Here I am, watching all four hours of "Gone with the Wind," (I know I should have read it first) and I am beginning to worship Scarlett.

She is strong and manipulative and beautiful.

She was able to read a room so quickly, use other's selfishness against them, and see through temporary wants. She is fiercely loyal to the people that she actually loves, and she is willing to do whatever is necessary to meet the needs of those she provides for, all while unapologetically looking out for herself. She takes horses, men, and life by the reins.

Meanwhile, Miss Melanie is on my every last nerve.

She is as sweet as sugar cane, to the point that it seems grossly insincere. She married her cousin who found her pleasantly simple, and I despised her for it. "It" being the one who gets to marry Ashley. I found myself relating much more to Scarlett, so her enemy was my enemy. I did not believe her when she defended Scarlett to the other women.

I did not believe her when she treated the prostitute with genuine kindness. I just did not believe that she did not have ulterior motives every single time she went out of her way. She passed nicely. She was honey. I am more of a cinnamon girl.

Then Melanie came running with a sword to kill the stray northerner, her newborn child in the room behind her.

Scarlett had already shot him dead, but Melanie sure was ready to do what was necessary as well. The two women cleaned up the murder and stole the man for everything he was worth.

And it hit me. Melanie wasn't insincere. She wasn't running for prom queen or vying for political office or building bridges in case she needs them later. She was just kind. She saw the best in people, she forgave the ugly parts, and she moved forward. She wasn't dumb or simple. She was as strong as Scarlett, she just let it show in very different ways.

Neither woman was better than the other.

I related more to one, so I chose her as my heroin. But Melanie matters just as much. These women lived through a necessary war, they both almost died, and neither was perfect. They were so different, yet so similar.

With Mother's Day coming up, the women in my family have been on my mind a little extra, and this movie (and beloved novel) summed up what I have been trying to put into words.

The women in my family are each so different.

Both sides of my family could be considered subtle matriarchies, and I have looked to the women in my life to further understand the world. I have always appreciated obvious power, overt patience, and genuine kindness. As I have gotten older, I have realized that not only do each of the women in my family possess these qualities, they also show them differently than one another.

They also have one thing in common, the same thing that Scarlett and Melanie shared.

Each of them loves so deeply. They give and they let their opinions be heard and they would all fight for their family. They are strong and they make mistakes and they can easily be misunderstood.

Mama, Aunt Leslie, Aunt Tanya, Gada, Aunt Leah, Aunt Bobbi, April, and Mamaw.

You all vary on the spectrum of Scarlett and Melanie, but you also have the underlying characteristic of love. Thank you for your constant support.Thank you for each being role model to me in different ways. Thank you for showing me love both when I deserve it and when I don't. You each hold important places in my life, and I would make the walk to Tara for each of you, any day of the week.