What hat do you wear? I don’t mean a “head covering.” I mean what different roles do you play in your life. What are the different “duties” you as a female perform in your everyday world? I am a wife and have been married for 23 years. I am the mother of two teenage daughters. I put on my baseball cap when I am the softball coach. I put on my whistle when I assist with the basketball team. The apron goes on when I am the cook. I bring out the school planner and the textbooks when I am the teacher for the homeschool student. Sometimes the stern voice comes out when the principal must initiate discipline or consequences for late homework.  The rubber gloves, Swiffer duster, and vacuum come out when I am the maid and cleaning the house. 

I also have a white lab coat and scrubs that I wear when I am the Physician Assistant and helping to save lives at work. I am a business owner with my husband. In that role, I am supportive both physically and emotionally as I assist him with running his Mountain Man business and store. I grab my Bible and smile when I step into my role as a Bible class teacher. I also have the role of elder’s wife to be supportive and honorable as he shepherds the flock. But my most important role, the most important hat that I wear, is that of a Christian. 

How do you decide what “hat” you are going to wear in various situations?  How do you decide which behaviors and attitudes are appropriate with each hat? Sometimes it is very hard to change hats out, especially in the middle of the day. At work, I am used to barking out orders. I am, after all, the one in charge. I may hold someone’s fragile life in my hands. Yet when I arrive home I need to exchange my lab coat, stethoscope, and scrubs for the mother and wife role, and things need to change. My role, my hat, my attitude needs to change.  This can be very difficult.  It is not as easy as literally “changing my hat.” My children and husband do not respond well when I order them around. Am I not a nagging and quarrelsome mom and wife if I am barking orders at them? 

Proverbs 21:19  (NIV) “Better to live in a desert?than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.”

Proverbs 31: 10 (NIV) ^“A wife of noble character who can find??She is worth far more than rubies.”

Proverbs 31:25-30  (NIV) “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.”

As these Scriptures show us, as women of God we are to be noble, wise and hard working. But it’s important to remember that God expects us to not only fulfill our roles as wives and mothers, but as Christians in every aspect of our lives. So what does this look like? What is the definition of a “Christian?” Oftentimes the first thing we think of is a “follower of Christ.” Merriam Webster defines a Christian as “a: one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ. b: DISCIPLE.” So, what does it mean to be a follower of Christ or a disciple? John 8:31-32 tell us this, “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”

The struggle is that if we are going to follow Jesus’ teachings, we must know what they are. What is the Truth?  Solomon, the wisest man in the Bible tells us the following, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:?Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” Ecclesiastes 12:13 

What are the commandments of God that we are supposed to follow? What are the most important things that we must be doing? Jesus tells us, “‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’” Matthew 22:36-40 

In the book of John, Jesus says we will be known by how we love one another. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 (NIV)

As a Christian, regardless of what “hat” we are wearing, we should strive to keep the commandments of God. We should demonstrate this by the love that we show one another and our neighbors. We show this by having the same heart, the same attitude, regardless of the situation we find ourselves in. What hat will you being wearing today as you set out in the world? 

By Charity Goben

Charity has been married to her husband, Rick, for 21 years. They worship at the Garriott Rd. church of Christ in Enid, OK where Rick serves as an elder and Charity is actively involved in teaching Bible classes for women and children. Rick and Charity have been blessed with two teenage daughters through adoption. Charity has been a Physician Assistant for 20 years.