It’s no joke being a woman

"When I was just a little girl, I asked my mother what will I be?
Will I be pretty? Will I be rich? Here’s what she said to me…
Que sera sera, whatever will be will be, the future’s not ours to see
Que sera sera…"

One day, after some time of not bothering to check my e-mail, I opened it and was surprised to see an avalanche of women issues. Reading through them, I giggle because it’s ticklish; I cry because it’s sad; I understand because I can relate to it; and I agree because it’s true.

Take a look at one of the e-mails sent to me:

"Dear Lord,

I pray for wisdom to understand my man; for love to forgive him and for patience for his moods; because if I pray for strength, I’ll just beat him to death.

Amen."

This may elicit laughter at first glance but a woman shall always pray for strength, not to kill, but to be able to stand for her man, for her family, for her friends, for her neighbors, and lastly, for herself.

A woman shall give to and give up everything for her family or for anyone she loves.

She can easily go without so another can have.

This reminds me of the Widow’s Offering story (Mark 12:41-44) where lots of rich people gave big amounts of money as their offerings in the temple while the poor widow gave only two coins. Jesus said she gave more than the rich because they gave their extra but the widow gave everything she had.

In real life, the widow represents a mother who gives up her job or even her figure to carry a child in her womb; a single mom who juggles her time to earn, cook and help her child grow unbroken; a wife who acts like a shadow but is the strength behind her man; a friend who drops everything to run to someone who needs her; a prostitute who gives up honor to feed or clothe a family member; a teacher who sacrifices her salary to impart her knowledge but, despite that, is often disgraced by mischievous students and she can be any woman who bears hardships with a smile and trusts in the Lord that He shall take care of her in every way, every time.

In my life, the widow is both my mother and mother-in-law for willing to live strongly for us, their children. She represents my friends who keep me sane and whole; my yaya who shared most of her life with me; Ma’am Gina de Venecia and Ali Sotto of I.N.A. Foundation who selflessly reach out to me and to others in despair; Pempe Rodrigo of The Rivers of Living Water for constantly being my prayer warrior and Kris Aquino who I laugh and cry with when I watch her on TV. Who else can be more courageously and generously honest than her?

If I may share this excerpt from Julie Andrews’ special song on her 69th birthday; she did My Favorite Things from Sound of Music with these lyrics:

"… when the joints ache,
when the hips break,
when the eyes grow dim,
then I remember the great life I’ve had
and then I don’t feel so bad."
(Hooray!)

When we were little girls, we dreamed of becoming queens or princesses in beautiful castles waiting for our princes. As we grow, we marry and dutifully carry on with the multi-tasks of being a wife, a mom, a cook, a housecleaner and a career woman.

And we’re still expected to look ravishing despite that. Whew!

Ironically, we didn’t turn into the princesses we have dreamed of but we seemingly ended up as chambermaids. Yes, chambermaids.

We realize it is no joke to be a woman and yet, we hold on to our dream. It doesn’t matter how others regard us or if we are starting to believe them because deep inside, we know our dream has come true for we are still the princesses with hearts made of gold. We continue to love, care, work and sacrifice. In fact, we are capable of anything in the name of love.

Yes, women, celebrate!