I sat there, today, and noticed the wide range of women waiting. A young mother with a little baby, a couple of older ladies, and a handful of pregnant women. And me. Right in the middle. Somewhere along the way, looking at fingers, toes, and little beating hearts on the ultrasound screen has turned into just looking at strange looking middle-age formations that you wouldn't want to put in a onesie and bring home in a car seat. But, I'm not yet being driven to my appointments either, so there's that bit of good news. But, I guess signing the acknowledgment, that I understood this procedure (along with so many, many, many other things) prohibits me from ever having any more children, has had me thinking about what it means to be a woman. And maybe what it doesn't.

Aside from being a Christian, I can't think of any other box that I check for which I'm more thankful than the female box. Being a woman is not dependent on marital status, children or no children, or career or stay at home choices. It has nothing to do with education or background or ethnicity. It's much deeper than that. It crosses all lines with its intuitive and sensitive nature. What a privilege it is to have been created as a woman. The gender, who's largely naturally equipped to nurture, love, encourage, communicate, and connect. To empathize, sympathize, humanize, and socialize. Not that we have a monopoly on those things, but we're pretty darn good at them. It's a blessing to be wired toward building relationships. To be given an appetite for connecting and reaching out to those around us. To enjoy the freedom to express ourselves. It's something that ought to be used for the good of others. To mentor. To raise. To teach. To build up. To walk alongside.

Womanhood. It's what kept my mother up at night until we were all home. It's what made my grandmother take her mother in and care for her lovingly in her elderly years. It's the thing that makes some of my friends, with no kids of their own, love and encourage other people's children like nobody's business. It's what made my mother-in-law welcome, love, and respect me as the wife to her son. It's what nudges your girlfriends to pick up the phone. It sings lullabies. It's not afraid to cry. It shows affection without hesitation. It's what kept Mary at the foot of the cross when it would've been much easier to be somewhere else. It goes and goes and goes until it collapses with exhaustion. It's a desire to be everything to everybody. It's a gut feeling to reach out to a certain someone. It's in the homemade quilt, the pear preserves, the caramel cake. It enjoys being treated like a lady because it's seen as a sign of respect. It's the grandmother raising her grandkids. It's that touch that makes the holidays special. It's the warmth and light in a home that you can't buy in any store. It's what makes men weak kneed even after years of being together. It washed Jesus' feet with expensive perfume and dried them with her hair. It's the teacher staying late to help a child who needs her. The sweet nurses, who cared for my Daddy as he was dying. It's what kept Ruth from leaving Naomi. It makes a mother delay life saving treatment so her unborn baby can live. It's in the lines of a handwritten note she writes. It's in the tears that roll down her cheeks when no one else is around. It would run into a burning building. Give its last dime. Take a bullet. Absolutely anything it had to do to demonstrate its love. 
                   
There are some things that it shouldn't do, though.Womanhood should never be used as a weapon. It shouldn't threaten or destroy. It shouldn't be used vindictively. It's not crass or crude. It's not an angle to be used to get ahead. Its influence shouldn't be used to lead anyone awry. It shouldn't be flaunted to lure men away from their families. It shouldn't be claimed as a handicap to access special treatment. It can't be applied surgically or medicinally. It's not to be worn as a costume or knit into an obscene hat for marching in the streets. It's too high a calling to refer to it as "nasty". It shouldn't set out to belittle men. It's not a political tool. It's not a trap that should be set. It's not a disadvantage. It doesn't entitle anyone. It shouldn't put a chip on anyone's shoulder. It's holier than vulgarities written on poster board signs. It doesn't get in your face. It doesn't tear down those who disagree.    

God said man needed a helpmate when he made the woman. He needed someone who was strong where he was weak and he needed someone he could be strong for in the places where he was gifted. Of course, that doesn't mean we can't be a whole person without a mate, but there was nothing ever derogatory or demeaning about that plan. Nothing that should cause us to walk around fighting mad. Neither was anything abusive or controlling intended. It's a tragedy and disgrace any time a woman is abused in any way. It happens every day, though. Physically. Emotionally. Sexually. It's disgusting and should never be tolerated. And I'm certainly not trying to be political as I have no knowledge of the facts, but I will simply say that it would also be an equal tragedy and disgrace to ever think a woman would use her beautiful calling and highest privilege of womanhood to destroy a life and reputation without justification. Inflicting either type of these abuses is unacceptable, repulsive, and shameful and a civilized society should stand for neither.  

So, I guess with all the talk I've listened to, lately, about hormones and the parts that "make" us women, along with the news cycle being like it's been, womanhood has just been on my brain. Feeling a little sentimental, I guess I just wanted to celebrate the wonderful privilege we've been given by our Creator as women. To be daughters, mothers, aunts, godmothers, nieces, girlfriends, wives, mentors, foster mothers, friends, teachers, and on and on. I can't think of anything better. But, as a mother of a son, I hope we also stay aware that, as with any other privilege, responsibility comes right along with it.

It's so very good to be a woman.

I may be back before the week is over and I may not. You know how it is when you're getting ready to be out of town or out of the loop for a little bit. When Mama's goin' down, she's got to get some things sorted out so, you know, no one is left helpless, dying, or without basic essentials. I'll get back just as soon as I feel peppy enough.....or if the drugs provoke some really deep, incoherent thoughts that I, unadvisedly, feel the need to share.

Either way, we'll talk soon!