Happy International Women's Day! Have you heard RaeLynn's song 'God Made Girls'? It's kind of my favorite. It's playing on repeat right now while I type. Just...FYI.
I've been sitting on an idea for a blog post for a few weeks - but I don't think it was until this morning that it was laid on my heart exactly what I wanted to say. That - and I was informed this afternoon that I am WELL overdue for another post (ahem...Kelly) - so here goes.
The message laid on my heart this morning started at church. My mind began to wander about 2/3 of the way through the service (my bad, God) and I looked to my left. Sitting on the same pew was my mother Marietta and my right-hand girl Emma. It was made very clear to me (no doubt by the Man upstairs) just how important women have been in my life - and not just any women. STRONG WOMEN. My mama for starters. She's instilled in me the ways to be fiercely independent, but kind and thoughtful. Her mother before her - who was able to make you feel loved, but still not take any crap (for example...when she owned the store and someone tried to rob her. Wrong woman, robber. Wrong. Woman.) My aunts, great aunts, cousins, friends, a trainer (whom I love 23.5 hours a day), a select few coworkers and supervisors - a collection of STRONG WOMEN that I feed off of and have been an influence in my life. It wasn't until recently that I saw the benefit of surrounding myself with amazing women - and silently recognizing those that may need a little influencing themselves.
However, looking at my Mama on the other end of the pew - I began thinking about the little lady in the middle... and it occurred to me what a giant responsibility I have to be an example of a strong woman for her - and the rest of the little girls (and some big girls) around me.
What am I wearing? What am I posting on social media? What kind of music am I listening to? What words am I saying when I'm mad? What do I spend my money on? How am I taking care of my body? How am I treating people? How am I allowing people to treat me? What am I doing on Saturday nights? And more importantly, what am I doing on Sunday mornings?
Kinda hit me hard. The responsibility is huge...even in the moments when you think it isn't. So, in keeping with the purpose of this blog - I want to make a change. I want to BE the change that I want to see in the little girls around me. I want to be aware of how my life is influencing them... just like the lives of other women have influenced me. I want my life to preach a sermon of sorts - to tell young girls that you can literally do whatever you want to do. You can wear glitter and play in the mud. You can dance like nobody's business on Saturday night and praise Jesus on Sunday morning. You can be as comfortable in cleats as you are in high heels. You can make a lot of money and shop at Goodwill. You can be a stay at home gypsy and give into the whims of your wanderlust. You can have roots - and you can have wings. The world is your oyster! You are a pearl! Be a contradiction - it makes you more interesting!
I've decided that it's high time for me to be the positive influence and do my part to develop OUR girls into STRONG WOMEN instead of being the warning sign of what not to be.
So here's to strong women: may we know them may we be them and may we raise them.
