I'm a Kept Woman, and I Like It
Friday, October 29, 2010Now that I have your attention ... Shame on you for thinking such a thing. You naughty reader, you! Madame de Pompadour Literature, po...
Friday, October 29, 2010
Now that I have your attention ...
Shame on you for thinking such a thing.
You naughty reader, you!
Literature, poetry, and history—especially among the monarchy and at least one Pope—are full of stories of well-known kept women like Madame de Pompadour (originator of the pompadour hairstyle, a "Snookie" in the front, instead of in the back), the "pretty, witty Nell" Gwyn (one of the first English actresses), all the way down to Julia Roberts' role as call girl-turned-kept woman in Pretty Woman.
Historically, a kept woman was a man's mistress (whether or not he was married to another woman). The man would set his lover up in a house of her own, assume responsibility for her debts, give her an allowance, provide for all her needs in comfortable style. Before divorce was an option (and in countries where it still isn't considered socially acceptable) the practice was quite common.
The role of a concubine is probably the closest thing to a kept woman in the Bible, and the Old Testament is filled with tales of men and their concubines. Solomon reportedly had 700 wives and 300 concubines. (Note: This did NOT turn out well for Solomon.)
Why, you ask, (I can hear you through the computer, you know) would I lay claim to the title of kept woman?
Here's why...
Shame on you for thinking such a thing.
You naughty reader, you!
 |
| Madame de Pompadour |
Literature, poetry, and history—especially among the monarchy and at least one Pope—are full of stories of well-known kept women like Madame de Pompadour (originator of the pompadour hairstyle, a "Snookie" in the front, instead of in the back), the "pretty, witty Nell" Gwyn (one of the first English actresses), all the way down to Julia Roberts' role as call girl-turned-kept woman in Pretty Woman.
Historically, a kept woman was a man's mistress (whether or not he was married to another woman). The man would set his lover up in a house of her own, assume responsibility for her debts, give her an allowance, provide for all her needs in comfortable style. Before divorce was an option (and in countries where it still isn't considered socially acceptable) the practice was quite common. |
| Nell Gwyn |
Why, you ask, (I can hear you through the computer, you know) would I lay claim to the title of kept woman?
Here's why...
I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip or to be moved;
He Who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand [the side not carrying a shield].
The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
Psalm 121 Amplified
Now do you understand? I AM a kept woman. Kept by the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He's my provider, my source, my shelter, my supply. He's my defender, my guardian, and my protector. Isaiah put it this way, "For your Maker is your Husband—the Lord of hosts is His name—and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; the God of the whole earth He is called." (Isa 54:5)
I could have used a zookeeper analogy here, but it just didn't seem quite right. The zookeepers care for the animals, maybe even love them, but it just isn't the same. Besides, if I were an animal in the zoo, what kind of animal would I be? How would I decide? Would I want to be a giraffe or a warthog? An aardvark or an ostrich? You see why the zookeeper analogy didn't hold up so well?
You are cared for and loved more than you can imagine. Enjoy being cherished by the Almighty today. You might not deserve it (none of us do), but He has already taken care of that. In fact, He has already taken care of everything, and He takes great pleasure in watching us enjoy it!
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