Thanks for your words Dorothy always a source of wisdom and insight. I often think about pay grades for people working with humans vs business or finance. A friend of mine who has been a counselor and chaplain watched her son graduate from college in finance and he was earning more than her at his first job. It is a reversal of values that I think we expect from the world and our gospel also teaches. Thanks for your boldness in bringing all this to light.
I very much appreciate the way you have lived, caring for your family in selfless genuine ways. Reading your post made me think of Jesus' baptism. More specifically, what God the Father said at his son's baptism: "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
I have read many of your posts and your book "Marriage in the Middle." You have a good and tender heart. Here's what I think God says about you: "Dorothy Littell Grego is my daughter. I love her. I am pleased with her life."
For me, I am proud to be doing kingdom work with women of your ability, convictions and passion. So carry on, Dorothy. Stay steadfast and immovable. Your life in this world is not in vain!
My repeated decisions to be a caregiver, through working in a nonprofit for over 30 years and then stepping away from that work for a time to care for my mother and later my sister-in-law, have been impactful in the very ways you described. I wrestled with these choices that women make during my radical feminist years, and I still do. I remember reading Ayn Rand extensively and resonating with her view that altruism was morally wrong. Living for the sake of others, something that entered my life in my thirties, can feel thankless. But it is not immoral as Rand believed.
The reality of gender inequality fueled my feminism then, and I still recognize that inequality now. Yet I’ve also come to see that women offer something essential to the world simply because they are women. It may not equalize the paycheck or secure our future, but it adds depth, healing, and richness to human life. We do it not under compulsion, but because we understand its value. That paradox is hard to hold.
Who would I expect to stand up and recognize this? Who can quantify the money I saved the government by not placing my mother, who was almost entirely paralyzed from Multiple Sclerosis, into full-time nursing care? How would I avoid losing what I lost to gain what I gained?
You're writing about hard stuff. Does the eternal kingdom make this right, though this temporal world does not? I can't quite comfort myself with the idea of "laying up treasures in heaven" idea. But, I have sat with my Creator over the injustice of it all. That'll change a girl!
As I read your post, Dorothy, I had similar thoughts to what Leaving the Land of Numb posted. And I think of the passage where Jesus stated that in His kingdom the first shall be last and the last first, and when you did it unto them in My Name you did it unto Me.
My phone froze so I couldn’t finish—I will never forget years ago when I was in Bible College, one of my favorite professors sharing with us a dream he had—he was standing in a long line to enter Heaven, and at the beginning of the line was an elderly African woman who couldn’t read. He woke up to “the first shall be last and the last first”. I hope you can take comfort in what had helped me face the injustices of this life—our Father sees, He knows, He cares, He is just and faithful and good and in eternity all that was out of order here in this fallen world will be righted. His kingdom is forever. I choose to live for Him and His eternal Kingdom, and sometimes the seduction of the temporal things can be distracting—wealth, fame, pleasures all glitter. But they have no substance when compared with the exceeding weight of His glory and His kingdom. Today I woke up to Psalm 37 and it was just what I needed to calm my frustrated, angry heart over the latest injustices in our nation. May you be blessed to today with joy in knowing He loves you. All that we see is passing away like grass withering on a summer day. May you be blessed with His shalom peace and love. May you have quiet time apart with Him in nature and see His glory in His handiwork and rest and be renewed. May you be cleansed of all the sorrow, frustration, rage, and injustice of what you have learned as you have researched and written your most recent book. I have ordered two copies in advance in anticipation that it won’t be a fun read but an important one. Sending you a virtual hug across the miles.
You're such a good writer, Dorothy, and I appreciate what you've captured here. So true and well said! It's a shame that what the world values monetarily is so different than what God values, but, as you say, loving and caring for others is rewarding in other ways.
I am eager to read your book. Misogyny is the word I have been waiting for in all of the current (and excellent) titles being offered about the theology of honoring women in our churches and our society. In my work, ministry, and personal healing experiences, misogyny is the rotten fruit at the bottom of the barrel, causing the good fruit we try to layer on top of it to go bad. God bless you as you reflect on the work you have done and prepare your soul to share it with the world!
Thanks for your words Dorothy always a source of wisdom and insight. I often think about pay grades for people working with humans vs business or finance. A friend of mine who has been a counselor and chaplain watched her son graduate from college in finance and he was earning more than her at his first job. It is a reversal of values that I think we expect from the world and our gospel also teaches. Thanks for your boldness in bringing all this to light.
Thank you for reading and for your support. And yes, as always, the gospel's values are upside down form the world's.
I very much appreciate the way you have lived, caring for your family in selfless genuine ways. Reading your post made me think of Jesus' baptism. More specifically, what God the Father said at his son's baptism: "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
I have read many of your posts and your book "Marriage in the Middle." You have a good and tender heart. Here's what I think God says about you: "Dorothy Littell Grego is my daughter. I love her. I am pleased with her life."
For me, I am proud to be doing kingdom work with women of your ability, convictions and passion. So carry on, Dorothy. Stay steadfast and immovable. Your life in this world is not in vain!
Thanks for saying this Don.
Well said Dorothy. I would only add more support to your argument by noting that your figure of $180,000 appears to be a very low estimate. Consider the following: https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/090415/cost-raising-child-america.asp
I do believe it exceeds $300,000 in each of the (few) sources I have consulted. Thus, women who care for children are even MORE undervalued.
Ill need to check that. The figure I have in the book is approx $180K so if it's truly in the $300s, I'm going to need to correct my # ASAP.
Did you look into half of your husband’s social security compared to your own? That might help.
Yes, we did but bcz I'm a few years older than him, we are exploring what it might look like for me to draw some income a few years before he does.
My repeated decisions to be a caregiver, through working in a nonprofit for over 30 years and then stepping away from that work for a time to care for my mother and later my sister-in-law, have been impactful in the very ways you described. I wrestled with these choices that women make during my radical feminist years, and I still do. I remember reading Ayn Rand extensively and resonating with her view that altruism was morally wrong. Living for the sake of others, something that entered my life in my thirties, can feel thankless. But it is not immoral as Rand believed.
The reality of gender inequality fueled my feminism then, and I still recognize that inequality now. Yet I’ve also come to see that women offer something essential to the world simply because they are women. It may not equalize the paycheck or secure our future, but it adds depth, healing, and richness to human life. We do it not under compulsion, but because we understand its value. That paradox is hard to hold.
Who would I expect to stand up and recognize this? Who can quantify the money I saved the government by not placing my mother, who was almost entirely paralyzed from Multiple Sclerosis, into full-time nursing care? How would I avoid losing what I lost to gain what I gained?
You're writing about hard stuff. Does the eternal kingdom make this right, though this temporal world does not? I can't quite comfort myself with the idea of "laying up treasures in heaven" idea. But, I have sat with my Creator over the injustice of it all. That'll change a girl!
Thank you. I love and appreciate your honesty and the thoughtfulness of your response. Many blessings.
https://youtu.be/bPj3Kf7Dorw?feature=shared
Thank you for doing this essential work and sharing it with us through your words.
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.
As I read your post, Dorothy, I had similar thoughts to what Leaving the Land of Numb posted. And I think of the passage where Jesus stated that in His kingdom the first shall be last and the last first, and when you did it unto them in My Name you did it unto Me.
My phone froze so I couldn’t finish—I will never forget years ago when I was in Bible College, one of my favorite professors sharing with us a dream he had—he was standing in a long line to enter Heaven, and at the beginning of the line was an elderly African woman who couldn’t read. He woke up to “the first shall be last and the last first”. I hope you can take comfort in what had helped me face the injustices of this life—our Father sees, He knows, He cares, He is just and faithful and good and in eternity all that was out of order here in this fallen world will be righted. His kingdom is forever. I choose to live for Him and His eternal Kingdom, and sometimes the seduction of the temporal things can be distracting—wealth, fame, pleasures all glitter. But they have no substance when compared with the exceeding weight of His glory and His kingdom. Today I woke up to Psalm 37 and it was just what I needed to calm my frustrated, angry heart over the latest injustices in our nation. May you be blessed to today with joy in knowing He loves you. All that we see is passing away like grass withering on a summer day. May you be blessed with His shalom peace and love. May you have quiet time apart with Him in nature and see His glory in His handiwork and rest and be renewed. May you be cleansed of all the sorrow, frustration, rage, and injustice of what you have learned as you have researched and written your most recent book. I have ordered two copies in advance in anticipation that it won’t be a fun read but an important one. Sending you a virtual hug across the miles.
Thank you for this Mary.
You're such a good writer, Dorothy, and I appreciate what you've captured here. So true and well said! It's a shame that what the world values monetarily is so different than what God values, but, as you say, loving and caring for others is rewarding in other ways.
Thanks for reading and for your words of encouragement.
I am eager to read your book. Misogyny is the word I have been waiting for in all of the current (and excellent) titles being offered about the theology of honoring women in our churches and our society. In my work, ministry, and personal healing experiences, misogyny is the rotten fruit at the bottom of the barrel, causing the good fruit we try to layer on top of it to go bad. God bless you as you reflect on the work you have done and prepare your soul to share it with the world!