“A strong woman is someone who is able to smile this morning like she wasn’t crying last night.”
Harriet Morgan
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Sometimes I wish I had come into this world as a man. There, I’ve said it out loud. But maybe I think that way because men seem to have it so easy: no stress, no worrying about anything, no multi-tasking issues, no being pregnant for nine months or breastfeeding a squirming baby in public, no bloating or ‘monthly inconveniences’ (as I’ve heard it described), no real balancing of home with career … just saying. And if my somewhat jaded perception is reality, dare I then wonder if men appear to be in total control of their universe simply because the woman/women in their lives will take care of everything?
I would hazard a guess and say we women really do take care of everything, whether as a mother or aunt or girlfriend or wife. We get out there and do whatever needs to be done – even if it’s from our knees where we ask God to save us from pending mental or physical breakdowns.
For instance, if you’re a single woman the tasks of raising children, putting food on the table and going above as well as beyond in your career all fall under your watch. If you’re married or in a relationship add your significant to the list above (minus putting food on the table) because he’s going to need your care and attention too. If you like to volunteer or support charity, add in the time you’ll need to attend meetings and assist in coordinating fund-raising events. If you’re an out and out family girl, don’t forget to schedule in that meaningful family time. And last but not least, if you’re a giver through and through, it’s easy to forget giving back to the most important giver of all: yourself.
Women give and give and then give some more. As life goes on we can feel as though we’re taken for granted and that no-one will miss us if we happen to run away or die because a day will come when our ‘giving’ well has run dry, when we want to lie in our beds without having a single care in the world, when we say to ourselves: “Self, enough is enough!”
But guess what? We would indeed be missed if we ran away or died. It might be a bit too late (seeing as how we wouldn’t be around and all) but I’m sure we would be celebrated for what we believed in and what we held up. There’d be tears and laughter, love and hugs because we would have made the world a better place. And I know this in my heart of hearts because here are a few simple truths about being a woman:
- Women are strong – mentally, physically, spiritually
- Women are loving – even when we know you are being un-lovable
- Women are beautiful – whether we carry 300 lbs or 120 lbs
- Women are committed – we will see things through to the end (bitter or otherwise)
- Women make things happen – we’ll plan our work and work our plan
- Women will sacrifice everything for our children – even if it means going without food or clothing for ourselves
- Women can be anything we want to be – whether it’s being a housewife, teacher, lawyer, doctor, receptionist or world leader
- Women are queens and princesses of multi-tasking – yes, it is possible to cook and do laundry and write a grocery list
- Women can survive in a valley – because we know we’re going come out on the mountaintop
- Women know men can be all of the above, but we are indeed super special!
Admittedly this is all very much just my opinion of course and yes, there are probably more than a few good men around as well but it still doesn’t beat my reality that: women are amazingly awesomely phenomenal 🙂
“I am a feminist. I’ve been female for a long time now. I’d be stupid not to be on my own side.” Maya Angelou
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“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.” Proverbs 31:28-31 (NIV)
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Gale Weithers 
I wouldn’t want to be a man. There is so much societal pressure on what is expected of them. While I wish women weren’t so constrained, I think guys face failure constantly in who and what they are.
Nancy
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I never thought about it that way at all Nancy, but now that you have raised it I can see your point. I still believe however that women are under more pressure than men but being female, admit that I could be more than a little biased (heavy sigh here).
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I read a pretty detailed report about the societal pressures on men, which is what improved my knowledge on the topic. I forget where I read it though! I’d love to recommend it to you. I’m thinking it might have been a Focus on the Family report, but I don’t recall it having a Christian slant to the message. I’ll have to poke around my bookshelves to see if it was in a book. If I find it, I’ll let you know.
I agree that I’m biased towards women too. I see this much more in my daughter’s field (IT) than mine (accounting), but it’s there. All the time it seems too.
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