It’s recently been International Women’s Day, one of my absolute favourite days of the year. I love it almost as much as International Pizza Day.
Yep, that’s a real day – 9th October. You’re welcome.
Anyway, I’ll stop day-dreaming about pizza and get back to my point. I love International Women’s Day so much because as my little sister has always jokingly said, I’m extremely prone to a girl-crush.
I just can’t help it, women amaze and inspire me so flippin’ much, I can’t help but adore every single one that walks into my life. If I could, I would have like five-thousand best friends by now.
Seriously, if you meet me, you’re gaining a no.1 fan for life.
God has used countless power-house women to shape me into everything He needs me to be, they’ve walked into my life and changed everything, just by being them. I’m forever thankful for each and every one of them.
Who are the women that have shaped the very core of who you are? Feel free to go ahead and let them know.
Did you know that the word ‘encourage’ literally means to ‘give courage to someone’?
I mean, it’s pretty obvious when you think about it, but it hit me hard recently. I feel like that’s what I’m on this earth for, to give courage to people, in whatever tiny way I can, just like I have been given courage by so many of you incredible ladies.
See, I did warn you, the girl-crushes are real over here.
So can I just take a minute to boast on you all for a little while?
I want to boast on all the women working as teachers, doctors, lawyers, engineers, baristas, shop assistants, police officers, mid-wives, politicians, writers, CEOs, pastors, architects, office-managers, accountants, chefs…
On all the women who are studying to change their little piece of the world…
On the musicians, actresses, artists…
On all the mothers, aunties, god-mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughters, friends, girl-friends, fiancés, wives…
We simply wouldn’t be here without you.
You’re fiercely strong, immensely powerful and abundantly capable, not in spite of being a girl, but precisely because you are one. You bring something to the table that nobody else in human history ever could- you’re you.
Everything that you are is everything that we need.
Look around you, you’re exactly where you need to be. You’ve got things to be doing, things to be saying, people to be fighting for.
You have skills, talents, and gifts that could change everything. You’re a hero because you use what you’ve got to make your corner of the world a better place. Whatever you do, I’m a big fan of your work.
Whether you’re fighting loudly or quietly, you’re having an impact. Big or small, you are influencing people.
You my friend, are no accident.
You’re God’s masterpiece, His handiwork, His craftsmanship, His poem, His excellently put together work of art (Ephesians 2:10 if ya don’t believe me!)
You’re His daughter.
Yup, that’s you.
So, what are you going to do about it? Because as was told to one pretty famous biblical Queen some time ago – “perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created.” – Esther 4:14
Who are you shaping right now? Who are you encouraging? Who are you empowering? I guarantee you’re having a huge impact on someone in your life, just by being wonderful you.
Let’s not wait until next International Women’s Day to empower each other, or to empower ourselves. God celebrates you 365 days of the year, so let’s celebrate each other..
If you see beauty in someone – speak it.
If you see that someone is being looked-over or disregarded – speak it.
If you see God doing something amazing through someone – speak it.
If you see someone being underestimated – speak it.
If you feel encouraged by someone who is simply being themselves – speak it.
This, sweet GGF readers, is the art of girl-crushing.
