// International Women's Day //

March eighth.

International Women's Day.

A day I've never acknowledged, just treated as any other day.

Until today, when I see all the "future is female" hashtags flying around social media.

I came across an instagram story this morning, with the cliche hashtag "female is future" along with, "tag the women who inspire you in your life."

Here's the thing.....

Why is this day such a widely celebrated day around the world? What's their reason for wanting to celebrate these inspiring women? Why are they inspired by them?

The majority of the time, it's because they are left feeling empowered.

There's nothing wrong with having a woman (or several women) in your life who inspire you.

However, when women view other women as a power source to help them climb the social ladder, they'll always be left unsatisfied. That's not viewing women according to God's word, and it's not correctly perceiving his beautiful design for women.

I've seen so many women, Christian or otherwise, celebrating this day as a way to acknowledge women and show just how significant they really are.

And, I'm so thankful that I don't have to participate in this struggle.

Let's be real....

Trying to find meaning and purpose and satisfaction in this world is downright hard. When the world throws so many standards at you, (that are constantly changing by the way) they distract from God's truth and leave you craving for something you'll never receive if you look anywhere else but Him.

With all these women being acknowledged today, here’s a few questions I’d like to ask—

Does the heart of her husband trust in her?

Does she work with willing hands?

Does she provide food for her household?

Does she dress herself with a Godly, honorable, and humble strength?

Does she open her hands to the poor, or does she reach out to the needy?

Is she clothed in strength and dignity?

Does she open her her mouth with wisdom, and is the teaching of kindness on her tongue?

Does she look well to the ways of her household, and not eat the bread of idleness?

Is she blessed for all she does to benefit others above herself?

These are the qualities that deserve to celebrated. These are the things women should be striving after and desiring to be. I know well that this is not aways the case, but for my own life, this is what I want to be known for.

Not for how high I rose as a woman. Not for a successful career that placed me up there with the best. Not for all I did to empower myself and become "equal". But because I, as a woman, strove after God's beautiful design and desired to live my life to please and glorify Him.

Not the world, not women, not the empowerment of women, not social equality, not for social recognition, but for His glorification alone.

Today, I challenge you to do the same. Think of and acknowledge the women in your life who inspire you, but also embody the qualities previously mentioned. For me, that person would be my mama. And today, I choose to remember her as a woman full of grace, strength, service, and humility, along with so many other things. She is a woman who inspires me, and encourages me to chase after God's beautiful and unique design for women.

Today, choose to acknowledge all those women behind the scenes. The women creating homes, and choosing to embrace the beautiful art of homemaking. For the wives loving their husbands with a selfless, Christlike love. For the mamas raising their children and teaching them about His love and how to love others well. For the single-parent mothers who are doing their very best to provide a safe, loving environment for their child/children. For the women in general who are choosing to live counter-culturally, and instead pursuing His beautiful design for their lives.

Those are the women that make the greatest impact in our world, an impact that truly matters in light of eternity. Those are the women who deserve the greatest recognition and praise.