Congratulations!

Tonight I am thinking about the many different and wonderful women that I'm privileged to know and for many reasons altogether but for no reason in particular, I feel like celebrating. Celebrating you, and congratulating you for victories great and small. Those of you who have watched your children graduate, from pre-school up through high school, and those who have progressed in school themselves. Those of you who have spent hours cheering at baseball games and sporting events, and have hours yet to go before the season ends. There are those who have launched their own businesses, and others who have made things work in an economy that works against them. Mothers who have celebrated birthdays and gotcha' days for babies they yearned to have in their families, and mothers who are watching their babies marry and start families of their own. Some have coached their children through their battles and others have had their own battles to fight. Some have received miracles as answers to prayer, and others have found faith when they didn't receive the miracles they prayed for.  

As the pressures of the school year fade away and summer days of family time and freedom stretch ahead I know I'm feeling a bit lighter, as though I've crossed a finish line and can enjoy a minute to catch my breath. Perhaps that's what brought on this congratulatory mood, but whatever the reason, I mean it. Good job! 

I've heard it said that the essence of womanhood is guilt. Be that as it may, don't feel guilty by taking some credit here. Just for a minute, consider the numerous seemingly insignificant tasks you accomplish each day and marvel with me at the mountains that you've climbed by waking up each day and putting two feet on the floor. Even with all it's 15 letters "congratulations" isn't a big enough word to sum up the extent of what you do, but what word is? At this point I am oddly reminded of author Kate Dicamillo's little mouse Desperaux and his enchantment with the Princess Pea. In a fleeting moment as he grasps at the chance to express the abundance of admiration filling his heart he whispers, "I honor you." Maybe it's not one long word, but those three simple words I need right now. As I think of all of you my outlook is buoyed up. I am blessed by your examples. I am encouraged by your kindness. I am strengthened by your friendship. I honor you and the efforts you make daily to lead, love, and progress. In my mind THAT is the essence of womanhood and I rejoice to know women who live it, so here's to you ladies. Congratulations on a job well done.