Sunday, June 18, 2006 - Submission
Yes, that dreaded word. Submission. You will never guess what made me even contemplate writing about submission. Yesterday I was in a canoe and it struck that our canoe was like a married relationship in regards to submission.
I went canoeing yesterday with the men. Cameron, Adrian and my father-in-law. Now, if you know anything about canoeing, the person in the back is the main leader, the pilot of the boat. He is the one responsible for the steering, for keeping the boat on course. Steering can be done from the front but it is much harder. The person in front has an important job too. She is the lookout for danger spots and points out rough patches to pilot. She also helps in moving the boat along, pulling together with the pilot and helps keep the boat on course.
As I was paddling down the peaceful river with my FIL and the boys I was thinking about the comparison to submission and marriage and us in the canoe. LOL, I actually starting composing my blog entry there on the river.
So many ladies seem to be afraid of submission. Afraid that if they submit that they will be losing a battle. They will be taken advantage of and stepped all over. Now I admit that this can and does happen but in a godly marriage it really shouldn't.
I submitted to my FIL's leading. I was able to put in my opinion on the best path down the river and help him by keeping watch for dangerous place. I was able to help him keep the boat straight and narrow. To keep it from drifting sideways or too close to the shore. We made a good team. That was submission in action and it was working!
FIL and BIL decided to get out and swim for a bit. I then moved to the pilot position. I'm not as good at steering the boat. I didn't do too bad but at one time Cameron and I were going downstream backwards. When FIL and BIL got back in the boat FIL just hopped in the front seat. The boat didn't run as smoothly after that. In fact, we had a boating accident. With FIL as the pilot we had gone over several rapids and rough patches with out much fanfare. But with me at the helm, it wasn't such an easy task. I was doing my best but even with my best efforts our little family boat had an accident. We all ended up in the water.
It was actually pretty scary. We were dumped out with the boat behind us and pushing on us. The boys were very frightened, we lost several items from the boat, my camera took a dip, and the boat was filled with water. It took us some time to get situated back in the boat. But we had the battle scars to prove our little dip had been a harrowing experience.
After we were settled and found almost all of the items that had gotten away from us, I thought how that incident is like a marriage when the husband and wife were not following God's design. When the husband lets the woman take the lead either because of lack of desire on his part or because of her need to control everything. It just doesn't work. Or even if I had been in the front but kept paddling my own way, trying to steer from the front and working against the pilot.
Hopefully my silly little analogy made some type of sense. I know that it made quite an impression on me. I think I will also be able to use it with the boys and teach them how they need to be the leaders of their homes and guide their family with love and assurance.
It also reminds me that my job is important. I am not subservient or subhuman. My opinion matters and I can be a great value in helping to guide my family. But that I can really rock the boat when I try to do things my way instead of God's way.
Comments
Monday, June 19, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by kympossible
Excellent analogy for understanding submission! I thought it made perfect sense.
Glad you were all safe after your spill!
Blessings,
Kym
Monday, June 19, 2006 - Wow Danielle
Posted by LindaI
You should see if you can get that published in some devotional somewhere! That is so great and heart grabbing. Thank you for writing this blog entry. Where did you go canoeing at?
Monday, June 19, 2006 - Amen
Posted by babymakers
If I thought it was ok for women to preach I would pick you! LOL
Monday, June 19, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Prncsstefy
What an awesome analogy Danielle!!
Monday, June 19, 2006 - Linda
Posted by DanielleW
We were on the Clarion River up at Cook Forest.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006 - Thanks!
Posted by Fiffi
Hi Danielle
That was a great analagy! You described the whole event so well I felt I was right in the canoe with you! Submission is a wonderful thing in the context of a Godly marriage! If you feel secure and loved...its a breeze to submit! The hard part comes when you don't feel that way............!!!
Thanks for sharing!
Fiffi
