I have spent a lot of time in the last week processing emotions. Sometimes, emotions come completely unexpected and throw me for a loop. While other times, emotions come from a constant drip that never seemed like much until I am flooded with the feeling. Both kinds of emotions are real and need to be put through my processor: "What do I feel?," "Why do I feel this way?" All of this processing has led me to self reflection. I have come up with a few certainties about myself:
my flaws are also my strengths
emotions do not always reflect my CURRENT circumstances, but they reflect a part of me
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I started writing the above paragraphs months ago. My emotions got in the way, and I couldn't clear my thoughts. =) Now I feel like those waves of emotions have passed.
Isn't it strange how as a woman emotions and beauty are constant battles? I would NOT have admitted relating to girls or women in my youth: I spent my time with boys saying that girls were "annoying" and "drama." I would never admit to being vain: beauty is a waste of time. I struggled with submission and what God says about women being the "weaker partner" (1 Peter 3:7).
Funny how I eventually had to admit being a part of this group. Women and girls became the ones who naturally understood me and my struggles. I thought I wasn't vain, until my body changed having children and I realized I have always cared about the way I look. Dealing with submission, my husband showed me what love is, and then submission made sense. I realized that the protective nature of a man and the power of a woman to encourage and help are part of a beautiful plan for marriage.
I am a woman and that is emotional and beautiful.
I found a poem to go along with my thoughts today:
my flaws are also my strengths
emotions do not always reflect my CURRENT circumstances, but they reflect a part of me
_______________________________________________________________________________________
I started writing the above paragraphs months ago. My emotions got in the way, and I couldn't clear my thoughts. =) Now I feel like those waves of emotions have passed.
Isn't it strange how as a woman emotions and beauty are constant battles? I would NOT have admitted relating to girls or women in my youth: I spent my time with boys saying that girls were "annoying" and "drama." I would never admit to being vain: beauty is a waste of time. I struggled with submission and what God says about women being the "weaker partner" (1 Peter 3:7).
Funny how I eventually had to admit being a part of this group. Women and girls became the ones who naturally understood me and my struggles. I thought I wasn't vain, until my body changed having children and I realized I have always cared about the way I look. Dealing with submission, my husband showed me what love is, and then submission made sense. I realized that the protective nature of a man and the power of a woman to encourage and help are part of a beautiful plan for marriage.
I am a woman and that is emotional and beautiful.
I found a poem to go along with my thoughts today:
Time-Tested Beauty Tips
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone.
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; Never throw out anybody.
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!
--Sam Levenson
The Time Warp Wife posted this poem and it resonated with me.
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone.
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; Never throw out anybody.
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!
--Sam Levenson
The Time Warp Wife posted this poem and it resonated with me.