I didn't grow up in a home where emphasis was given to race, to the struggle of black people or necessarily where the strength of women was a topic of enlightenment. Yet we were definitely taught to value all people, to see the good in all & the benefit of all. We were praised in our respective role of girl or boy and traditionally led to nurture that inside of us. So, if there were dishes the boys weren't going to wash those and if there was trash the girls weren't going to take that out Period That's just the way it was. There was no slight to either party because each of us had a role and understood clearly the significance of that role. I never felt subservient in my role as a girl or woman because my father & brothers ensured that I understood the value of what I did for them, and I saw the laborious work they did on my behalf.
Today as an adult woman I still appreciate the lessons learned growing up and the role I feel is mine as a woman. I believe that there is a God given grace for each of us to live & operate in our respective roles.
It's my own personal conviction and perhaps issue with God's untimely assistance that when we are in struggle or warring to achieve our determined goal, we are outside of the grace given to us to accomplish.
Now I know there are those who beg to differ and would seemingly challenge me on this but trust me you accomplish nothing that you have NOT been given grace to do. There is nothing that we achieve without work. I'm not sure where the term hard work came from because work is just that...hard. We all have to work and in the plan of God we've been given a grace for our work; we've been given what we need to achieve, feel the results of our work but NOT to suffer or struggle because of the work.
Now I know the challenge is in ur head that some of the best things you've achieved came with much pain, struggle & heartache. But I charge you to think long & hard about those times and I'm sure you'll see the very things you could have done differently to not have the pain, struggle & heartache. Let’s be clear, we do a lot of self-abuse, infliction of pain to self and go through unnecessary foolishness at our own choosing. So, we must separate that which is a consequence from that which is a result of work.
In the grand scheme of things, we all have a purpose, we all have a destiny and on a day-to-day basis we have a role. That role is in support to our purpose and destiny, it is beneficial to us to be in it appropriately as it makes for a smooth journey, and it creates opportunities for us and others. I am sure like me, you have stepped outside of your role or attempted to do something that is not a part of what you should do and struggled with the whys and what ifs. I've probably harassed God more times than not about my inability to do something that I wanted to do because I saw pleasure and benefit in it. And He has constantly shown me how His grace is not for my abuse, but for my use. I've learned that when things come easy for me it has nothing to do with how smart I am, how pretty I may be or even my charisma...it is His grace. It’s a divine measure of power that helps us fulfill our various callings...purpose. This the writers before me have called "enabling grace" and it is AMAZING!