Galatians 3:26-29 (NKJV) ~~ For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Earlier this week was International Women’s Day (IWD). IWD is the day when we celebrate women everywhere. By doing this we celebrate our accomplishments, make our past an important part of where we stand today, and bring awareness to those who still need us. We have come a long way over the centuries from where we used to be. We can dream and know that we can make those dreams become a reality.
You are Blessed to Be Where You Are
This day each year always gets me thinking about how blessed I feel to be a woman in the 21st Century in North America where I have rights and freedoms that many others don’t have. There are women who are still struggling, suffering, searching, and longing to be heard, loved, and to become independent. They are women that need all of our attention immediately. Their stories need to be told.
There are so many women, and groups of women in history that have affected us and who we, as modern women, have become. Most of these women, most of us don’t even know or have never heard of. These brave ladies and their actions, which in most cases were definitely ‘against the grain’ of what society said was OK for women to do or say, influenced us just as much as those women that are around us every day. However, the women in our history can be a story for another blog, or a book even, or a series of books.
There are Women that have Shaped Your Life
The most drastic changes to who we are today, have resulted from the women that are immediately around us; those that love us, or not (in some cases), each day. Some of these women, like our Mom’s, have been there every day for our whole lives (for those of us who are blessed to have our mothers). Others have come into our lives for a season, and then in the blink of an eye they are gone again, often leaving almost as big of a footprint on our lives.
All this got me thinking: who are those women that have influenced me the most? The more I thought about it, the more I realized that it is indeed quite a list.
- First, there’s my Mom, who is no doubt the biggest impact. She’s taught me everything from how to cook and do housework, how to treat and get along with others, to how to be a loving, strong and independent woman like her. She helped me laugh, and cry. She listened when I need it and didn’t judge me. She was a great example and teacher.
- Then there was my maternal Grandmother – she loved Jesus with all her heart and soul – a wonderful example.
- Next were my Aunts, Phyllis and Florence – I spent many sleepover nights at their houses. I learned that sometimes extended family isn’t so extent. You can live, laugh, and love with them like they were your immediate family.
- In a very special place in my heart is my Aunt Sadie. We only got to see her every 4 or 5 years growing up, because her and her family didn’t live near us. However, she taught me something very important that had big effect on my life. Aunt Sadie taught me about peanut butter. Seriously. See one summer when she was visiting us, she was making herself a slice of bread with peanut butter spread very thick. My Mom said “Ewww, how can you eat that like that?”. Her response was “Hey, if you’re gonna do peanut butter you have to do it right.” This got me thinking about how important it was to to “do it right” for other things in my life I figured out that I had to try my best at what I was trying to do, and not to necessarily just accept things the way they appear to be sometimes.
- I could go on and on with this list. There was Charlene, Daphne, Suzanne, Francine, several cousins, and a long list of women from the church I now attend; each with their own importance to me.
There is One Perfect Example Above All Others
There are so many women that have left lasting imprints on my life. They’ve helped mould me, they’ve helped make my life what it is today. Many of these women were in the past. Many are still in my life. The one person who has shown me just how valuable I am though is Jesus. I know what you’re thinking – Jesus isn’t a woman! Yes, I realize that, but I also know how He viewed women, how He treated them, and how they responded. The bible has many examples showing Jesus being sensitive, accepting, and affirming of women. This is who Jesus was with women, with everyone. It’s how all of us are to be with everyone.
Scripture is clear on what kind of people we are to be; how we are to think, act, speak, and our overall character. We are all children of God, equal with each other, heirs to the throne with Jesus. There is no good reason for women to be thought of as inferior, treated as a lower life form, abused, or discarded as not important. We, as modern day women, need to be examples for others, especially the younger generation. It’s equally as vital that we reach out and do our parts to help the other women around the world who need us so desperately.
So, go and share the gospel that we are all called to share, and be the example that you would want to see. Do it everyday, not just on International Women’s Day. Who were the women who have influenced your life? Who will you be an example for?
Let’s Pray
Dear God ~~ You have given me so many wonderful examples of women that have helped shape me into who I am today. They are the perfect women that have influenced me at the perfect times in my life. I admit that I haven’t been the best example that I could be to other women, or the best example that You need me to be to show Jesus to others. Thank You for International Women’s Day that is helping to bring awareness to so many important women’s issues. Please use it to show Your glory. Thank You for the wonderful women in my life, and those in the past that have shaped history for all women. Please let me be a strong, independent, wonderful example for other women that they need me to be. Help me show Jesus to them. In His name, AMEN.
Other Reading about International Women’s Day
My past blogs:
Facebook feed – #InternationalWomensDay (many stories, articles, videos, and conversations shared by Facebook users about International Women’s Day)
ARTICLE: Jesus and Women
Now It’s Your Turn
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