One Day In German Class

I was remembering German class.
Not my high school German class but rather my college German class.
I have no idea why I decided to take German again in college.
I had tested out of the language requirement; however, I thought it would be interesting.

I was immersed in the language and the culture.
Immersed as much as I could be living in this country and not that one.
My German professor was herself, German.
She spoke with a lovely accent.

We were expected to speak German from the time we entered the class until the time we left.
That proved to be very challenging.
I had a knowledge of the language back then, but I was far from fluent.
Whenever we interjected an English word, we heard, Deutch, bitte.

Speaking only German helped us learn the language a bit better.
However, that knowledge was short lived for me.
Without practice, the language was easily lost.
Today, I am no better than someone learning the language for the first time.

I remember one day in particular.
We were asked to tell everyone what we wanted to do with our life.
There is always that one person who volunteers to answer right away.
I sat back and listened.

I went to a college that was all women.
I heard all their answers in German.
I heard doctor, lawyer, and nurse.
I knew that it would soon be my turn.

I heard my name.
In German, I shared my heart’s desire.
I wanted to be a wife and mother.
I still remember the reactions.

I went to college from 1977-1981.
There were explosive changes for women in those years.
Women’s rights issues were in the forefront.
Especially on this all women’s campus, women’s rights was a hot button issue.

I began to speak in German, as best I could.
I said that I wanted to be a wife and mother.
Laughter filled the room.
My answer was not professional enough, I was told.

I was told that my degree would be wasted if that is all I aspired to be.
I was told that it was not a real job.
I was told that I better pick a job that paid more.
I looked at the faces that now seemed strange to me.

I looked at my professor, who was also laughing.
In German, she said that I should have a career.
Motherhood was something to be considered after everything else.
I was to use my talents first; then settle down if I chose.

I was so hurt.
I was so angry.
I could not say all I wanted to say in German.
My face was red with all sorts of emotions.

I had so much I wanted to say.
As I looked at the faces around me, I knew that I would not be heard.
You asked me what I wanted to be, I answered.
This is what I want to be, I said with boldness.

I thought a lot about choices.
I thought a lot about what was deemed important.
In those years, a college degree meant that you must do something with your life.
In that environment, doing something meant working outside the home.

I wanted to argue that day.
I wanted to advocate for stay at home moms who do work hard.
They do have a full time job, often with no respite.
They work very hard and wear many hats.

The fact that I would have had to argue my case in German was quite frustrating.
English was not allowed in that classroom.
I knew that I did not have the vocabulary to express everything I wanted to say.
I left the classroom that day feeling like a deflated balloon.

That was my one and only college level German class.
Communication seemed futile.
Searching for words to convey my thoughts proved extremely hard that day.
What I wanted to say was more important to me than the language in which I spoke.

It was as if ears were turned off unless I was speaking the correct language.
I was not there to persuade the other young women to give an answer like mine.
I only hoped for respect when I gave my answer.
I only hoped that my choice would be respected even if it was not understood

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ^“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. (Proverbs 31:10-31)

How I wish I had been able to read Proverbs 31 in German that day.
How I wish I could have described the woman that God describes in His Word.
This woman is a wife and a mother and she is industrious.
This woman is a capable in so many ways while being a wife and mother.

Some women struggle with this passage of Scripture.
They read it and think that they will never measure up.
That is not what God intended.
God describes a very capable woman with one quality that far surpasses the rest.

This woman fears the Lord.
She worships Him in reverence.
Her outward beauty may be fleeting, but her Godly character endures.
Her Godliness is what is priceless to the Lord.

What are we women doing to each other?
We need to encourage each other, not tear each other down.
We need to acknowledge another woman’s accomplishments and talents.
It is a woman’s Godly character that is to be praised.

2 responses to “One Day In German Class”

1. I was like you, Gina–wife and mother was what I wanted, with some art added on the side. I’ve never regretted staying home, even though we could have used the money. I did some part time work as the girls grew older, but they were the priority. Your children have become wonderful adults, I’m sure due to what you and your husband gave them as children.

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   • Thank you for your sweet words, Sue!
     I am grateful to God for the blessings He has given me.
     We need to encourage each other as women in the many places and roles God has called us.
     Gina

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