Redheaded Jill

I do not like the idea of living in a world in which men don’t protect women. I mean this in all areas of life. In the church, at work, at the post office, at the hardware store, I want to live in a society where men open doors, watch their language, carry the heavy boxes, offer to drive, and all the things. I want to feel protected.

There is a balance between masculine and feminine energy in both men and women. I find myself heavily leaning into my masculine energy because I always have my guard up against men. I feel guilty or uncomfortable when they help me with things. Which is crazy, because my Dad and brothers help me with things ALL the time.

It’s like, because I can’t rust the stranger or the acquaintance like I do my dad and brothers I hate to rely on them for help. So I’m working on this. One thing that happens a lot with church friends is they pay for my food. Super kind. Super generous. I feel horrible about it. BUT, my mom said the other day, “I just assume if people didn’t want to do something they wouldn’t offer”. So I have tried to scale back my protests when people buy or offer to buy my meal.

My biggest ick of all time is when I see (or hear) men disparage their wives. Yes, women need to be kind to their husbands too, but if men are the representation of God in the home and they mistreat their wives they are setting a horrible example.

Don’t make fun of your wife in public. (Or private.) Don’t make them the butt of a joke. Don’t complain and chastise your wife in front of people, especially your children. Don’t teach your children to disrespect their mother. Don’t weaponize affection. Don’t withhold care and basic needs of life because you’re trying to control her. It’s sick. It’s twisted. And unfortunately it is something I see much too often.