A Strong Woman

It has weighed on my mind lately the concept of a strong woman. This issue of feminism and women's rights is so pervasive in our culture, in our social media, in our conversations. I can't stop thinking about what I know as a woman, and what I don't know. What is real and true and attainable, and what is fantasy, lies, and fiction.

There are so many issues floating around in my head that relate to women. So many workings-out of our philosophies that we wear on our sleeves. As women, we hear so many lies and yet we speak so many lies ourselves. We are a force to be reckoned with but mostly we wreak havoc and tear people apart. In our desperate attempts at validation, at recognition, at respect we have instigated a cloud of fear and intimidation over our men, our children, each other. "How dare you say that to me" "How dare you stop me" We insist that no one has the right to speak into our lives, to guide us or tell us what to do. We push back against authority or any perceived authority that could control what we can and cannot do. Take away my option of abortion? Hell.No. Tell me that I should be a working mother instead of STAHM? Better step back! Got an opinion on my sexual preference? Oh, it's on.

It appears that our idea of a strong woman is a "bad b(#$*", a woman who says "I do what I want and to hell with you."

I'll be honest, it's my idea of a strong woman. At least, it's my catch phrase.

Maybe the course of the past several months has shown me the error in that thinking. Or more likely, God is finally shaking the foundation of my identity and these are the branches that fall off.

Because I don't believe in this "strong woman" anymore.

A Strong Woman

A strong woman knows who she is, really is, and doesn't inflate it to create importance. She knows she has worth and value inherent in her Creator.

A strong woman is vulnerable, willing to be weak, giving others the chance to wound her. She knows that true relationship is found in those spaces and so is healing and so is life. She wants to have relationships, healing, and life and to invite as many people into it as she can.

A strong woman isn't scared of her biology and knows her body well. She has no need to flaunt her sexuality or push it in other people's faces. It is for her to know, and a gift to be shared with her husband (or for the more liberal crowd, her partner).

A strong woman isn't offended by everything and has no need to air her offense to the world. She disregards the ignorant and the hateful have no hold on her.

A strong woman holds no expectations over other women, her children, or the men in her life. She reaches out to them in love, friendship, relationship without waiting or asking or requiring anything of them.

A strong woman pours herself out on a daily basis in service of others, relying on the Holy Spirit to continually fill her back up.

A strong woman speaks with love and grace, although she may at times speak loudly or firmly.

A strong woman repents frequently, prays deeply, and loves freely.

This is who I see as a strong woman. This is the woman I think should be at the front of feminism. This is the woman I hope to be.