Women
The Virtues Of A Submissive Woman
No Christian home can
receive any blessing from God without prior obedience and submission to His will. Same is marital relationship. In terms of marriage, Collins Dictionary defines submission as an act of submitting, an acceptance of another’s power or authority. An acceptance that somebody has defeated you and that you must obey him. It is generally accepted as obedience and humility. It is to put oneself under the control of another, a costly pearl that is the woman’s pride.
Submission is a powerful instrument in a married woman’s home, hence the scriptures instruct, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives-even as sava obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord: whose daughters ye are…”(1Peter 3:1,6); wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands as it is fit in the Lord”(Colossians 3:18). A woman who fails to submit to her husband hardly receives God’s blessings.
There are two issues a wise woman must always address in order to win her husband wholly, which include submission and good food. A dutiful partner who is active in these areas of services receives approval of God and man. Any marital arrangement where these virtues exist makes an ideal home.
The Bible confirms that Sara called Abraham, my Lord, and Sara was willing to accept Abraham’s authority and instructions for her life. No where in the scriptures had she claimed equality and challenged the authority of her spouse. This is true submission. In Ephesians 5:22-24, Pauline epistle was not left out in the submit yourself unto your own husband, as unto the Lord. The submission of an ideal wife her husband sets enviable peace for others like Sara. Emphasis is being laid on these scriptural injunctions in this piece of writing because of their importance for happiness in marriage. A woman that is submissive must be willing to resign her will to her husband’s in all things.
Ignorance of the scriptures and its application has ruined or left many homes in confusion and disintegration today. This principle of complementation is a must for strengthening marital vows. Besides global debates on women equality with men which is purely based on professionalism, an ideal wife should recognise her husband as the head. This is because two captains they say, cannot stir one boat. Organizational chart of family management must have the husband as the chairman, and wife, the vice chairman.
A woman’s submission to her own husband is not contestable or negotiable because it is stubbornness in the heart that betrays this noble virtue in a woman. An arrogant woman cannot equally submit to her own husband, so these diabolical characteristics must be crushed for the smooth running and mutual understanding in the home. The man’s logical trait obviously must resist humiliation from the wife. Any attempt to enforce such trait must meet with revocation and withdrawal of the emotional security of the woman, thereby threatening them very foundation of the marriage.
For any marriage to succeed, there must be respect for psychological differences between men and women. Submission takes a woman further into obedience and humility to her partner while many women feel too big to welcome their spouses on arrival in the home. Common sense can tell us that sheer arrogance prevents a woman from abandoning her discussions outside for the warm embrace of the arrival of her husband. A submissive woman or wife must excuse herself to recognise her husband’s presence and attend to his immediate needs. Unhealthy development and observations such as these lapses can adversely affect interrelationship in the home.
The headship of man is natural and scriptural, so it is non-negotiable. It is inborn in the male. That is why naturally, a girl of ten years can hardly, and not eight years. The body’s rational instinct must resist such orders. There must be discipline and conjugal understanding in the relationship between husband and wife. We must try to avert unnecessary temptations that provoke irrational reactions in our marriages by asking God to help us with the mind of Christ for total victory.
In the divine arrangement, both spouses are responsible to one another with the man as senior partners, so insubordination and unhealthy rivalry must not thrive in the union. The man’s position should not deceive him into ignoring his wife’s advice at her submission to his authority. Rather, a submissive wife must be consulted to contribute in all matters affecting the home. Where consultation fails; the man is inadvertently saying that the wife is not wanted in the home.
Days are gone when women are relegated to the background on crucial matters. The new consciousness has given meaning to womanhood, and credit to their acting capacities as “help meet”. It is constitutionally obligatory on women to know important secrets affecting the home as vice chairman for reference purposes.
The history of submission can be traced to that of Jesus Christ in the garden. He could not mind the cup of sufferings, but yielded to God’s will. Again, submission is the obedience of Jesus’ disciples at the wedding ceremony of Cana of Galilee. According to St. John’s Gospel 2:5, “His mother saith unto the servants, whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” With this appeal and application, the end product was cooperation and miracle. There can be no miracle in a home where the wife ignores the authority of her husband. What happens there are chaos, bitterness, uncertainties and regrets. Satan becomes the head of the home instead of Christ when the wife does not submit to her husband, and the glory and presence of God is stripped, leaving the partners in nakedness before their enemies.
Shedie Okpara
IVY-K Fashion by Igiebor Daddy Lucky, a Nigerian-born designer now based in the UK, has launched the latest menswear line, Dapper Man.
One of the collection’s strengths is its classic, clean aesthetic. Dapper Man delivers sharp, structured suits in a timeless black and white color scheme that exudes a sense of luxury and professionalism. The use of high-quality fabrics like wool and silk ensures that the suits not only look high-end but also feel luxurious to the wearer. The designer’s focus on detail is evident in the meticulous tailoring, with fitted blazers and crisp trousers forming the foundation of the collection.
Where IVY-K Fashion shines is in the subtle yet elegant touches. The inclusion of beads as embellishments on lapels and cuffs adds a unique flair, blending traditional craft with modern tailoring. This nod to African heritage gives the collection a distinct identity, offering something more personal and culturally significant than your standard menswear line.
However, despite the elegance of the Dapper Man collection, there is a lingering sense of missed opportunity. The black-and-white color palette, while classic, feels overly safe. In a fashion landscape where bold colors and daring patterns often make the strongest impact, the collection could benefit from incorporating more vibrant hues or experimenting with unconventional fabrics. Pushing the envelope with color or texture could elevate these designs from simply elegant to truly memorable.
In addition, while the tailoring of the blazers and trousers is immaculate, the collection lacks a sense of playfulness or modern edge that many contemporary menswear lines are embracing. The suits are undoubtedly stylish, but the collection as a whole leans heavily on tradition. Experimenting with asymmetrical cuts, bold patterns, or even layering could add an exciting dimension to Dapper Man. The challenge is to maintain the sleek sophistication of the collection while infusing it with a fresh, innovative spirit.
Another area that could use improvement is the overall cohesion of the collection. While the suits are well-crafted, there is a feeling of repetition across the pieces. More variation in design, such as different lapel styles, pocket configurations, or even bolder accessories, would give the collection greater diversity and visual interest.
In conclusion, Dapper Man by Igiebor Daddy Lucky showcases the designer’s strong grasp of classic tailoring and elegant design, but to truly capture the attention of a broader audience, IVY-K Fashion would benefit from more daring choices. By infusing the collection with bold colors, unexpected textures, and a more modern edge, Dapper Man could move from a well-crafted line to a trendsetting force in men’s fashion. With such a solid foundation, there’s no doubt that Igiebor Daddy Lucky has the potential to lead his brand toward greater heights
The trend of indecent dressing all in the name of fashion is fast becoming a norm in our generation and society at large. Most married women embrace this fashion as competition with single ladies.
Different scholars have given an in depth insight about dressing as a tool of communication. Non-verbal communication has been asserted as the communication between people by the means of signs or symbols. It conveys what we wish to disseminate to the public as either intentionally or not.
According to Paul Ekman and Michael Argyle, communication is carried out through what has been classified as “Presentational Code”. He listed nine codes of non-verbal communication, as body contact, facial expression, gestures, postures, eye movement, proximity, orientation, head nods and appearance.
This, being stated, married and single ladies should understand that their mode of dressing is communicative be it directly or indirectly as such body parts we call “private” are now being made public because of the trends or wearing of transparent dresses and this in turn calls on the attention of men who are weak and prone to illicit thoughts thus, resulting to most rape cases in our society.
This indecent dressing by most ladies has denied many their future husbands. The truth is that a man is attracted to his kind; his desires in marriage. It is often asserted that decency and beauty are in the eyes of the beholder, yet, in trending times of this 21st century, dress code and fashion in nudity form is gaining popularity.
This has become complicated as most men tend to toggle between their emotions (lust) and sanity (rationality) in terms of marriage, thereby setting a wrong foundation upon which most marriages are consummated.
On the other hand, most married women have embraced the trend of indecent dressing nipping it on the state of it being the choice dressing, approved by their spouses, leaving society with the question of what “responsible” man would prefer that the secrecy of the benefit of his marital vow has become the centre of attraction and viewership by the general public.
Hence, communicating with their dressing gas given licence to every male gender who is interested or attracted to what they see to make unsolicited sexual passes at them, which might be considered embarrassing.
At this juncture, it is important to state that ladies should dress decently knowing that they are the epitome of nation-building, they are nation-builders, character moulders and pacesetters not just in the lives of their families but to the society at large.
In most occasions, there are no clear border lines between the married women and the single ladies because of the rate of scanty dressing which has close the gap of differences.
Women and girls should embrace this call awakening to decent mode of dressing. Dresses that are meant to be worn indoors should remain indoors.
It is worrisome to see ladies wear shorts that are supposed to be worn in the living room on the streets without shame. This is an awakening call to our ladies, married and singles that the opposite sex do not expose their private body parts for the public. Sometimes, the ladies go about in the streets without wearing brazziers as to showcase their nipples.
The society should be sanitised of the menace of indecent dressing that is lurking and taking over the entire nooks and crannies of the society and the nation at large.
Let it be known that he or she is addressed in the manner he or she is dressed. There may be no room for a second impression. To the single ladies, your dressing decently will not stop you from meeting your Mr Right rather, it will increase your stake and place you on the list of most valued women in the society.
Dressing speaks louder than words.
Kate Chisom Isiocha
Isiocha is an OND final year student of Temple Gate Polytechnic.
