Society is filled with messages on being yourself. Everything we see talks about "empowering yourself" and "being yourself." For years, I've struggled with being myself because I found that myself was so unpopular in the mainstream.

I've always wanted to be an "old-fashioned woman." Stay at home (while working for myself) and take care of the children (at some point once I date, marry and have kids). Cook the family balanced meals and have dinner ready for my husband when he gets home. Be in the home to help raise Godly, knowledgeable and aware children (Prov. 22:6).

This "idea" of what kind of woman, wife and mother I want to become has always been steady for me. I've never had the want to work in the big city and make tons of money and run the world [girls]. Kudos to any woman that does, but that's just not for me. To all my feminist friends: Don't get me wrong. I'm all for female empowerment and I completely support women doing whatever they set their minds to!

My want for the "old fashioned" life stems from growing up with my parents modeling it before me. Yes, my mother has a Master's degree and yes she worked two to three and sometimes four jobs regularly. But aside from a few years of night school, my mom was there every night, cooking dinner, helping us with our homework and driving us to and from basketball practice and games. Being a mother of seven children and pursuing her undergraduate and master's degrees AFTER all her children were past elementary school, my mother showed me not only can a woman work and go after any dreams or career she wants, but she can also raise a household.

When I explain this to others, I often say that I want to be the Proverbs 31 woman. If you don't know what this means, I urge you to read it. Here is a short excerpt:

Proverbs 31:25-31
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.
28 Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

This is the woman that I want to be. This is the kind of woman, no matter what your calling, God wants us to be. Whether you're a minister, teacher, stay-at-home mom, business woman, etc., these are the values that God wants us to live by.

Be fearless. Have wisdom. Be mindful. Be blessed. And above all, fear God. In living a life such as this, we will be rewarded and even praised.