The scenes involved the classic woes of love and triumph. But, in each moment the women were simply dashing. They looked lovely, they sounded lovely, and they smiled lovely. Their hair was fashioned appropriately for the times, they wore simply lovely dresses, and I am sure they were wearing the perfect fragrance. But what captivated me even more was the response on screen from the men in the movie. In each scene, whether relevant or not, the women were treated so sweetly. They were doted on, hands kissed, and doors opened. It seemed it was the honor of a man to treat any lady as if she were the queen. And the best part, the ladies all seemed to appreciate and live up to their treatment.
One click of the remote to any other channel yielded a starkly different picture. However, in this tiny piece of TV land that I landed on, the story was very, very different. I found myself wanting to leap into that world and stay awhile.
Our real world is a changed place. We are not those ladies on the sliver screen. Many of us work hard, open our own doors, and really don't have much time for doting. We are strong and capable. We don't need too much help. We are fighters and survivors. We invent and re purpose. We build things and manage millions. We are women, hear us roar!
But sometimes, isn't it is nice to just be a girl? Sometimes, I think we need to allow our world to remember that we are feminine. We are girls for a reason. God made us that way on purpose. If we are made in His image, then it was very important for Him to create us. He made man first, but knew that was not a complete picture of Himself. And, as my husband likes to remind me, us ladies were the first thing that God did not make from dirt. He took from the man and sculpted and breathed life into a woman. We were planned and necessary.
It is a good thing sometimes to forget our current culture and just relish in being created by a loving God to reflect His softer side. He gave us more emotion, more feeling, and all the other attributes of femaleness. He choose to make us that way on purpose. He loved us for that. He made us for that. There is no shame in those things.
But our world can make it difficult. I was schooled in the public education system. I was taught to fight and be strong. I was ushered into a world where my kind did everything they could to be equal and valued the same way as a man. While I do believe with all my heart that men and women should be valued equally, I know without a doubt we are different to the core. We can be valued, but we don't have to be men to do it.
Dream your dreams and fight your fights. Go for whatever you feel God gave you to do in this world. But don't forget that you are a woman, and that is a special thing in and of itself. Don't run from it or be embarrassed by it. Don't worry about climbing the ladder the same way Joe does. Jane can climb it in her way, too. We are women and we don't have to roar to prove it. We can roar, but we don't have to.
I am a girl...just a girl. But my God made me that way. And, He said it was good!
Gen.2:18-25 God said, “It’s not good for the Man to be alone; I’ll make him a helper, a companion.” So God formed from the dirt of the ground all the animals of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the Man to see what he would name them. Whatever the Man called each living creature, that was its name. The Man named the cattle, named the birds of the air, named the wild animals; but he didn’t find a suitable companion. God put the Man into a deep sleep. As he slept he removed one of his ribs and replaced it with flesh. God then used the rib that he had taken from the Man to make Woman and presented her to the Man. The Man said,“Finally! Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh!"
Proverbs 10-31 A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds.Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long. She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing. She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises. She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast
for her family and organizing her day. She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden. First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day. She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking. She’s quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor.She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear. She makes her own clothing, and dresses in colorful linens and silks. Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers. She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops. Her clothes are well-made and elegant, and she always faces tomorrow with a smile. When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive. Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise: “Many women have done wonderful things, but you’ve outclassed them all!” Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praisedis the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God. Give her everything she deserves! Festoon her life with praises!
