Friday, May 10, 2013

Women And Steel Magnolias

Having recently lost my mother back in November, I honestly didn’t know what I was going to share for my traditional Mother’s Day post this year because this will be the first Mother's Day without her, and I was suddenly at a loss for words.

But then earlier this week, I read a post by Lisa at Peripheral Perceptions, which inspired me to share something.

So thank you, Lisa….x

Lisa brought up the movie, Steel Magnolias, which I had ironically just watched the night before I read her post, so I knew it had to be some sort of 'sign' because the words for this post suddenly came to me.

Here are a few quotes from her stunningly beautiful post on women becoming mothers...

“We’re a lot stronger than we look, aren’t we? To the out­side world, most of us look like little mag­nolia flowers; one good storm away from being destroyed.

But inside.….inside we rival the man of steel. Once women become mothers, they quickly learn about inner strength as well as unpar­al­leled fear. And, Southern or not, we all become steel mag­no­lias to some degree.

Yes, through our mommy expe­ri­ences, our resolve and deter­mi­na­tion become strong as steel, and as beau­tiful as a mag­nolia.”

If you go back into my May archives throughout these past 6 ½ years, you will pretty much read my thoughts and feelings not only about my own mother and motherhood, but women in general.

I adore and admire women so.

And the main reason why I feel this way is because of their strength.

As Lisa shared, to the outside world, most women appear fragile and weak. But it has been my experience that women are anything BUT fragile and weak.

When I think back to my mother and all the things she taught me through quietly observing her, it was her inner strength that impressed me the most - and not only through her life, but also through her death.

I never saw someone so bravely accept and embrace her transition from this world to the next; in spite of any fear she might have had.

She never complained. She never allowed herself to become bitter. She never once said, “Why me?”

In fact, she moved through the final chapter of her life as she did all the other chapters.

With grace, faith, gratitude, and humor.

And like a magnolia, soft, delicate and beautiful, she also contained the inner strength of steel.

So to all you awesome women out there; whether mothers or not.

I would like to take this time to thank you for your beauty and strength. You add so much power to this world.

And know that you are very much respected, admired and loved.

You are steel magnolias…

Happy Mother and Women Day!

X