Why Women are Rocks

Last night I laid on my bed in tears due to the overwhelming nauseousness and fatigue I have been feeling. I am not tired, I am close to dead some days. It is hard to look too far ahead into the future and feel optimistic that eventually these feelings will pass. I count down the months and sadly realize I have seven more to go, but it won't stop then.

And this is why I have decided that any woman who has ever encountered pregnancy, childbirth, or raising children is as solid as a rock. You will let that little fetus thrive inside you as is takes every nutrient it needs, and you will survive on leftovers. You will fore go feelings and emotions and pain that are beyond out of control, just so that in a few months you can love something like you've never loved before. You will omit those little pleasures in your life, like White Russians, for the sake of a healthy child. Every decision you make will be based on the interest of your child for a long, long time. You will sacrifice financially, emotionally, and physically to give your child the best. You will nurture and love and understand like no other person can. You will sympathize like you never have before. You will find inner strength in you that you never knew existed.

I say inner strength because I truly believe women possess an inner strength like men possess an outer strength. In my mind, we are not created to be equals. Yikes. Did I just say that out loud? Let me rephrase. I believe we were created as equals, but each thrive in different God given areas. I will be the first to admit that Chris is my voice of reason. I was not granted this so much when God created me. He made me a little more...emotional. So when I can't make sense of things in life, I usually need a little perspective from my level headed husband. While I have a tendency to sympathize with every little move Isis makes, he has the ability to point out that perhaps a punishment would be most suitable. Where I lack, he thrives. Where he lacks, I thrive.

Many years ago in college I took a sociology class. I remember one study on feminism and how passionate some of the students were about a man driven society that keeps women down. Somehow the topic of pornography arose and someone suggested that men are chauvinists because they degrade women by buying pornography. I do not hate men and therefore try hard not to blame things on them. I raised my hand and kindly suggested that perhaps it isn't the men we should be mad at but rather the women who are choosing to expose themselves. I was pretty sure I was going to be tied to a tree with my head shaved later that day. Instead, my professor found me after class and told me I was very gutsy. Are we truly created physically and emotionally as equals? I think no. Any feminist who wants to go to Sweden and compete in the strong man competition can attempt to prove me wrong. But I have news for you...You. will. not. win.

I'm coming to the realization that once again I will be loaning out my body for a good two years. One year of pregnancy and one year of breastfeeding leave me at the mercy of my baby. There is something to be said for any woman who can be so sacrificial. Two years is a long time. Many women have multiple kids and haven't lived within their own body for many, many years. This is strength and sacrifice that I think few men have undergone. And this is why I think women are rocks and it rocks my world sometimes to realize how truly strong God has made us.