I love strong women.  I raised a strong woman.  I encouraged my sons to marry strong women.  My friends are strong women.  I have little tolerance for mamby pamby, weak minded, needy – I’ll do anything to please you and please feel free to stomp on me with golf cleats – kind of weak behaviors as demonstrated by some women.  pfft.  I think it’s wonderful to be strong as a woman.  As long as we are strong in the right things.

Last week I had a little run-in with the toe -lady.  My daughter and I decided to treat ourselves to a pedicure and I should first mention that the gals at our toe- place aren’t exactly the warm and fuzzy type.

Within five minutes after getting settled in our chairs, with our back massages kneading and pounding on our backs, and our toes dipped in the way-too-hot-water,  my toe-lady said to me, “You should come more often because your heels are bad.”  (me – in a sing-songy voice) “Yes, I know…but that’s why I’m here today...”

Not five more minutes went by and she said to me, “If you aren’t going to come more often you need to use our heel cream.  Do you have the heel cream?”  (me)  “Yesss….I do.  I just don’t use it very often.”  (because seriously the stuff doesn’t work) And she said to me, “You need to use the heel cream.”

Another ten more minutes went by and she said to me, “You really need to come more often because your heels are really bad.” This is the moment when my strong kicks in and I have a hard time being pleasant.  Is there any reason that I should be lectured and humiliated by some scantily dressed toe-lady when I simply wanted to enjoy spending some time with my daughter?

So,  I texted my daughter as she sat right next to me and had watched the entire ordeal.  I said that if that toe-lady told me one more time that I needed to get pedi’s done more often I was going to say to her,  “Yeah?  Well, you need to button up your shirt.”

That is what I (the lady with a Christian blog) texted my daughter and my daughter gave me a look that said, “Mommmm.  Are you seriously kidding me??  STOP.”  And I just smiled at her feeling quite pleased with myself.

You see…I am strong.  So please don’t mess with me.

I love strong women.  (Except for the one who was drilling on my feet)  Strong women don’t put up.   They don’t play the victim.  They won’t be intimidated.

But there’s much more.  Strong women also recognize a need and they are quick to do something about it. They are decisive. They aren’t afraid to speak out. They are reliable – resilient – courageous.  When knocked to their knees they get right back up.  Being a strong woman is very, very, good.

I consider myself to be a strong woman.  However….I am not 100% sure that my thoughts and behaviors surrounding the toe-lady would be considered strong.

 Every one of our greatest strengths will become our greatest weakness if it is not under the control of the Lord.

Considering the little skirmish with the toe-lady..I have to admit to myself that my tendency to be strong has also proven to be my greatest weakness.  For me, sometimes being strong means fighting back – or holding my ground – or being stubborn – or making smart comments.

So, I went to scripture to see what the Lord has to say about being strong.  OK, my strong friends.  It’s time to do what we do best.  Let us square our shoulders and toughen up while we read what the Bible has to say about the strength of a woman.

I made a little list of some of the qualities that me and my strong minded friends possess.  Each of our lovely qualities is followed up with what the Lord has to say about being strong in these areas.

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Strong women have a tendency to think they are right.

“Stupid people always think they are right.  Wise people listen to advice.”    Proverbs 12:15                                    

Strong women sometimes have difficulty saying “I’m sorry”.

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.”  – James 5:16

Strong women have an agenda set firmly in place.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”- Proverbs 3:5,6

Strong women bring their presence into a room.

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”  – Galatians 5:16

Strong women can forget to be tender.

              “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”  – Colossians 3:12

Strong women tend to butt heads with other strong women. (ouch)

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others”. – Philippians 2:3-4

Strong women demand their rights.

“But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”  – Matthew 19:30

Strong women have no trouble making decisions.

“Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”  – John 16:24

Strong women refuse to chase after anyone or anything.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  – Matthew 6:33

Strong women can become easily annoyed with others.

“When a fool is annoyed, he quickly lets it be known.  Smart people will ignore an insult.”   — Proverbs 12:16

Strong women have strong opinions about what is right and wrong.

“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”  – 1 Timothy 4:16

Strong women aren’t afraid of conflict.

 “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”  – Proverbs 15:1

Strong women can be critical.

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”  – John 8:17

Strong women are confident.

 “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.”  – 2 Chronicles 7:14

Strong women are strong.  

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  – 2 Corinthians 12:9

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Need I say more?  I must confess to you that many of the above items were custom designed for moi.

Oh, don’t get me wrong.  I still believe that women can and should be strong.  I don’t know what I would ever do without the strong women in my life who inspire me – challenge me – and refuse to let me stay stuck in my stuff.

But we must always be careful.  We must regularly ask ourselves –

What is my strength built on?  On my rock solid determination?  Or on Christ the solid rock?

That day, as my daughter and I went to pay our bill, the toe -lady asked me if I had a checkbook for the tip.  (me) “Nope…I don’t have a checkbook.”  (toe-lady)  “You will have to pay 3% on the tip then.”  (me – thinking she just might have forfeited her last chance of getting a tip) “Yes – that’s fine”  (toe-lady)  “You really need to get a checkbook.”

My daughter quickly rushed me out the door.

“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  – 2 Corinthians 12:10

Until next time,