I love being a woman. But you have to admit, we are a little weird, especially when it comes to how we view ourselves and each other. There is no one on the planet harder on me than me. I am acutely aware of every flaw. I mentally compare myself to the women I meet and find myself lacking.

Am I the only one?

One of the hardest lessons to learn is to trust how God made me and to believe deep down that He gave me the abilities, body, and circumstances I needed to accomplish His assignment for me. The reverse of this is just as important- I must believe He was perfectly right in what He DID NOT allot to me.

It has been said by someone somewhere that women's greatest problem is comparing their weaknesses to other women's strengths. Truer words were never said.

When I stand by a tall ballerina, I feel short and squatty.
When I talk to an intelligent professor, I feel uninformed.
When I meet a go-getter leader, I feel unconfident and weak.
When I work with a sweet-hearted easy-going, I feel assertive and controlling.
When I visit a super clean organizer, I return home questioning my ability to run my home.
And the list goes on.

Women, we can always meet some one who cleans deeper, dresses nicer, treats her husband better, cooks more deliciously, has more children or less children, gets more accomplished, is kinder to her kids, provides better. What characteristic in yourself would you most like to change? You can find someone who is the opposite.

But when we compare ourselves to our opposite we kill contentment, joy, and trust. What if God made us EXACTLY how we are- with our beautiful imperfections- ON PURPOSE.

Truth in Wildflowers

This has been one of the wettest springs in South Texas that I can remember. Besides prolific mosquitoes and flooded roads, the precipitation has brought bountiful flowers.  Walking through my fields I was struck by the individuality and uniqueness of each flower. Each had its own claim to beauty and value. 

I began to think of different women I know- the ones who have qualities I wish I possessed. The ones who unwittingly confirm my short-comings. But just like God didn't mess up when He made the variety within flowers, He did not mess up when He made the variety within women. How boring if we were all alike.

God has been taking me to school with these flower lessons this week.  I may even have been carried away. (Just warning you.) As you examine the pictures, think of women you admire and picture them as flowers.

If that sort of thing bores you, just scroll past the pictures. Just don't miss the lessons at the end. But if you are of the imaginative frame of mind, try and decide which flower most likely represents you. You- just as you are- are part of the bouquet of God's creation. 

And if you don't see yourself here, just look at all the flowers around you. There are thousands- just like there are thousands of kinds of women. And I do get practical again after the pictures, so don't miss that part because you might need the lesson God taught me.

Cast of Characters

MEXICAN OREGANO

Dainty
Communal
Varigated
Compact
Delightful

TEXAS ROSE

Bright
Loud
Charming
Capable
Humorous

 

NANDINA

Delicate
Soft
Clever
Graceful

 

HONEYSUCKLE

Sweet
Fragrant
Inviting
Glamorous

 

THISTLE:

Surprising
Prickly and soft
Confident
Healthy

 

 

HEDGE PARSLEY

Dainty and delicate
Petite
Graceful
Willowy
Appealing

 

 

 

 

 

 

GRASS

Ethereal
Understated
Vital
Flexible
Serious
Reliable
 

CACTUS

Adaptive
Beauty from pain
Confrontational
Sassy

 

 

MYSTERY PURPLE FLOWER??

Introverted
Subtle and simple
Peaceful
Striking
Lanky

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MEXICAN HAT

Bold and dramatic
Colorful
Humorous
Opinionated
Energetic
Exuberant
 

 

 

 

 

 

FUN YELLOW FLOWER??

Bright and happy
Extroverted
Life of the party
Healthy

 

 

Here is the point.

Each flower, on its own, has its claim to loveliness. However, the beauty that comes from the variety of flowers put together is astounding. Variety multiplies the allure, and the talents of the Creator are amplified.

Almost every flower have a flaw. These are no hot house flowers. They are real-world, survive-the-element flowers.  Petals are missing, stems are bent.

And so it is with us. What we endure in life either reveals or causes flaws in us. This is why we need each other! Not for comparison to reveal our short comings, but rather to mitigate them. It turns out my flaws are less noticeable when they rest within community.

Speaking of spiritual gifts, Paul states in I Corinthians 12:4-6, "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." (NASB, emphasis added)

The omniscient God of variety, creativity, and purpose has made you, woman of God, EXACTLY RIGHT, for His plan and His work. My strengths as well as my weaknesses are for the common good.

Tell you what, I will stop comparing myself with you and you can quit comparing yourself to the woman sitting next to you. Instead we can celebrate and enjoy each other.

Thank God right now for HOW He made you, WHAT He has allowed, and then get busy doing exactly what He equipped you to do to build His Kingdom right where you are. You are not a mistake and He is not through with you yet!  God wants to do beautiful things through and with you!

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.  (Phlippians 1:6, NASB)