Tick Tock
Last time, we introduced Hannah, a woman wanting to be a mother.
But she wasn’t.
Yet, her biological clock kept ticking.
And so it was year after year.
Fervent Prayer
But Hannah prayed year after year, too.
Right there, in the Temple.
Her fiery faith tugged on her heart to pray.
Alone.
Each year, on her annual pilgrimage.
Infertility Through The Ages
Women throughout history have faced infertility and the weight of societal expectations. Just like Hannah.
As was then and still today, motherhood is valued in many cultures. It still leads to personal fulfillment, status, and respect within communities. When a woman can’t conceive, it can trigger all types of stress both physically and emotionally.
In Ancient Egypt, women prayed to Isis, the goddess of fertility. In Greece and Rome, childbearing was an expectation in marriage. Those who didn’t were at risk of being divorced. Or their husbands took another wife. As we will see in Hannah’s story, next time. Even in Medieval Europe, infertility led to stigma and being accused of witchcraft.
Not all that long ago, families relied on children to lend a hand with chores. Whether it be hunting or farming, children meant wealth. The more children in a household, the more hands available to do the tasks at hand. So, if a woman couldn’t have children, people asked why?
What was wrong with her?
The Survival of the Fittest
After all, motherhood is what kept the family lineage going. And that ensured the survival of the village. So, if a woman couldn’t have children, it triggered distress and social stigma. It was viewed as a failure to fulfill a societal role.
And that is plain sad.
Do you see echoes of Hannah’s story in your own life or the lives of others?
Next time, we’ll begin with two passages echoing these struggles. See you soon.
#March #WomensHistoryMonth #WomenintheBible #ObscureWomen #WomeninHistory #Tabitha #Hannah #Lydia #Shiphrah #WomanattheWell #Legacy
I and Thou Reflections 