Most people know Paul’s famous words in 1 Corinthians 12:14-27 concerning the body of Christ. It states that we are all uniquely made to fulfill a purpose. Each is needed to work as a unified body. We should not say to our foot “you’re not needed”, and a foot should not be jealous and desire to be a hand. This month all the women lived together on top of a mountain. Thirty-three women in close quarters, all with unique opinions and desiring to be heard; you can imagine the struggle. I spent most of the month observing as women stepped up in their strengths and continued to discover their identity in Christ. Then today, I came to a revelation. Each woman is created differently. We are uniquely created to fulfill a purpose, and life is not about trying to become something we are not, nor condemn people who are different. Did you know that there are multiple ways to complete a task? I have watched as the women on my squad do things a little differently than me. Yes, maybe sometimes I think my way is more efficient, and sometimes it is, but if I step back and watch, I notice that the task is still completed. I think women tend to focus too much on being heard and followed, and spend too much time on shaming those who do things differently. But what if we became a unified body of Christ that celebrated each other’s differences instead of desiring to be heard?
I believe that our goal in life should NOT be to become like the women surrounding us. Yes, you can desire attributes of other women, and look up to them, but don’t put yourself down in the process. Yes, some women were given extra doses of kindness or gentleness where I was given boldness and honesty, but that doesn’t make them better than me. And it doesn’t make me better than them. I think the Christian world desires women to be meek, mild and helpful. However, God also desires women to be strong, bold and courageous. You should celebrate the strengths of those around you, but be sure not to overlook your own. Remember that each attribute will be used to glorify God. He doesn’t want an entire body of hands. He created an intricate body of large and small parts, which are ALL needed to work as a unified body. What role do you play in your neighborhood, and how can you use that to glorify God?
