LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT
Tuesday, September 26, 2023 by DONNA SCHLACHTER

Categories: devotional / GUEST AUTHORS / TUESDAY'S TREASURE

photo by Library of Congress on Unsplash

PLEASE WELCOME

DONNA SCHLACHTER

TUESDAY’S TREASURE

In writing an upcoming release, Theresa’s Talent, I did plenty of research about the suffrage movement. I thought I’d share some lessons we might all take to heart and that can be useful today:

Settle in for the long haul

The suffrage movement in America began in the 1850s and ended in 1920 with the ratification of Article 19, giving women the right to vote. That right had been extended by many states prior to this, including Colorado in 1893, Wyoming in 1869, and Utah in 1870. However, women couldn’t vote federally until much later.

The Bible tells us to settle in for the long haul. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast (1 Peter 5:10 NIV).

We see in the Old Testament that the prophet Jeremiah told the people that they should build houses and plant gardens because it would be 70 years before they returned to Israel (see Jeremiah 29:4-14) From this, we can find peace in knowing that whatever is in store, God has us safely in His hands.

Count the cost

The women who began campaigning for suffrage never dreamed it would take more than sixty years to accomplish their goal. Many of those who started in the 1850s were dead and gone before their sisters won that right.

God also reminds us to count the cost before we begin any project, and even to count the cost of following Jesus: Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you (Luke 14:28-29 NIV).

If we aren’t willing to invest whatever is needed to accomplish our goal, we should rethink our actions. Nobody wants to start and run out of money or steam before seeing the accomplishment of our goal.

Choose your companions wisely

Not every woman who said she stood for suffrage was truly supportive of women getting the right to vote. Many were planted in organizations and trade associations to spy on the movement.

The Bible also tells us to choose wisely: (see Proverbs 16:28) because most often, we become like those we spend time with, to our detriment. We must also remember that the enemy comes disguised as an angel of light, seeking to deceive us.

Don’t dismiss small beginnings

The movement in the US to win suffrage began small and moved at a snail’s pace. In fact, by the early 1900s, at the federal level, many members of the various unions and associations of suffragettes were tired of how long it was taking. They decided to employ civil disobedience to push the movement along faster, believing men would cave in. Instead, men dug in their heels all the more, and the movement lost many of their financial supporters, women in high society, who had provided money and influence in secret.

The Bible also tells us that we are not to despise what might seem like small advances but instead to focus on what the Lord is doing: Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?” (Zechariah 4:10 NIV).

Consider how to help another along their path

Women began their fight for suffrage before the Civil War freed tens of thousands of Black Americans, of which about half were men. Before their emancipation, these folks were not considered worthy of voting. In fact, in the 1860s, before seeing success in getting suffrage for white women, the movement was encouraged to step aside and allow the focus to fall on colored (non-white) men to achieve the same rights their white brothers did.

This happened in 1870.

The Bible also tells us we should think of others before ourselves: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:3-5).

This deference to bring success to their colored brothers resulted in a stronger unity among the women, as well as a grateful category of voters who understood what it meant to be oppressed and downtrodden

As you can see, the Suffrage Movement provides many life lessons that we can apply even today, as all positive changes should.

You can purchase Theresa’s Talent here:

ABOUT THERESA’S TALENT

Theresa, a former slave, wants two things: to own a business and to vote. She excels at cooking and baking, so the first should be easy. The second? Already suffragettes had been working for twenty years—would she see it as the law of the land in her lifetime?

Toby, a freeman now working for the Pinkerton Detective Agency, loves the sense of adventure and justice that being a private investigator brings. But when he sees justice failing for a white man, he can’t stand idly by and do nothing. Even if it means putting himself in danger.

But, is he willing to put another in the same position?

available for pre-order now and will be released on October 2nd

ABOUT DONNA SCHLACHTER

A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky-clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers' groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; ghostwrites; edits; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about writing and publishing to coach writers at any stage of their manuscript. Learn more at https://www.donnaschlachter.com/the-purpose-full-writer-coaching-programs Check out her coaching group on FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/604220861766651

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