Hello everyone, I hope you’re having a lovely morning, afternoon, or evening! March is Women’s History Month, and I wanted to share a letter with you that I wrote about two years ago. There is so much more I can say about this topic, but maybe that will be for another day. I hope you enjoy and, if you’re a fellow woman, glean some wisdom and insight from this!

I used to not like being a woman.

Boys had it easier, they weren’t criticized or held to expectations as much, and overall they just seemed to have more fun.

And that can be true. Women are still looked down upon in many places where they shouldn’t be and not taken seriously in places where they should be. Not to mention the constant fear that runs through our minds when a man comes close or the many precautions we have to take when simply leaving our homes.

I used to not like being a woman.

But as I’ve grown, I’ve only come to appreciate it more.

I think that women can do anything a man can do, but that’s not our purpose. We were made to do the very thing that men can’t do. If we try to act like men and do what men do to find our power, we’re only adding to the belief that women are weaker or aren’t powerful or are simply below men. Our empowerment lies in a totally different category and is executed so differently than men, and that in no way means it’s lesser or that we’re lesser.

While men were made to be the head of the house, the breadmaker, the frontman, etc., women were made to serve, help, and nurture. Regarding husband and wife, the wife was made to submit to her husband. But servitude and submission are not roles of less value, respect, or importance.

Honestly, I often thought that we weren’t as important because there weren’t as many female heroes in the Bible. But as I was creating a blog post highlighting various women from the Bible, I realized that was in no way true.

Jael was hospitable, welcoming General Sisera in and allowing him to rest. She drove a tent peg into his head, and God used her to bring victory to the Israelites.

Ruth was a widow, trying to get by with her mother-in-law. She eventually married Boaz and became the mother of Obed, the grandfather of King David. God used her to continue on the line of David and ultimately lead to Jesus.

Deborah was the only female judge mentioned in the Bible. She assisted General Barak and encouraged the Israelites to fight against Canaan. God used her as a helper to bring His people to victory.

Rahab opened up her home to Israelite spies, sheltered them, and lied to the faces of the king’s guards to protect them. She eventually brought her entire family out of Jericho to safety and became the mother of Boaz, leading to Jesus.

God used all these women to bring about His glory, and the plan of salvation, and it was all by hospitality, servitude, assistance, and/or literally just giving birth.
Just because our roles look different than men’s doesn’t mean they aren’t important or good enough to bring about God’s glory.

Modern feminism speaks of “shouting your abortion” and “why would you just be a homemaker or mother when you can be _?” and generally passes along the idea that childbearing and simply being a mother is beneath you, not as important/special, or empowering.
However, I think it’s just the opposite.
Again, we were made to do what men can’t do. So, if we want to feel empowered, why are we doing everything but that?

We have the privilege of being vessels for one of the most awesome displays and magnifications of God’s power. We get to raise up the next generation in the Lord. We can nurture, care for, serve, and help.

That’s what it means to be a powerful woman, I think.
Submitting ourselves to the role God has placed for us and allowing Him to use us to create life, nurture life, and protect life.

That all feels so much more empowering than trying to act like a man and disown the roles I was made for.

Not to mention, wearing pretty dresses, putting flowers in my hair, and letting myself be a giddy little girl is the BEST feeling.

“Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”
PROVERBS 31:25-26

“You don’t have to play masculine to be a strong woman.”
Mary Elizabeth Winstead