One of the most inspiring stories of the past year has to be that of Malala Yousafzai. You'll remember that she's the young teen from a Taliban ruled village in Pakistan who has spoken out strongly for her right and the right of other girls to an education. She was seen as such a threat that she was targeted by the Taliban for assassination and was shot a year ago, but not killed. After recovering from her injuries, she has continued her campaign on an international level. She became, this year, the youngest person ever to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.  (You can read more about her here.)

Her courage is a sight to behold. She could be a poster child for the ezer! (See my first post for a word about ezers.)

But I'd like to consider a different angle to her story. Consider this video of a recent interview Malala had with Jon Stewart. As you do,  listen for her references to her father.There are only a couple.

Why do I ask you to do this? Because ezers are not "I am woman, hear me roar" types. As writer Caroline Custis James explains, God created men and women to work together. She calls this special relationship the "blessed alliance." It is a relationship that breeds interdependence, not dependence or independence; it is a relationship of great mutual respect; it is a relationship confident in each person's God-given strength and it makes room for that strength. The "blessed alliance" can exist in any male/female relationship: sister/brother, husband/wife, father/daughter.

So what does this have to do with Malala? Notice in the clip, Jon Stewart asks her what gave her the courage to speak out even when her life was being threatened. She says, "My father was a great encouragement for me. . . ."

Do you hear that? Her father was her encouragement. He was also a spokesperson for education. But amazingly when it came to his young daughter, he did not shield her, did not inhibit her from championing a dangerous cause. He saw her strength and he encouraged her. (See the first link above for more on his stance.) The result is inspiring. How much more effective is her voice than his! She says, "I raised my voice on every platform that I could." Because of her age and her vulnerability, her platforms are many and she can speak all the more powerfully against the oppression of the Taliban. Because of the "blessed alliance" between Malala and her father, her voice was not silenced, but was encouraged and supported.