New Wings

There is always something special about a new month and new beginnings.  It is like being giving a brand new pair of wings.  I am filled with excitement at the thought of spreading my wings and soaring.  A new month always seems alive with expectations, excitement and opportunities.  It is even more special when the new month is a month when we can celebrate the wonder of being a woman.  In South Africa August is Women's Month.

Being a woman in the age we live in is especially awesome.  We live in a time of freedom and opportunities.  Today, in most countries, women have the right to vote and they have the right to make decisions about their own futures.  Women have a place in many governments and politics and they have career opportunities in all fields of study.

After centuries of being oppressed, disregarded as human beings and treated as possessions, we now have a voice and treated as (almost) equals.  We may exert our independence and take control of our destiny.  Although many women in many countries still suffer under oppression, the voices of women the world over are shouting out louder and louder against the oppression and discrimination against their fellow sisters.

Women have been fearfully and wonderfully made.  We are unique.  It is because of our specific qualities that we have a very distinctive role to fulfill in the world.  However, in our quest to prove ourselves as equal to men, or better, we sacrifice some of our inherent qualities.  By striving to be like men, as strong, as able and knowledgeable, as 'superior' and as driven we actually betray ourselves.  We sacrifice our uniqueness, we trade it for something inferior and we end up missing God's very specific plan for our lives.  As long as we strive to be as good (or better), as able or as accomplished as the next man we become nothing more than a forgery, a poorly printed copy.

Our strength as women is found in exactly the fact that we ARE women.  We are different.  Our strength is not in denying our femininity, but in celebrating everything that makes us women.  Our strength lies in the way we love, our passionate and caring natures.  It is found in our vision and the way we are fully conscious of all our senses, yes, even that sixth sense.  Even in our weakness there is strength.  Strength is found both in her practical nature and her spiritual beliefs.  A woman's true strength comes from within and not from any validation that the world may give. A really strong woman knows that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of wisdom.

Let us celebrate the wonder of being a woman and let us be joyous and proud this month .  Let us make a difference wherever we go.  I share with you this quote from Oprah Winfrey:

“Step out of the history that is holding you back. Step into the new story you are willing to create.”