Women’s Day is right around the corner, and I’ve been thinking lately about what it means to be a woman. A woman at her best is driven by love not leadership, peace not power, connection not control. This doesn’t mean women can’t be leaders, but it shouldn’t be her driving force nor her end goal.

As women, it’s important to find balance—between imperviousness and vulnerability, between speaking and listening, between doing and being. Receptiveness is a big part of being a woman.

“…and in the last analysis, nothing’s any good unless you can look up just before dinner or turn around in bed, and there he is. Without that, you’re not a woman. You’re something with a French Provincial office or a book full of clippings. But you’re not a woman.” -Bette Davis in All About Eve

When I read this quote in Dr. Grant’s book, I have to say it struck me. It struck me not because I myself am man-less but because I found myself completely disagreeing while wholeheartedly agreeing at the same time.

I do believe a woman isn’t a woman without a man, but not the man/men Bettie Davis was referring to. A woman isn’t a woman without one very specific man, the man that died for her sins on a cross.

Dr. Toni Grant makes some excellent points in “Being a Woman”. I must say, however, Jesus taught me everything it means and everything I could ever hope to know about being a woman. He taught me kindness and gentleness. He taught me wisdom. He taught me the importance of diligence and preparation. He taught me to have respect for authority. He taught me how to find and use my voice. Most importantly, He taught me to love myself exactly how He created me—to embrace being “the weaker vessel” and to boast in it even, because in my own weakness His strength is glorified.