You can learn a lot about a woman by the way she stands. As an infant, she rests peacefully or not so peacefully on her back or tum. Before you know it, she’s a toddler walking or running at high speed. If you’re lucky, she’ll pause and glance back at you with a coy grin. The preschool years arrive and you may notice she stands with confidence, just daring Life to throw her a curve ball. Then something happens…

That yellow transporter departs at the end of her street and whisks her away to the mysterious world of primary school.  She’s still standing tall but with close inspection you notice a slight bend, a barely visible slump of the shoulders. The years fly by: college, marriage, career, motherhood….  She’s still standing but there’s a weariness there- a little less bounce and a slight limp to her gait.

Children are released into the world and her career takes a new path with the destination unknown. Seasons of marriage evolve and bring Joy as never before. Her shoulders rise a little with each new adventure. Challenges come. People she loves die. Doctors appointments don’t go exactly as she scripts them in her head. But she’s still standing. It occurs to her that she can do more than merely stand. She can pull herself up tall and encourage her body to take up space. Her body, mind, and spirit can take up every inch of space that God has designed for her.

Yes, you can learn a lot about a woman by the way she stands. She glances back in the mirror with a confident grin- just daring Life to throw her a curve ball. This time she’s taking up all her space and it feels good.