For years, women everywhere have been fighting for their fundamental human rights to live free from violence, able to earn a fair and equal wage, and the right to be educated, among other things. Today, we live in a day and age that women are being heard more, respected and our voices are finally counting. I don’t remember this being so prevalent in my days growing up, as it is now. It’s been an evolving movement throughout the years. Nowadays, it is everywhere; women empowerment, feminism, liberation. Though I can’t say I’m in agreement with every aspect of this, I can certainly tell you that it is a breath of fresh air to see strong women everywhere being heard, treated fairly, and being recognized for their contributions.
Last year, Sky (my oldest), took Women’s Studies at school and I’m so glad she did. It was impressive to hear her come home and talk about women in history, change-makers, roles, and all the things that we as a gender have been able to accomplish throughout the years. She definitely taught me a thing or two. I see a strength in both my girls that I didn’t have at their age; a certainty that they can overcome, accomplish and conquer. Now for all my Christian folks, don’t get your panties all up in a bunch. I’m not talking picket signs, and tatas hanging out. I acknowledge that there is a divine order for all things, but I am more so referencing Strong Women. Women that have gone through somethings in life and yet have a spirit of defiance that leads them to push back on cultural expectations.
Let’s talk design for a second. Whoever said women are supposed to be frail, subordinate, and oppressed, LIED! That, perhaps was the expectation in years past, but today that couldn’t be further from the truth. On the contrary, women are supposed to be powerful, respected, and most of all FREE! Free to make mistakes and come back from them without having to forever carry a scarlet letter for their misdeeds (whatever those might be).
You see in the story of our lives there are countless exclamation points spotlighting the errors, downfalls, drawbacks, snags, and stumbling blocks of our journey. If you’re anything like me, those exist in abundance throughout. Shamefully, I admit that many times I’ve gotten stuck in those parts of my story. Yet, I have found that the most exciting and worthy of “concentrating on” parts of my tale are not the highlighted errors, but rather every place where there exists a: NEVERTHELESS. Those are the really juicy parts of my story. The places of comeback. The places where in spite of, notwithstanding, or however introduce another level of my being. The part of the story where everything that tried to take me down is put on notice that I’m back in the game better and stronger than ever! Because my story doesn’t end with my battles with hypochondria, fear, anxiety, loss, or divorce. Those were just moments in time that prompted me to draw strength from places in me that I didn’t know existed. Simply put, they were opportunities for me to find the Wonder in my Woman.
If you follow my story, I can assure you, the second part will be better than the first. The same is true for you. Will you be stuck in those memories,mistakes, and moments in time that want to reduce you to a sentence with an exclamation point?
Divorced! Single Mom! Hurt! Betrayed! Abused! Flawed!…Or will you begin to step into your NEVERTHELESS? If it doesn’t exist yet, let my words be a reminder that your latter will be greater then the past. All you need to do, is begin to pen it.
The glory of the present house will be greater than the glory of the former house, says the Lord Almighty Haggai 2:9
I’d love to hear about the Wonder in your Woman below or feel free to contact me to share your story of how NEVERTHELESS, you persisted…
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Hi Rosie! Yes, love that women have more opportunities and are stronger than ever. We are meant to live in freedom. And this means from labels that define us. We may have walked through mistakes and hard times and decisions that defined and shaped us, but we are much bigger than these things. Much more complicated than these things. And I am with you, my second half of life is better than my first. Living in my nevertheless.
Hi Teresa. High five for your second half 🙂 So happy that you are basking in your Nevertheless. Thanks for the comment.
I love this Rosie!!! I love seeing girls and women around me living in the freedom and knowledge that they are being capable of conquering the fears and obstacles in their lives!
Yes!!! So glad that more and more girls like you are coming to that realization. Thank you for the comment Tati 🙂
Yes!!!! to everything you wrote, Rosie. As it turns out, Jesus loves women just as much as men. Who knew? Strong, empowered, capable women are everywhere. I do need to submit to my husband, but he must submit to me also. Mutual submission, obedience, and love lead to a fulfilling relationship. So different from when I was growing up. I am grateful for all the women who came before me to lead the way.
Thanks for the comment Laurie, and you are correct Strong, Empowered, Capable AND mutual submission!
Step into your nethertheless. Yessss!
Thanks for stopping by Lauren 🙂
Thank you for sharing with Encouraging Hearts and Home! Have a great week ahead!