Two-headed Sisters

Yes, I know, it’s a strange title for a post on working women of faith, but bear with me and you’ll see where I’m going with this.  In fact, I encourage you to forward it to every woman of faith you know, whether or not she works outside the home.  This one’s for all of us!

Abigail & Brittany Hensel

Meet two remarkable young women, Abigail and Brittany Hensel.  Some of you may even be familiar with them and their story.  I encourage you to look them up if you are not.  The Hensel sisters were born as conjoined twins.  They share most of the lower parts of their body, and their arms. Yet, they have separate heads, mostly separate internal organs and most of all separate souls and personalities.  These two girls have had to work together their entire lives in order to function day-to-day.  They are amazing and inspiring young women, and should really serve as an example to all women of faith.

They have accepted their shared life and connection, even though it is sometimes difficult and frustrating.  They are forever joined, by God’s design, and yet they have managed to accomplish much together, in spite of their personality differences and physical challenges.

All women of faith are sisters in Christ.  We are joined together by redeeming work of our Savior.  It was not by choice that we are brought together, but by God’s design.

God in the book of Ephesians declares, “For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.” (Ephesians 4:4 NLT)

And again in 1 Corinthians God says, “All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.”  (1 Corinthians 12:27 NLT)

What beautiful truths!  We belong!  We love to state these truths and claim even to believe them and be blessed by them, but do we, as women of faith live them out?   Unfortunately, not always.

All to often we spend most of our time comparing ourselves to each other, judging each other, (silently or openly), and yes, even hurting each other.

One of the ways I see this most evidently in the church as a whole is in the area of women who work outside the home, and women who work at home.  There has been great debate through the ages-especially in the last 100 years as to whether or not it is biblical for a woman to work outside the home or not.  Now, I could spend the next 5 posts discussing and dissecting whether or not the bible supports women working outside the home, but I won’t.  Such arguments only serve to cause further division between us sisters, and profits us nothing.  But I will use this post to encourage, exhort, and even beg for us sisters in Christ to act as if we actually are sisters in Christ!

We all have insecurities and doubts, we all struggle with the life that God has called us to from time to time, But what we don’t need is a fellow sister in Christ, judging or looking down on us for fulfilling what God has called us to do.

Women of faith working outside the home often feel as if they are looked down upon for not staying home with their children, as if they are doing something sinful-even if they KNOW that God has called them to the workplace.  Women of faith working in the home often question their value and impact, and sometimes long for more -even though they KNOW God has called them to their home.

The common denominator is that we KNOW we are doing what God has called us to do.  Isn’t that enough?

God does not give us grace for someone else’s race.  

If God wanted us all to do the same thing, the same way, He would’ve made robots, not human beings.  But He choose to make amazing, unique, individuals with different personalities and gifts.  And then, by His design, he chose to join us together into one body whose purpose is to help each other grow, and show others how to have this amazing faith walk with God through his son Jesus, thereby bringing Glory to God.

Are we doing that?

What would the body of Christ look like if we stood on the same side?  What if we sisters, two-headed though we may be, worked together instead of acting like we stand on opposite sides of the wall.  What would happen if all women of faith learned to function…

…in love, instead of judgement;

…in mercy, instead of guilt;

…in unity, instead of division;

…in peace, instead of competition.

What if, instead of comparing your life to mine, I praised God for using your life the way He sees fit?

What if I encouraged you in the place that God has called you to?

What if I offered my help in some area of your life that would make it easier for you to live out that calling?

What if I truly acted like…

your sister?

“He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” (Ephesians 4:16 NLT)