i AM woman

"More Than Serving Tea" was in its essence an event for women. There were a few men there but I can count them w/ one hand - the photographer, two sound guys and a professor at SPU who helped to organize the event. Why an event just for women? Because we need one.

The woman of the 21st century wears multiple suits - mother, sister, daughter, grandmother, wife, chef, maid, business woman, athlete, super model, artist, engineer, technician, doctor, lawyer, nurse, organizer, planner, driver, tailor, accountant, entertainer and the list goes on. However, if we compare to the Proverbs 31 woman, we're not so far off. No wonder women are tired. No wonder women always say they wish for more time. And what do we do when we are given more time? We do more! So women really need a day where we are told we do too much. I really liked the portion of the conference where we were given some free time to reflect, pray, take a walk, nap, journal, meditate or just catch up with other girls.

Kathy Khang's main sharing was on the story of Martha and Mary in the Bible. Martha is a prime example of a busy woman. She is woman of the house, getting a meal and home ready for Jesus and his disciples. I imagine servants running around with Martha at the helm giving orders, doing tastes tests and cutting up vegetables in between. There are merchants at her back door, showcasing the best of the crop. She runs out of the kitchen periodically to check on the dinning room to make sure it's set up, check on Jesus and his disciples to make sure they have enough wine to drink, to check on her sister Mary and take note that she is still not helping.

I think a lot of times, studies down-play Martha's role. And it's a big role indeed, one that I think only women can fulfill. It's the way the Creator made us - to multi-task, to organize, plan and have the desire to take care of things and people. Not only to plan something but plan something grand. No offense to my brothers but I think if Martha left it to Lazarus, they'd all be eating pizza. And while Mary did chose what is better, we can't all be Marys. Who will prepare dinner?

Then again, we can't all be Martha's. Not all women know how to make choco-pecan pie with dulce de leche or know how to turn old socks into bird baths... O_o I think God gave each woman different gifts according to his purpose for them.

So for all the ladies out there, what do you think it means to be a woman?

For me, it means going to an event that empowers women and then right after that, attend a feminine event like football and root for sweaty men tackling each other in tights. GO BEAVERS! :P