In the Company of Women

I had the wonderful opportunity to host our Zambia team for a lunch meeting on Saturday and I was so blessed by each of the women - and our guest speaker Elizabeth. I so appreciate and value the company of women. Don't get me wrong, men have an important place in my life —a husband and 2 sons and a stepson— however there is a just a different, ineffable connection with the women in my life— both past and present. Sometimes I don't understand what makes men tick and how to relate to them - especially with my teenage sons.

I grew up in a very female dominated home with my mother and sister. I had little contact with my father. My grandmother was also pivotal influence on me growing up. I was never the type of girl that had boys as friends - they were uncomfortable and foreign to me. So from my earliest days I preferred to get support, instruction and encouragement from women. I worked in an office that was overwhelmingly female for 10 years. I even tend to read books primarily by female authors. My husband is trying to broaden my horizons and has challenged me to read a male author every third book. (I am working on this!)

Thus, the Zambia trip is exciting to me from several aspects. I am thrilled to be a part of instructing and ministering to Zambian women, which I know will educate and bless and "grow" me out of my comfort zone. However, I am equally excited to share this experience with seven other women, many of whom I would normally not even know. I am looking forward to seeing how God takes each of our individual strengths (and flaws) and melds them together into a team that will mightily accomplish His will. How exciting is that???!!