Embracing Me

Proverbs 31:10-31

10Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. 11 Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

13 She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. 14 She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar. 15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.

16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. 18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night.

19 Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber. 20 She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy. 21 She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm[c] clothes.

22 She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns. 23 Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders. 24 She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. 26 When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. 27 She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.

28 Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: 29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. 31 Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

I never really understood what it meant to be feminine. Only ladylike, which in the instance that I am describing the two, will be different. I knew what and how women were supposed to be portrayed to society and for the most part I followed the rules.

You know, those unwritten rules…

It wasn’t until I got to my late twenties that I began to embrace my womanhood. Embrace the responsibility that I had, not to society and not to others but to myself. You know, that expectation of the proverbs 31 woman that all woman are or should be striving toward.

Well when I took my mind off of those self and society-imposed goals of the perfect woman, I began to see proverbs unfold, the godly woman. Not to say I’m there yet, but I’m growing. I focused on being the best me possible. I focused on exuberating fun and elegance. I focused on embracing those parts of me that I was most uncomfortable with. I began to embrace those things most feminine about me. Embrace my likes and dislikes. Stand tall in who God called me to be and most importantly who HE says I am.

Embracing my feminism simply means embracing this beautiful woman that God has created. This journey I’m walking was specifically designed for me. As it was for you.

Don’t be overwhelmed by the expectations you or others have placed on you. Dive into who God has called you to be. If you are not sure who that is yet, search. Begin to find out who he says you are. You are loved, you are forgiven, you are his MASTERPIECE! Own it and walk in it. This is the femininity I speak of and embrace every day.