STRENGTH OF WOMEN: Fear- This past weekend I took my two children to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo. When I was younger my sister and I were fearless when it came to rides. The scarier the better! Then I started having children and started taking the side lines when it came to the rides. My ex-husband, my step-dad or their uncle would take the older kids on the scary rides while I was always with the younger ones on the smaller rides or waiting for the big kids to return. I never thought about my role, it was just something moms did. As the kids grew, so did my fear of the bigger rides. I no longer had that desire to feel the G-force in my hair. I also realized I have a lot of fear as I got closer to the age my real dad was when he passed away. He was killed in a car accident when I was only 16 years old. I am always fearful of something happening to me and I don’t want my kids to grow up without both parents, so I have grown extremely cautious in my older years. My daughter wanted to ride the Medusa at the park. This ride has g-force speed; your feet are hanging the whole time while you do crazy drops and turns. The description for the Medusa: “There’s nothing as frightening as the Medusa, the tallest, fastest, longest and most technologically advanced roller coaster in Northern California.” Need I say more? I didn’t have anyone else to take her and her brother has never liked the fast crazy rides. A friend told me once that FEAR is a good thing. It makes us remember we are alive and tests our character. Without fear, there would be no courage. I didn’t want to disappoint my daughter, so I went on the ride with her. I had to remind myself when I got on the ride to breath but I made it! It was the biggest adrenaline rush! I remembered why I used to like them and made me feel really young and somewhat stupid again! I defeated my fear and made my daughter smile. It is amazing how we can find strength in ourselves especially when our children need us. “Fear, anger, and pain take away our passion for life” ~ Dr. Derek Greenfield. I don’t know about you but I want to keep my passion for life.

STRENGTH OF WOMEN: Divorce- I want to encourage those women who might be going through a divorce right now OR are already divorced. Divorce is an awful thing to go through but if there are kids involved you need to remember you are still both parents. Do not bad mouth the other parent in front of the children or put the kids in the middle. The children did not ask for the situation and they need both parents as long as it is a safe environment for the children. This past weekend was my son’s birthday party. We had the kids meet a PV field and play flag football then took the kids to my parent’s house to swim. It was a great time! My ex-husband was the referee for the kid’s game. My ex and I decided that when we got divorced that no matter what we are still family. He lives down the street from me and we share custody and we go to family and sports functions together. I do realize this is an odd situation but it has worked out good for the kids. My ex is still my friend and he is the father of my children. Women if you are struggling with dealing with your ex I ask you to find it in your heart to put aside your differences and find a way to make it work so things are civil and you can both still parent. If you do, I am sure you will see more rewards by sharing the duties and a lot less stress. “A strong woman walks sure footedly but a woman of strength knows when to ask for help.” (www.visionimpressions.com/poems/women)

STRENGTH OF WOMEN: The story of Ruth- During the time of the Judges when there was a famine, an Israelite family from Bethlehem – Elimelech, his wife, Naomi and their sons Mahlon and Chilion – immigrate to the nearby country of Moab. Elimelech dies, and the sons marry two Moabite women: Mohlon marries Ruth and Chillion marries Orpah. The two sons of Naomi then die themselves. Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem. She tells her daughters-in-law to return to their own mothers, and remarry. Orpah reluctantly leaves: however, Ruth says,”Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following you: For wherever you go, I will go: And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God, Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.” (Ruth 1:16-17) Ruth could not be budged. She had shared loneliness, anxiety and grief with Naomi, and now that the older woman was completely alone, Ruth would not abandon her. The two women then return to Bethlehem. The story continues to talk about how Ruth works in the barley fields to support them, meets Boaz and later marries. BUT what stuck out to me most of this story is the true loyalty and friendship from Ruth to Naomi. Strength of women’s friendship is amazing!

Strength of Women: Found in all ages

There is a family near and dear to my heart. A few years ago they found out that their youngest daughter was molested at the young age of five. It did not come out until about two years after the fact. The little girl who was molested was strong enough to put the abuser behind bars and began to heal. The weekend after her family found out about the tragedy the little girl made this statement to her mom right before her baptism, “I will now be washed completely clean.” When asked how she handled such deep pain of what happened to her she stated that she would just pray and sing praises to God to take her mind away from these things. God knew her pain and He stayed with her. It to this day makes me cry sharing it with you. In the process of healing the little girl used to write letters to her family and friends. Telling them how beautiful they were or how encouraging they were to others, just any word of encouragement. She wasn’t bitter or spiteful just full of love for others and full of forgiveness. I ask myself HOW she could forgive. Then I heard someone speak on forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go and saying to that person, you will not control me, so I can move forward. That’s exactly what this little girl did. At the age of seven she was and still is one of the strongest women I know. I saw her the other day and her father purchased her a purity ring. She plans to remain pure and hopes to one day give the ring to her husband. What a gift! Recently, my own son asked me if I had a report to write on the person I most admire – it is without a doubt that little girl. I tell you dear friends, women are truly princesses and there is much strength in woman of all ages!