The Strength of a Woman
As a woman, do you truly know how strong you are? What does strength look like? What does strength not look like? Let us bring light to this subject while giving homage to "Phenomenal Woman".
I was excited to write on this subject because I just see such a huge change with the rising of many strong woman in the world. Especially this year of us having a 1st woman and woman of color as a vice president, Vice President Kamala Harris and how powerful the words of a young poet, Amanda Gorman shook a number of onlookers as she read her powerful poem on inauguration day. God is doing something mighty with the woman. Not that He never has, but He is definitely pushing the women to break barriers and go to higher heights in this season. It is definitely a time to be proud and embrace being a woman.
What also has prompted this blog and discussion on the other end are the trends that I have come across on social media lately. I know I may get a side eye or an eye roll for discussing it, but it just prompted a deeper problem that I feel needs to be addressed. So here comes my finger pointing to the elephant in the room. Some of us have seen it, some of us have participated in it, and some of us have maybe scrolled past these hashtags that guided us to these videos with simply a shoulder shrug.
These hashtags that I am speaking of is hashtag "bussit challenge" and hashtag "silhouette challenge". (sighs)
A total opposite of what I think of when I speak of strong women. This may seem harsh right off the bat, but in the words of Sheree' off of real housewives of Atlanta past seasons, "Who gonna check me boo?" lol
When you fear and only bow to the opinion of God, you will never again be afraid to speak up on anything. But anywho,
Strong women don't bend to trends. They stand up with their head held high with class.
What happened to the woman that Dr Maya Angelou so eloquently wrote in her poem, Phenomenal Woman? Let me recite it as a reminder in hopes that we hold it dear to our hearts after reading it,
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size But when I start to tell them, They think I'm telling lies. I say, It's in the reach of my arms The span of my hips, The stride of my step, The curl of my lips. I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me. I walk into a room Just as cool as you please, And to a man, The fellows stand or Fall down on their knees. Then they swarm around me, A hive of honey bees. I say, It's the fire in my eyes, And the flash of my teeth, The swing in my waist, And the joy in my feet. I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me. Men themselves have wondered What they see in me. They try so much But they can't touch My inner mystery. When I try to show them They say they still can't see. I say, It's in the arch of my back, The sun of my smile, The ride of my breasts, The grace of my style. I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me. Now you understand Just why my head's not bowed. I don't shout or jump about Or have to talk real loud. When you see me passing It ought to make you proud. I say, It's in the click of my heels, The bend of my hair, the palm of my hand, The need of my care, 'Cause I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me.
Isn't that powerful? We are not phenomenal because of "how low we can drop and shake it", or how much we can show the world without showing them "everything". We are phenomenal because we are simply a woman.
The beginning of creation started with us and we can endure so much pain during child birth, we are nurturers, we multiply whatever is given to us and make it better. Don't even get me started with the extra strength that a black woman has! Its black history month and I am going to give "us" our props! Dr Maya Angelou even in an interview stating that fact!
There is a kind of strength that is almost frightening in black women. It's as if a steel rod runs right through the head down to the feet
I am saying all of this because, it would be just like the enemy to want women to appear opposite of what He is trying to do with us in this season. Women don't fall for the bate! The bate of what is trending, the bate of what looks fun but does not portray and honor who we are. The strength of the woman should be seen. There are little girls looking at us from every angle and we should optimize the essence of a strong woman at any given day and time. The strength of a woman is highly valued in this season. Protect her at all cost.
God Bless