Who’s Your Role Model?
A few months ago I wrote an article entitled Who Sets the Example for Your Children? But perhaps an even better question is, Who is YOUR Role Model?
Today I picked up my newspaper and found an article all about how Madonna is a role model for women 50 and above. You see, she just turned 50 herself, and the article goes on and on about how she is showing women of that “certain” age that you can still be in great shape and conquer the world. Women were interviewed who spoke on how they learned from Madonna that they can be successful.
Now I’ll be the first to admit that I took this article a bit personally. You see, Madonna and I happen to be the same age (ok, I’m older by three months). And of all the women on this planet, she would rank near the bottom in terms of who I would choose to emulate at this stage of my life, or any other stage for that matter.
But this is where our society, as a whole, is today. We elevate anyone to role model status merely because that person makes a lot of money and is constantly in the media. That is dangerous, and that is wrong.
We have a woman who has made a mockery of the sanctity of sex in marriage, who stands accused of cheating on her husband. A woman who has openly mocked the church that she was raised in. A singer who’s videos on occasion have been blasphemous.
And this is who women are looking up to? What part do they strive to emulate? Cheating? Blasphemy? Sexual free-wheeling?
What is so bad about living a faithful life, faithful to God, to family? Why do we, as a society, raise those up who make money and headlines, above those who work hard in service to God and community?
My personal heroes? How about a woman who juggles her job and family, and makes sure her children are raised to be faithful servants of our Lord? What about the woman who gives up her own desires to care for family members who are in need?
What about the woman who, 50 years ago, Madonna was named for? The mother of Jesus, a simple servant of God who looked beyond her own world to understand that her son was God’s son. A woman who merely did her job, following God’s direction through that fateful day at Calvary, and the glorious first Easter morning. No bells. No whistles. No spotlight. Just a servant of God fulfilling her duty to Him.
Now there is a role model!
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