I’ve never really been the… flower type. When most little girls were playing with barbies, I preferred hot wheels. When everyone else was having tea parties, I’d be out back beating the neighbors at whatever the sport of the day was. I’m just not a girly girl. I love the outdoors! I love adventure! And you can’t like those things and be worried about breaking a nail right?
It’s not that I hate feminine things. I like to dress up every now and then. I love my hair when it’s down, I just don’t like the work that gets it to that point. And don’t even get me started about putting on make up. But I had the opinion of, “I’m an American! And in America, women have the rights to do whatever they want as far as gender goes.” Right?… I would rather be thought of as strong than fragile. I couldn’t stand the thought of other cultures where it seemed like women were just servants. Having children and taking care of the house seemed to be their whole purpose. But, the more I thought about my attitude and examined my heart, the more clear it became that it wasn’t lining up with the attitude of Christ.
Clearly, the only problem of me not wanting to be more of a servant was pride. I’ll admit, I can be a pretty prideful person. I have to constantly check my motives to see if I’m doing something to make myself look good or to bring glory to Jesus. I knew pride was not something I wanted to hold on to on the race or later in life. But lately, my attitude on the feminine art has changed quite a bit. Especially with what God has been speaking over me lately.
A few nights ago, God called me his flower… Last month, God called me a warrior, so naturally I was like, “YEAH! Let’s go!” This month… Flower… Little less exciting right? But it turns out it’s not so bad.
God spoke and said I was like a fragrant flower. A beautiful and unique flower that he delighted to have in his garden. He told me to be gentle, and allow my aroma to draw people to me, and then I could share with them all Christ has done for me. And that they could bask in the same light I’m in, and we would both grow.
I have never thought of myself as a flower, but it did make me give a little more thought to this feminine thing. We are called to be all things to all people. Whatever we need to do in order to get them to know Christ. There are some people who would never approach someone who is loud, or intimidating, or strong… But they might approach someone who is like a flower. In countries where the women may feel weak, a flower’s aroma is much more approachable than a warrior, or someone who appears to have nothing in common with your culture. It’s even more important this month where we can’t go out and share the gospel. Our attitudes and love are preaching this month.
So God is using this season to teach me a bit more about being quiet and gentle, and to have more of a servants heart. I’ve said from the beginning that I wanted to do the race so that I would be more like Jesus, and he’s probably the most gentle person I know. And he definitely has a servants heart.
I want my life to be pleasing to God, and for him to be able to use me to reach as many people as possible. If that means being a flower for Christ instead of a warrior, I’m going to embrace it.
2 Corinthians 2:15-16 NLT
[15] Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. [16] To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume.
