Katie Ganshert Archives - Page 18 of 93

A Love Affair with Chivalry

Posted on July 8, 2011November 7, 2011 by Katie Ganshert

Somebody told me once that chivalry is dying.

It made me sad.

So sad, in fact, that every year as a 5th grade teacher, I would introduce this word to my class and encourage it in the boys. Maybe that’s not kosher, seeing as I taught in a public school. Maybe some people think it isn’t any of my business to teach this concept to my students. But I couldn’t help myself. I want young boys to know this word. I want young girls to know this word.

I want my son to know this word.

I want him to grow into a young man who opens doors for women. Who carries their bags, and pulls out their chairs, and gives up his seat, and offers his arm when the sidewalk gets slippery. I want him to grow into a young man who respects and protects his female counterparts.

Every Wednesday night, I get to hang out with junior high kids at my church. A few months ago, we went through a whole series on dating, and one of the messages went like this:

Girls, you are a princess of the King. Guard your purity.

Boys, you are a prince of the King. Protect the princesses.

I loved that message. I wanted to record it and save it for my son.

Protect the princesses.

Maybe that’s not a popular message these days. But it sure is a beautiful one.

In real life and in fiction.

Let’s Talk: Do you think chivalry is dying? Why? Do you find chivalry to be an attractive, admirable trait in men? If you have a son, do you try to teach him to be chivalrous? If so, how do you do it?

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Heaven Weirds Me Out

Posted on July 6, 2011November 7, 2011 by Katie Ganshert

Maybe I’m not supposed to say that. But it does.

Anytime I can’t wrap my mind around something, I have this reaction.

Take space. Space boggles my mind. The fact that you could get in a rocket ship with never-ending fuel and literally fly for-ever? You wouldn’t run into some sort of wall? That’s crazy. And that’s just space. A place people have actually explored.

When it comes to boggling the mind, heaven is like space on steroids.

Last Friday, my good friend Wendy Miller asked a very Wendy-like question. I say Wendy-like, because if you know this woman, you know the waters run deep. And pretty much everything that comes out of her mouth is either encouraging or thought-provoking or hilarious.

So anyway. Her thought-provoking question on Friday was: Righteous anger or no anger?

Which led to: Will there be anger in heaven?

Which led to: No, there won’t. Because God’s righteous anger results from sin and there won’t be sin in heaven.

Which led to my mind being boggled.

Here are just a few things about heaven that strain my brain:

Heaven is eternal. Everybody knows the song, Amazing Grace, right? In it, there’s a verse that goes: When we’ve been there, ten thousand year. Bright shining as the sun. We’ve no less days, to sing God’s praise, than when we first begun. Which is amazing, don’t get me wrong. But also crazy.

What will we do in heaven? I know we’ll worship God. But is this all we’ll do?

There won’t be mourning in heaven. But how is this possible when we realize certain people aren’t there? Won’t we realize where they are? And won’t that make us mourn?

What will our relationships be like in heaven? There’s a verse in one of the gospels where Jesus says we won’t be married in heaven. We’ll be like the angels. So what will my relationship with my husband be like when I get to heaven?

All of these things just point to the fact that my brain is so very human. So very small. So very finite. And so very incapable of wrapping around the awesomeness of God.

But I’m not alone.

The Bible says:

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love them.

Take the craziest, most awesome thing you’ve ever imagined about heaven and guess what? You’re not even close. Because nobody has ever or will ever be able to conceive what He has in store for His children. At least not on this side of eternity.

Let’s Talk:What are your thoughts and questions and beliefs about heaven?

*Photo by mediatunes

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Old Fashioned Romance: The Art of Being Pursued

Posted on July 1, 2011November 6, 2011 by Katie Ganshert

Call me old fashioned. Call me archaic. But when it comes to dating, I think the man should pursue the woman. I think, deep down, every woman wants to be pursued.

In high school, I was way too eager to date. Way too eager to be liked by boys. Anytime one showed interest, I’d quickly turn into that girl. The one who called too much, hoping the boy didn’t have caller ID. The one who expended way too much emotion and energy trying to figure out if the guy liked me back.

Sigh.

I wish I could go back to that silly girl, put my hands on her shoulders, look into her eyes, and say, “Stop. Please.”

Thankfully, in college, things changed. I met this really awesome girl. She taught me the art of being pursued. And I’m not talking about hard-to-get. I’m talking about old-fashioned romance. Where the man courts the girl. Where the man takes the initiative. Where the man has to work a little.

It was right around this time that a very cute guy dropped into my world. I decided to take a page out of my friend’s book.

On our first date, we talked about silly things. Like if we believed in ghosts. Random, I know. When the date ended, I refused to ask if I’d see him again. I said goodbye. He said goodbye. I really liked him. But I had no idea if he really liked me.

Until he called the next day. To ask me on another date. Any insecurity I might have felt. Any confusion over whether he liked me or not. Disappeared. Because he was the one calling me. He was the one asking me out. I don’t think I finally called him until our fifth or sixth date.

And guess what?

I’ve been married to my cute guy for a little over seven years.

Despite today’s culture, where it’s just as acceptable for a woman to ask for a guy’s digits, I still stand by my old-fashioned claim. Let the man do the pursuing. In both fiction and real life. If for no other reason than it’s incredibly romantic.

Let’s Talk: What are your thoughts? Do you think the man should do the pursuing? When it comes to novels and movies, do you feel the same way? If you’re married – what’s your story? Who did the pursuing?

I’m over at Deana Barnhart’s blog today doing an interview. I’d love for you to stop by if you get a chance!removetweetmeme