I’ve had a long two weeks. My husband and I moved a daughter 900 miles north. I was the primary driver of a rental truck (something I really enjoyed, kind of control issue I am sure) that was filled with all her earthly possessions. Upon arrival in her new city we quickly unloaded then began setting up her apartment. When she was almost settled we left her home and traveled across North Carolina to enjoy 48 hours of power rest. Rest behind us, family and friends began to arrive at our mountain community. Enjoying many of those we love we had a wonderful 4 day weekend that ended with an outdoor wedding in the mountains on a rather rainy day.
When it was over and guests gone I finally sat down, put my feet up and breathed deeply pondering the last 14 days. What a great undertaking moving our daughter to her new home. Then the treasured time we had with both girls on the precipice of a new life.
Watching the grown version I still love who they are! The never changing personal style of each daughter, it is still classic fashion with the elder, unique and original with the younger. Both girls are willing to take on any challenge, whether it’s Betsy Johnson heels on the mountainside in four-inch mulch or careers they are greatly committed to. They will still leap from the highest rock on the small island in the middle of the lake betting one another they can jump further. Finally, ending the days together with girlie giggles that resound through the house into the late of night. These are my girls, fully female, fully adventuresome, and fully fun.
Watching them reminds me I truly delight in what the female gender can be. Our very nature when embraced can produce amazing accomplishments, bring joy to life events and truly lighten life loads, others and ours. This is real life grit and grace.
We must always take the opportunity to remember we have some great upsides that come with our gender. Said well by comedienne Gilda Radner…
“I’d much rather be a woman than a man. Women can cry, they can wear cute clothes, and they are the first to be rescued off of sinking ships.”
Really who can argue with that? So ladies enjoy, appreciate, and embrace all you are, all your daughters are and all you both are capable of being. Relish the grit and grace that comes with your gender. If all goes well neither of you will ever test Gilda’s theory aboard one of those sinking ships.