A Real Woman

We hear so much about what a real man is expected to do, but what is expected in our society from "a real woman."  In many ways our society has missed entirely, what it is to be "real!"

Here is the perspective of a peculiar princess as to what it is to be a real woman.  A real woman is not idle. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.  She is clean and usually neat, dressed efficiently and appropriately, although not necessarily trendy.  A real woman is confident without being controlling.  A real woman displays self-control, usually . . .

A real woman is not defined by others, but rather seeks the definition of YHWH.  A real woman doesn't define her man, either.  Many women, it seems, and I know there are deniers across the board, but many women explain proper roles of the household to their men.  If a woman tells a man how the household is supposed to run and what his responsibility is, she's the head of the household.  I know I've been in the situation in which, I've heard myself saying, "The man does ________ , I'm supposed to be the helpmeet."  I can tell you from experience, that doesn't work . . . at least not well.  If the roles are determined by the woman, the relationship order is still out of order.

A real woman offers comfort without enabling, nurtures without mollycoddling, and offers honest encouragement, not false praise or harsh criticism.  A real woman can manage a budget and that task is often deferred to her.  The reality is, the man is often the primary breadwinner, and the woman most often more aware of household expenses.  Proverbs 31:10 says it this way, and I do believe this pertains to household financial management.  The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

A real woman knows she would be disappointed in herself, if vanity superseded character.  A real woman desires to walk in virtue and integrity.  A real woman also knows, she doesn't always get it right!

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears YHWH, she shall be praised.

Sharing Portions

Now that I'm not in town in the Mission with children in and out regularly, I find I'm not as interested in baking various goods to "share portions" around the neighborhood.  I'm not experiencing that momentary Elijah syndrome, as I know I'm not "the only one;" but I haven't run across any Torah observers for miles around.  This year, I just wasn't in the mood to bake breads and cakes to distribute, while receiving the extra bonus of hearing a "NT only" sermon.

I prayed about that before Purim, as in this isolation, I do not want to become calloused and closed off.  Our Heavenly Father is amazing, simply, amazing.  As I was making some changes in the online store and preparing orders this week, questions began to literally pour in.  It was an opportunity to share a new kind of "portions" and see the rest of this verse.  The Jews of the villages sent portions to one another.  It wasn't an outreach event at all!  It was a celebration amongst like minded individuals.

Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.  Esther 9:19

Interesting, isn't it, how we can read the same passages year after year, and suddenly, see something we've never seen before?  Ideas for next Purim are already stirring.  If the internet continues to serve as a means to connect fellow servants, we have an opportunity that Elijah and Obadiah's prophets in the cave didn't have.  Knowing at some point the internet probably won't be available, we have the blessing of knowing others are out there and who knows, there will hopefully be time for some of us to gather in various locations to fellowship in person.

Esther 4:14 has been a responsibility for years, and one I've taken seriously.  Since I'm not exactly the image of a Princess, it's been such a blessing knowing my birthday on the Hebrew calendar is actually mentioned in Esther, several times.   Now to see this celebration of Purim, in new light and to be able to celebrate in a new way, has been such a blessing.

Polish Your Tiara!

I have to admit, I get a bit excited about Purim, regardless of all the teachings by the "johnny come latelies."  Purim is in the book of Esther and although it isn't included in the High Holy Days or Feast Days as some call them, it is Scripture and my birthday on the Hebrew calendar is mentioned more than once in this book of Esther.  I really do not understand why the latest gnat straining teaches against celebrating Purim.

Granted, the event begins rather grizzly on the 13th, but what's wrong with the feasting and sharing portions?  I realize there are many extras that have been added, like costumes and revelry.  I can't help but wonder if this isn't where the Catholics got their Mardi Gras, yet I digress . . .

When I was running the mission in town, of course we read the book of Esther with groggers sounding.  Then the children would each gather baked snacks or candy and share them with the surrounding neighbors.  And oh, we made crowns, of course.  Esther was a queen.  What's wrong with having a few celebrations that are not exactly somber, not commanded, but not forbidden.

Jeremiah 10 tells us we are not to take on the traditions of the heathen. Purim is a festival of the people of YHWH.  No other people have cause for such celebration.  I get a bit discouraged when I see how rigid some folks insist we become to be the people of Elohim.   As these end of days unfold, I think it's going to be very encouraging to celebrate the protection and victory of the people of YHWH through Chanukkah and Purim.

Meanwhile, my Purim tiara was lost in my last move, but that won't stop me from having a princess day and making some treats to share with the neighbors!

Beauty

If you've been led to believe you are not beautiful, put away what you have been told!  Turn that tape OFF!  This is not to encourage vanity, but rather to appreciate our Creator's perspective.  I grew up with an inferiority complex that was larger than life.  My parents did the best they could, but they were just kids themselves when I came along, so . . . Not only did they lack the maturity in parenting skills, but the fact that I was a truly odd duck, didn't help.  By the age of three, I remember very clearly, praying, asking G-d to make me invisible.  The self-consciousness expanded exponentially, once I realized the answer to that prayer was, "No."

I was four years old in this picture, and I'd already been given the concept that I was overweight.  I did not have a similar pigment to any other child I knew, and I was a tall kid who rarely looked up.  Then there were all the comments I overheard, made by family members regarding my being left-handed.  I was so nervous about doing something wrong, I didn't even drop the flower petals at this wedding.  I'm sure you can imagine what ensued from there.  Hearing the sniggers in the crowd, I naturally assumed they were laughing AT me.  I stood motionless, or as best I could for all the photos that followed, and of all things, I had to stand in the front, right in front, of the new couple . . . It would be 50 years before I would be comfortable enough to sit in front of a camera.  Oh, I'm in plenty of pictures, but it's very clear, it's not my choice to be in front of the camera.  If I was looking at the camera, it always captured my "self-conscious need to flee."   If the photo was a candid shot, which many were, I had a ridiculous expression, or my underwear was showing, or something that didn't really need to be captured for time in memorial.  When I saw the camera come out, I literally looked for the exit.

I tried to come out of my shell for a time in my late teens and early twenties, but that was a catastrophe, a complete and utter catastrophe.  It was then that I got the idea to abuse myself with caffeine, nicotine, and herbal stimulants.  I became unnaturally thin and self-deprecating humor became my style.  I felt if I was putting myself down, I was at least beating everyone else to the punch.  I still couldn't see who our Creator had made me to be and even worse than that, I was disrespecting Him, by rejecting the way He'd made me.  It was as if I was judging G-d, Himself.  Yet, He still loved me.  When I did come to Him at the age of 36, the victory over this issue didn't happen instantly.  It would be nearly two more decades before I would include a photo of myself.

I loved writing, and I didn't need my image on a book to get the message out.  My first webpage went live in 2001, then in 2006 there was EinGedi.us.  Even when I moved and established the Land of Goshen, I never considered including my photograph.  I had a radio show for some time, and that was perfect.  I could get the message out, speak with people, and remain unseen.  When my friend offered to create a logo and illustrate the home page, he insisted that he add a photo of me.  Reluctantly, I finally agreed, but asked him if he could draw an image rather than use a photograph.  It was in seeing my caricature, that I finally accepted me.  In seeing everything I'd always been self-conscious about, exaggerated . . . something just clicked in my perspective.  Self-consciousness is a convoluted form of vanity that serves no one.  

YHWH doesn't create mistakes and He doesn't make anything or anyone ugly, and I've included a video of a young man who happens to agree with me.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151596857991831&set=vb.110153655727666&type=2&theater