I Am Woman: Here Me Roar

Must I roar to be heard? Do I necessarily have to make a big deal in order to be heard? Or, should I simply act quiet and not make my opinion known. In the workplace, in school, at home, and yes even at church. Women have been given many tools in order to advance their skills and talents and many are taking advantage of them. We have more women in office, police academies, construction, in the medical field and in church leadership to name a few. I am a woman, Latina, educated, bilingual, talented in many ways and did I mention, a Christian. I love to hear about other women graduating from institutions, receiving an achievement award and accomplishing what they are passionate about.

Over a week ago, my family and I traveled back up to New York City to represent my sister and accept her Master’s degree in Social Work at Hunter College. What an honor I thought to myself and then thought my sister would have loved to have seen all our faces at the school ceremony…I bet she was smiling down from heaven along with my younger brother! It has only been a little over two months since she passed away to be with the Lord due to bronchial asthma.

She was inspiring to others and her colleagues and classmates were very proud of her. And, of course we were too! She made a difference in the Latino/a community and it definitely continues to resonate as I hear their stories. Her friends and colleagues contact me to tell me their stories about my sister and how she made them laugh-she made everyone feel really loved!

Just the other day I was talking with my mother about the different kinds of behavior and how many of us lack love and I said if we could just love because “love covers all things” (Proverbs 10:12) and the following scripture came to mind:

John 15:9-17 (NIV)

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.” 

My sister definitely loved the people she touched on a daily basis and I can see how she did that. She simply loved them! What an honor to have spent 40 years with my sister and to later have more friends added to my friend’s list because she made a huge impact in their lives!

Are you bearing much fruit?

Are you remaining in His love?

What legacy will you leave behind?

I am woman, here me roar! I could never say that growing up but now I have every reason too! God is my Savior, my Friend and I will shout it from the rooftops!

p.s. I apologize for not writing for the past week or so. Traveling took my time away for a bit but I’m back and looking forward to writing frequently.

Godspeed!

Cindy