Thankful for This Time and Place (by Jonita Barram)

When I think of the lives of the majority of women who have lived or ever will live, I am thankful to have been born in the last half of the twentieth century and to be living in the first half of the twenty-first century. I am especially thankful to live in the United States of America.

My father’s generation was the first in his extended family to attend college. While I was growing up, my dad talked to me as though going to college was a foregone conclusion. I lived in a family that valued higher education and could afford to provide it for me. I lived in a culture that encouraged higher education and careers for women. In previous generations, that opportunity would not have been open to me. It may not be available to future generations.

I have never been married. But my college education has equipped me to support myself through full-time employment. In previous generations, had I been unmarried, my employment opportunities and living arrangements would have been limited. I am thankful, too, that today, never-married women are considered “single,” not “unclaimed jewels” or “old maids.”

Jonita with her brother and a sister after graduating Bob Jones
University with an EdS in English education.

I am especially thankful to be part of the Baby Boomer generation in America, because, for the most part, females are valued. This is largely because of the influence of Biblical Christianity. Past generations sometimes viewed women with less balance than what I have experienced. Women of future generations may not be as valued as women of my day have been, because our culture is losing the influence that held women in such high regard, protected us, and cared for us.

While I am not married, I think I have benefited from the Bible’s teaching on how men ought to treat their wives. The Bible’s teaching has influenced how all women are treated where Christ has transformed hearts. So I am cared for with respect by the men in my life. Universally, however, the majority of women have not had that respect. They have not been protected and cared for.

I am especially thankful that I do not live in a time or culture that considers women a disappointment or burden, disposable, and unimportant. I am thankful that our culture does not consider it justice for a woman to be abused as a way to shame her family because of what male family members did. I am thankful that our society does not yet encourage violence against women who “shame” their families.

I am thankful to have lived in wealthy, free America. I’m thankful to have lived in Christian America. I have truly been blessed!

Other Thanksgiving 2011 Posts:

• I'm Thankful for Pastor Jerry (by Stephen Simpson)
• Thankful for the Lord's Birds (by Lee Dusing)