I have been joking the last few weeks about how I am gonna write a superhero comic about African Mama’s. They are relentless laborers and persistent lovers. They go from sunrise far past sundown, caring for their families of 10 people on average. With a baby on their back and a 20 liter pot of water on their head they walk the same distance as I do in a day, most of the time further- just to sustain their family’s needs. They astound me.
The other day, our team had the privilege of talking with the women of the village were staying in. My teammates stated eloquently our role as a woman in scripture. They encouraged them to respect their husbands and lean on their sisterhood through Christ for strength. All the while I sat dumbfounded re-reading the Proverbs 31 woman. Astounded that the woman this passage talks about sat in front of me in multitudes under the mango tree. When it got to my turn to encourage and teach, all I could do was cry. So I cried my way through telling them how honored I was to be sitting in the presence of the idealistic woman I had read about all my life in scripture. I told them I hope and pray one day I could be half the woman they are. They are superheroes in my eyes.
And then the Lord woke me up a few mornings later- far earlier than I had intended after the rough nights sleep in my bug infested hut! He woke me up to confirm something He had been growing in me for some time. I sat journaling for the next few hours about all the incredible women in my life. All the women that have faithfully pursued my heart, guided me with correction, and showered me with more grace and love than any one person deserves.
Mentors and Disciplers in my life- like Pam, Shaleen, Sonia, and Tessa- who have fought through my darkness and always pointed me back to the light of the cross. Who love me regardless of my sin, immaturity or my lack of love in return. Women of great courage, grace and love like Noemi, Kristin B and Jodi who always guided me back on the path to who God made me to be through gentle correction and loving showers of graceful forgiveness for my mistakes. Faithful women of God I’ve met around the world, like Anne, Sue and Katerina in Serbia- Sarah in Turkey- or the countless, nameless mama’s I’ve watched be the backbone to their communities. Not to mention, my own mama who’s passionate love has created bumpers on the side of the road of life for me to crash into and still be safe. I can never screw up enough for her to turn her back- she will love me regardless of who I am or what I do.
As I sat journaling about these women and the impact they have had on my life, I heard so clearly from the Lord:
“I have been gracious to you and given you many women to follow
because many women will follow you.”
It is no mistake I have been put on an all women’s team the second
half of this race. It’s just another piece of the puzzle God has used
to funnel me into His calling over my life. I have no idea what that
looks like, what that means, who they will be, what capacity I will
minister to them in. But I know that my heart breaks for them every
country I go to and longs for them back home. My heart longs to be back
home under the protective coverings of their wings of discipleship.
Just like the Lord created the church to be. And now He is raising me
up to model after their care for me and begin to disciple others. He
had to get me out of the way, free me from a lot, but it’s time.
To the women in my life:
I thank you for your love, grace, forgiveness,
correction, wisdom, generosity, support and endurance. I know it has
not always been an easy road loving me or leading me, but the Lord is
making good on His promise and He is finishing the good work He began
in me through you. Thank you for loving me enough to not leave me where I was at
and relentlessly pursuing the woman God created me to be.
And to my sisters back home:
May we follow hard after Jesus and model our walks after the faithful women God’s puts on our path. I cannot wait to come home and become great women of integrity, wisdom and grace together! I miss your sisterhood and I long for the season of life when we can learn this alongside each other.
I love you and I miss you Women of God!
