I am far from the smartest woman alive but I have read, witnessed and heard heartbreaking stories as well as refreshing ones.
“And she shall be called woman, for out of a man was she formed”. I once read that the emotional, sexual and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the Doctor says” Its a girl!”. But I ask myself, “Is that really where it starts?” My mind is flustered and my heart burdened yet I hope that from this piece, drops of strength would oil your weakness as sounds of laughter fuel your heart.
In this life I live, love and do but I only live the tiniest portion compared with that of all women, not to mention, the world. It rains punishment still upon many women from scenes of squalor, to poverty, starvation, economic exploitation, illiteracy, prostitution, sexual abuse, infidelity, failed marriages, adultery, bad health, brokenness. The list could really go on and on. *Sigh!
A few weeks ago, I did put up a status, asking, “Who can find a Virtuous woman?” A woman of noble character, of moral excellence, a woman whose presence spills courage and not pride, a woman who is blessed with riches yet in submission to authority, a woman with so much to manage, yet graceful to her servants, blessed amongst many yet fears the Lord! I read this chapters a few weeks back and still it gladdens my heart. My favourite verse is that which says, “Her children arise and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praises her”. I am sold out to respect, in honor to whom its due, for how important is it for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-heroes.
But, how can thou be honored if thou walk a path of decline? How can we be praised and adored if and when you praise ourselves the least (this however differs from been boastful), how can you expect greatness when you dream not of it, much less work towards achieving it? How can we expect to be what God has designed us to be if we continually disobey and just do wrong? I am therefore not stupid enough to realize that sometimes and under some specific circumstances, life shoots us the wrong way, life takes away that one important thing or being away, situations beyond control happen and we are made tools of mockery, pain, abuse and what not. More so, I ain’t dumb enough to say that reading this piece would make it all go away but I will say this, and I will say this loud and clear… “We are a beautiful generation, a spectacular group of humans, Strong beyond our own imagination, graceful as a peacock could ever be, polite as a child can be, Intelligent as any can be”. For only when we accept ourselves as we are, then and only then can we find strength for another day. Give no chance to your situations defining who you are. Nobody, except Christ can put a price on you, for that’s been taken care of a long time ago. We are PRICELESS. Look within yourself, smile at the Beauty within you, be thankful for who you are, embrace the strength and chuckle at the weakness for we all are work-in-progress. There ain’t no perfect person. Appreciate yourself so the ones around you can appreciate you too. Within us all is a source of spiritual strength, moral reasoning, financial intelligence, sexual beauty, and only when we accept, embrace, love, our inner self can we truly be beautiful.
Remember, never let the hand you hold, hold you down. Truly charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, so it wouldn’t be much of a shocker if I declare my love for past (and present) heroes. I believe in standing firm for what you believe, I believe in Grace from above, I believe in strength and wisdom. My love for Sojourner Truth is just BOOM…. I have read a lot about her and her fight for survival. In one of her speeches, she said “If the 1st woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, then together, we ought to be able to turn it right side up again…”
Together! Together!! Together!!! Again, I believe in the power of any kind of union. Girl-friend-ship is not excluded, especially if it’s to inspire, grow, laugh, love, share, help, cater, travel, teach, feed, clean, etc. As individuals, be sure to make the world in your own little way a better place. They say, a drop of tear, makes a mighty ocean and when all tiny-tiny inspirations are summed up, then the beginning of Inspiration is born. The true strength of a woman is tested when she isnt only strong for herself, but for another…SD.
And this type of strength, we cannot find in the shadows of pain, regrets, guilt and tears. Yesterday is gone, today is now! It would only be as good as you make it. Don’t be a strong woman who works out every day, one who takes pride in the appearance she portrays but be a woman who kneels to pray, her soul in shape and has got God leading the way.
It is therefore my desire that we find this strength from above, within and around. After this strength we have, then would we be able to call this our reality a Dream. To the “Adams”, there is no denial in the strength and knowledge God has bestowed upon you. So, I implore that you treat your woman right, love like the Lord commanded and she would submit for she is graced. Teach her kindly, and correct her in warmth. A few times, it is allowed to be angry but never let the sun set on your anger. Be slow to raise your fist upon her face, or force her down on her sick days. After all, out of a man are we formed.
I raise my glass in honor to all women of strength. The biggest cheers to my mother, sister and best friends.
This is our time. Let the movement of Inspiration begin!!!
OLUWASEUN
