The pull of cool water on a hot day draws all sorts of people to the beach. Yesterday the team went to celebrate Miguel’s Birthday! Arriving early we accidentally sneaked up on three older Dominican women alone on the beach being relational, giggling, laughing and splashing. As I got closer I noticed three colorful garments lying in the sand, realizing that these beautiful women were topless Ronnie and Miguel went to the car to wait.
As these women headed to shore, a little embarrassed, one fell over in the sand which caused the other two to follow in hysterics. My first thought, (I am a sinner), “look at the beached whales.” Totally mean and critical, but it got me thinking.
If women were created as a beautiful counterpart to Adam, how are we now so ashamed of the beauty in which God created us?
Originally translated, woman in Genesis 2:18 is ezer. Definition- sustainer beside him.
The last thing created, woman was the beauty (man wasn’t cutting it). Relational, gentle and a tool of reproduction woman was a huge blessing to Adam. So when did the blessing end? At the Apple?
I don’t intend to solve this problem in one blog. I just want to talk about how the Dominican culture has taken “the beauty” and changed it into something dirty. Walking down the streets of San Juan women are publicly criticized or praised for outward appearances. To the very detail of hips in certain pants, men and women alike will appraise the body. Even ‘art’ is about the sexuality of women. Never their gentleness or Godly nature. In response Dominican women have protected themselves by hiding or fighting. Hiding usually ends them in abusive relationships, security in number of children or in the back pews of a church. Fighting ends in abusive mothers and neglected children.
Some women will resort to the church to solve there desire for being needed. That is why many churches services, meetings and events are being lead by 25 and older single women. They are standing up to lead the church and I don’t know that this in the long run will be good.
Please don’t mistake this blog as a battle cry to women. What we need here is prayer and love. Pray specifically that these women would learn that they are loved adored and cared for. God can break this stronghold. I would ask that you beg that of Him with me.
Much love, emily
