Barbie in The Box

There she is Barbie - not much has changed with her over the years - except she has gone from being a brunette to being a Blondie. Maybe that is because the World has told us for years that "Blondes Have More Fun".


They may change her hair and change her clothes - but all in all when you find Barbie - you find her in a box - twist ties holding her in and sometimes almost impossible to get out of the box.


I remember one Christmas when I had bought my daughter a designer Barbie from a Doll Store - her head actually popped off leaving the twist ties still attached.

But this walk down Barbie lane is not really about Barbie. It is about us - women - especially us - Church Women. Cloned just like Barbie but we wear different clothes.

Well, as I told a good friend years ago I don't want to Be a "Barbie in A Box", I don't want to be known as just another "Church Lady" that has gone through all the ranks to become "Madam Church Matriarch" of the Local Church who is known by all because she seems to have her finger on every pulse. She is well versed and knows all the right things to say and is seen in all the right places and smiles that sweet little Church Lady Smile - but deep inside she knows she is bound by the twist ties and she can't get out of the Box! She can't really break loose and be real, she has to maintain her role within the confines of the Box.

Years and years ago, I taught about the "Barbie in The Box", and I broke free and clear from not only the Church box but of the Southern Bell Box. Two of the request that I made of God when I thought my whole life was over was to make me a "real" woman and to show me His way not man's way. Over the years He has done just that.

I was reminded of this teaching just recently when a precious young woman, whom I had been sharing God's Word with and seeing her life begin to bloom, told me about how "beat" up she was and how she just could not take her situation any longer. After a few gentle questions, she poured out her story of her and her husband going to counseling. The couple counseling them made her out to be the "bad" guy because she was struggling with forgiving him of indiscretions that had come to light. As I listened to her, I felt the pain and hurt that she was experiencing. I also could feel the frustration, because I knew exactly why she was experiencing these feelings, the couple as well meaning as they had been, had not taken in consideration the whole picture. They had just about thrown the baby out with the bath water. This sweet couple had bought into their role and even though they had similar experiences, they missed how much damage they had done - They were the Barbie Couple in the Box.

Not many days later I experienced another scenario, as a lady had become empowered in her new role within the Church house and was exercising her limited knowledge about a plan for the Church Body taking it to such an extreme that the whole purpose of the program faded. As I watched her, I realized that she positioned herself as the authority, when in fact she herself needed the affirmation that she was important. She had become the "Barbie in The Box" and knew only how to play the role she had been taught over the years.

Sad but true, we find this "Barbie in The Box" scenario over and over thought out the Church House of every denomination - and even in corporate business.

Women of the world, in every walk of life, are not looking for a text book answer they are looking for reality of who they are and why they are. Being real is so much of the time lost and it is shame that the Church House mass produces Church Women who are cold - uncaring and judgmental to those who are not in their box, but those who have never had a box!

Over the forty plus years as a Christian Woman - who believes the Word of God to be Truth - who believes Abba Father looks on the intent on the heart and forgives our sins and remembers them no more forever - and it breaks His heart when we dress ourselves in that Box and have tunnel vision into the lives of others.

Secondly I am convinced that if we do not take time to take a hard look at ourselves and learn about His Love and His Forgiveness and His way of seeing His Creation (others), then we are no more than a "Barbie in The Box" on the shelves in the Toy Department.

Many of the awesome mixed media artist and writers I follow have such a love and acceptance of our sisters of the worlds that share the common bond of hurt, and issues of self esteem. The Life Stuff that make us all weak at the knees and produce gallons of tears, and yet so many of my "Christian" Sisters can not take time enough to stop their narrow Barbie in The Box mentality that it wound and kills rather than heals and restores.

Don't Shout Me Down! You know it is true!

I will never forget the Sunday Morning I had the rug pulled out from underneath my feet - My whole entire Church World changed forever - and it has taken years and years for the Healing Balm to reach the deep gaping wounds that seem to just tear deeper an deeper. Nevertheless, I watched one of the most precious women of God walk through the fires of Hell and even though there were times I never thought Victory would come - It did - The Victory was not in they way we would want it to be, but it opened up how rich - Real in Him is. It separates those that only want to Hear His Voice and Walk His Walk . . . It truly altered my Walk forever.

wound upon wound - pain upon pain - tear upon tear - the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months and the years into years - As Divine Revelation began to take over - I was brought back to that ole Hymn - "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less, Than Jesus Blood and Righteousness - I shall not TRUST the sweetest Frame, but wholly lean on Jesus Name."

Do I ever get use to seeing fellow sisters get wounded and shattered? No. Do I still want to rush in and intervene on their behalf? Yes! My Journey and lessons of life has taught me - It's all about HIM and doing it HIS way - It's all about loving The Barbie in The Box - Spending a lot of time on my knees - And Trusting His His Voice - Casting My Care - On Him. Is it ole age - LOL - No it is His Wisdom of Life.

The Barbie in The Box needs to break out and break free - Getting the Barbie out of the Box without popping her Head OFF - Well - Love - Prayer - Understanding - Not my time table - His timetable.

Break Free You Barbies in The Box - Break Free!!