He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” (Ruth 3:9)

Men, let me tell you something. It’s something you probably know in theory, but often do not practice. Don’t tell anyone I told you, because I will possibly be lynched for telling the secrets of the feminine type.

Women desire to be protected.

I say this because we often give the impression that we do not need protection. This is for many reasons. Many of us did not feel protected by our fathers, so we learned to not be “needy”, because we were so often turned away when we asked for help. Many of us have been hurt so many times, that we believe that we’ve built a skin thick enough to be able to make it on our own.

In the end, I believe, that the main reason we say we do not need protection is because we are fallen and sinful creatures, just like you.

We talk much about being made in the image of God. And this is true, and beautiful. And we talk about how marriage is a picture of Christ and the Church….and this is also true and beautiful. But we are less likely to make the connections between men and Jesus, between women and the Church (with exception of certain references to Ephesians 5).

The Church fails when we begin to believe do not need the protection and grace of God. And women are heartbroken when they start to believe they do not need men in their lives.

I’m not saying that a woman needs a man to be “complete”. We are complete in Christ. But we often forget that we are made for community, and we are made to compliment each other as friends and brothers and sisters and fathers and mothers, as much as lovers and mates.

Men, we are sorry for lying to you. We are sorry for making you feel as if you are unnecessary, and that we can do it for ourselves. We were not made to do it ourselves. We appreciate when you carry our bags, and open our doors, when you warm up our cars, and when you offer to shovel our driveways. Not because we unable to do these things for ourselves (though sometimes we actually are…I can’t change a tire…), but because in you, we find a picture of the selflessness and protection of Christ. We find this not just in our boyfriends, and not just in our husbands or fathers, but in our friends and brothers in Christ.

We are still learning what it means to be protected. We are still learning what it means to be the Bride of Christ…and what it means to be your sisters.