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The Hope Chest

As recently as a few decades ago it was common for unmarried women to store household items for an impending future event, such as marriage.

In use for centuries, the hope chest (also known as a dowry box or a glory box) was a means by which women could contribute to the home they would one day share with their husband.  Things included were homemade items or items given to her by relatives.  Hope chests normally included treasured items handed down by generations such as china, silver ware, cookbooks and quilts.


Whatever became of this time honored tradition?   It is a conversation that never comes up. Times have certainly changed.  It is my hope to re-introduce this tradition back to our young girls.  What a wonderful way to encourage a young girl to prepare for her future. Whatever her career choice is, whether outside the home or to be a stay at home mom, the point is to take the time to prepare her.   With gender roles becoming  more undefined in our society, young girls are searching for identity. This is a time for mother's to pour into their daughter's, to mentor and prepare them to be a godly wife, a godly mother, a godly woman.


In times past young women spent time learning from their mothers how to cook, sew and manage a household.  Felicity King, on The Road to Avonlea (The Proof of the Pudding) is a good example of mentoring.  Felicity is definitely a capable young woman who is ready to take charge, a young woman who knows seven different ways of removing the most stubborn of stains. She is confident, strong and  the influence of her mother's mentoring is certainly noticeable. Each time I watch this episode it makes me laugh.
Mentoring of young women is so needed today.


Hopefully many young women will be inspired to start a hope chest and began dreaming about their future.




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