Growing up, I often felt my opinions and feelings were overlooked. Bomluk e ke ngalk el redil. Ouch.
Truth over Comfort
Looking balck, I see clearly why I was rejected. I was not a nice girl who didnt foll protocol. The messagd was “Be like Martha … get busy in the kitchen. Serve. Don’t talk.” But I am more like Mary. I like to be part of discussion. I want to ask questions and I have some thoughts about the topic. A friend of mine once said, “I don’t want to go to church because I sin a lot like when a man preach and completely miss the point I want to tell him to sit down and let me explain.”We laughed because we understood her.
Truth is like water finding it’s way through the cracks of a foundation. I’m sure God heard such women and many women’s ministries like Women of Faith was born.
Some would find women like us disrespecting God and the word. It’s hard being a woman.
Truth over comfort: God knows our hearts. And has opened doors and windows for us to drop a word here and there.
My family was loving and supportive, but there was a pattern: they would dismiss my two cents, my emotions, saying things like “Don’t be so sensitive” or “You’re overreacting”. Or they look at me like I’m crazy weird and totally ignore me.
I didn’t realize it then, but this lack of validation made me question the validity of my own feelings. I started to believe that my feelings were ‘wrong’ or ‘unimportant’.
Fast forward to adulthood, and I found myself struggling to assert myself. I’d often keep quiet rather than voice my thoughts or concerns, fearing they would be dismissed just like they were in the past.
This is a common experience for many people who struggle with assertiveness. The lack of validation in childhood can make you doubt your own feelings and opinions, making it difficult to stand up for yourself as an adult. But remember, your feelings are valid. And it’s never too late to learn to assert yourself.