|
Women in the beginning of the 3rd Millennium
"The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world" |
 We women, however, don't exactly want to rule the world! Just the family will do.
We rule the family with love, patience, understanding and a lot of sacrifice.
It is the mother that puts the food on the table, cleans and slaves around the house. She has to endure many a sleepless nights when her children get sick. Think of those endless nappies she has to change and wash and those long hours of breast-feeding! Besides that, she also has to pay some attention to the man in her life. They say ' A woman's work is never done!'
Added to all that, a mother also has to see to the education of her
offspring and that they grow up to be well-behaved, caring and responsible adults.
Parenting is important yesterday, today and tomorrow. It is an ageless burden all parents should be willing to shoulder. More so now that outside undesirable influence can reach us quicker than ever through
TV., internet, films and whatever. With proper guidance, our children can become good citizens of tomorrow and good practicing Christians of all time.
Besides the family, women also contribute their service to the church or other social bodies.
Women become members to almost all the committees in the church such as the Parish Pastoral Council, the Women's League, Region of Mary, Charity Outreach Association, R.C.I.A Animators, Sunday school teachers and
AsIPA.
We form an important part of the big family of the church and help to carry out the activities that keep the church ' lively'.
However, it is not easy to run the family, a job and church activities simultaneously. One tends to neglect one for the other, as these are all heavy responsibilities that are time consuming to do well. Thus a lot of self- sacrifice is needed and with the love of God, we will carry on.
The role of women in the millennium, according to Bishop John Lee in his address to the women in the Jubilee of Women 2000, is to become ' A candle that brings light. The light that brings feelings.'
If we are the candles that bring light, will our lights be easily blown out or burnt out? If we are the lights that bring feelings, do we have the feelings that will warm up the people around us?
Again, we look to Our Mother Mary for guidance; a woman of faith, so humble and so obedient and yet so full of dignity. We often pray to her for our personal intentions during Novena, as it is easier to pray to a Mother who is so loving and kind.
By
Agatha Lai
|
|
|
|
|
|
