Ruth's Ramblings

Submission thoughts

I was sharing this with S the other day... a growing realization that I never struggled with the issue of submission until recent years... and I always thought I had "mastered" the topic before, and now in looking back, I'm seeing that I never knew what true submission really was. Before, I didn't even have my own will - I was always working to please others and get others' approval, and in that sense, I thought I was being very submissive. It wasn't until I started forming my own will in recent years (and boy is that will ever strong at times!!) and I realized that true submission doesn't happen until you HAVE your own will - because the very act of submission is letting go of your own will. And if you don't have a will to begin with, its probably not submission (it's some form of being a pushover, but that's another topic to delve into later).

So anyways, I realized that I'm just at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to learning about submission - because my will has gotten so big and strong and independent, I'm actually just beginning to learn what it really means to submit and let it all go. I see it in my marriage the most - W has no problems with submission (he does it all the time with me) but for some reason, it's so difficult for me as a woman to do the same...

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21 (NIV)

Posted by Ruth at 3/14/2004