E-Mail 'Lessons From the First TEOTWAWKI- Part 3, by Sarah Latimer' To A Friend

11 Comments

1. Thank you for your insightful articles of the last few weeks. Sadly, I am one of the many women who used to believe in the “feminist” movement, wanting equal pay for equal work…disregarding the other devious agendas of the “cause”. Now, as a born-again Christian, I belatedly see the evil of it all. I had no idea how to be a Christian wife or mother and my (now grown) children suffered for it. For the young mothers and wives out there, my prayer is that you will be able to fulfill your roles as God intended.

   1. Farmergranny,
      Thank you for sharing! I’m right there with you, having some regrets for not seeing the harm of feminism earlier. We need to do our best to help younger women see the value of their role as wife and mother, especially before their children grow up and repeat the err of selfish, destructive feminism.

2. The progressives logic would be laughable if it wasn’t so tragic. By their own logic We need abortions to kill the babies, and Gun control to save the children.

3. @Mrs RLB, “Is Survival Blog going to come out with weekly articles of how a man is supposed to be a man?”
   You mean like all those articles in the archives about getting off the couch and doing what is necessary to provide for, protect, and cherish the the family? Articles like diversifying your income so that you can survive economic hardships (like layoffs)? Articles on strategy and tactics for the protection of the family? We have far more articles about not being lazy and ideas on how to provide and protect your family than we do anything else on the site.

4. Mrs. RLB,
   Thank you for your inquiry. To your question about SurvivalBlog’s weekly articles about how a man is supposed to be a man, the answer is “yes”! Most of the articles addressed in the blog relate to how men are to provide and protect their families in crisis situations. Of course, women are to do their part too, but since the inception of this blog it has been clear that men lead in this role. My weekly contribution has been to add a regular feminine voice to what has been predominantly masculine. Roughly 10% of my postings have been related to women’s roles and character issues. Most have been practical “how-to”s.
   I do not follow Phyllis Schafly as my mentor. Jesus and the Bible are my instruction. As Solomon’s mother wrote to Solomon about a good wife, we have an excellent standard provided in Proverbs 31. However, the woman Solomon’s mother described clearly made her husband and home her priority, even though she managed others within her household to work the fields and she made things of value and contributed to those in the community. Many things can be justified as “for” the family. Men choosing to work away from their families weeks on end when they could find jobs close to home will use this same explanation and leave women at home as single parents only to drop in for a day or two every few weeks as a hero with candy or a toy for the children. Sometimes it truly is required, but it should never be our preference. Feminism tells us our individual satisfaction is what we deserve. That’s a lie. We were created for God’s glory and to honor Him, period, not to honor and glorify ourselves. Happiness comes in living God’s way, in relationship, and loving relationships are about putting others above ourselves. We don’t have to be “selfless” but unselfish.
   As far as the Proverbs 31 woman, I do go out into the community and make things that are sold as well as at times manage others, but I don’t have to spend 40 hours a week or even 20 away from my family to do them. I don’t put my children in daycare to do them either. I see so many women use a majority or all of their income to pay for childcare or private schooling for their children and their cost of working– transportation, professional clothing, dry cleaning, and extra cost of conveniences such as eating out/prepared meals when they could be spending time with their families and providing a solid education with personalized training and opportunities for each child instead. No one should know a child like his or her parents.
   Besides supporting Hugh with the blog, I work with him on many endeavors. I have worked outside the home as well.
   Years ago, I was a professional and worked away from the home, leaving two of my oldest children with others after school. The Lord showed me the err of my way. This is one of my greatest regrets! Fortunately, my younger children benefited from more of my attention when I turned my focus toward home. I also know that my marriage is happy and strong because of the sacrifices that both Hugh and I have made to focus on home and unity rather than independence. Not only has our focus to build home-based businesses been helpful for preparedness but for our family and marriage!

   I hope to open the eyes of other women (and families) to the importance of their homes. It is important that we go out into the community to be a reflection of the Light of our Savior. Yet, we must remember to nurture our home– our family’s safe place and a place for growth and strengthening so we can go out into the world and not waver. My hope is that women will reclaim as precious their roles as wife and mother before it is too late to be the Proverbs 31 woman, for she was a wife and a mother.

5. @Mrs. RLB, Please review our discussion guidelines.

6. Dear Sarah,

   I have been reading all your writing contributions here on Survival Blog. You give thoughtful, truthful, Godly wisdom in a world that is sorely lacking in the basic principals of how to be a good woman today.

   Do not be dismayed or think your writing is falling on deaf ears. Women of our generation were trained by professors and “the world” to go out and make money, while letting others raise our children, compete with our husbands in our marriages and forget to build a family on the principals in the bible.

   Yes, I too was one of those women who climbed the corporate ladder and achieved great success. I thought I could do everything a man could do only better. I was so brainwashed!

   I followed God’s instructions on how to be a Godly wife and mother and turned my whole life around. Now my husband is the family leader and I support him, while raising up my children in the word.

   I work from home and encourage other women to start a home based business. I know of no other way women can truly “have it all.” Keep preaching the truth to the world!

   1. Sophie,
      Amen! Thank you so much for your comment! I hope it doesn’t come across as if I am opposed to women contributing to the family income. I am not. I think it is wonderful for women to be contributors to their families in every way possible, including saving and also bringing in income. It just shouldn’t be while neglecting family matters. Working from home part-time or working beside your husband is the best!
      We have been able to not only home school our children but also teach them business skills as they observe and occasionally participate in our family business (outside the blog). They learn from observing and participating with us beyond theoretical “book learning”, and several of our adult children have chosen to remain on the homestead to work with us.
      This team approach applies to family survival skills too. As parents work on the homestead and prepare for SHTF, our children learn skills too.
      Making all of our work something family-focused, whether it is in gardening to feed the family or manufacturing goods or producing services to sell to others, it unites us and prepares us for uncertain times ahead. We know how to work together as a team. If we needed to bug out and unite with the larger group away from our home, we’d go as a family with varying skills, watching each other’s backs.
      I’m so glad you’ve found a way to “have it all” too.
      I’m taking a little break after completing this series, as it is garden season, but I intend to keep on sharing “how to’s” as well as encouraging wives and mothers to live God’s way. It brings lasting happiness to everyone involved and is what will prepare families to endure the coming trials. Without strong God-fearing families, how will our civilization endure?

7. Sarah,

   Although some women may have taken your writing as negative to working, they were incorrect. Yes working from home and beside your husband is the best. Most women have never done this and it’s too bad. Your marriage can become even closer.

   We too have children working for us and you must have something special to keep them on the homestead!!! It’s great to watch your kids learn skills they can use for overcoming life’s challenges. It is sad that many children today do not get that training.

   To your last point: many things in history have faded away, but God-fearing families will always last. God is the glue that helps us all stay close together as families and not just survive, but thrive.

8. Mrs. RLB,
   Thank you for making some excellent points! I, too, believe that my daughters needs to be very strong and proficient in many skills, including those that are traditionally male. It isn’t so they can compete with men but that they can contribute to the family when and if necessary, or like in your situation, do it alone if their man is ill or absent. As a child, there was a long period when my father was seriously ill and bed-ridden. My mother and I had to assume all of the responsibilities. I did a lot of the things my father normally did, because I was a “Daddy’s girl” and he had taught me how these things were done.

   It is absolutely NOT my intention to promote the idea that women should be weak just because they are not dominant. There is not just one strong person on a battlefield, though there is one issuing orders. It takes a strong team to survive difficult situations. We, as women, need to be strong and ready for whatever comes, and we need to train up strong children, too.

   I completely agree with your comment about children requiring their father’s involvement also! That’s a very good point.
   Again, thank you for your additional contribution. It is valuable and appreciated.

9. [content deleted] – Please review our Discussion Guidelines

Comments are closed.