supporters of “The Son.” Just before Christ’s death it was this Mary who took her most valuable possession – a vial of expensive perfume and anointed Jesus for his pending death. A service that Jesus thanked her for by telling her that her act of kindness would be recorded and remembered for all time.
At a time when Jews would not mix with their neighbors to the North, the Samaritans, Jesus purposely went right through their land to meet the “Woman at the well.” Though He knew she was a woman of ill repute He treated her with respect and offered her the living water that only He could give.
One day a “woman with an issue of blood” was desperate for healing. She had spent all she had on Doctors and in faith one day she followed Jesus and touched the hem of His garment and she was healed. He stopped and asked “who touched me?” As the Son of God He no doubt knew who it was but he wanted to interact and encourage her. Jesus took the time to talk with this “unclean woman” and treated her with further kindness as he told her to “go in peace, your faith has made you whole.”
On another occasion, though he was obviously busy Jesus took the time to heal “the daughter” of Jarius.
I could go on but my personal favorite is the story of a group of religious men, who dragged a woman they had caught in the act of adultery, before Jesus one morning. The Old Testament Law was clear – “stoning” was the punishment for her sin. They sought to test Jesus to see if he would agree, support the Law and have her stoned. I am moved as I think of how Jesus did not confront them but simply knelt down and wrote some things on the ground. One by one they all dropped their stones and walked away. While the unnamed woman trembled, no doubt expecting the worse, Jesus spoke to her and ask a simple question. Where are your accusers who condemn you? She looked around and said they are gone – to which Jesus replied then I don’t condemn you either. Go in Peace. Can you imagine the peace she took with her as she walked away from yet another act of kindness by “The Son” to one of but many women Jesus showed respect, concern and shared the Love of “The Father.”
I know this has been a long read. I hope these examples taken from the life of Jesus will show you The Father and his likeness the Son love and always respect women, young and old.
Personally I like the group Little Big Town. I don’t judge Karen Fairchild for asking where is The God of “The Daughters?” Like all of us that “once were blind but now we see” I hope she too will examine the life of “The Son” and how He offers her and her daughter His Love and Peace.
Uncle Larry
Uncle Larry's Blog 