"Woman are never stronger than when they arm themselves with their weaknesses."
~ Madame Marie du Deffand
“Why won’t you give me some more sugar?” angrily demanded a huge female inmate one time I was checking the inmates’ blood sugar level.
She was talking about the packets of sweeteners we, medical staff, tried to give whenever we would do their Accuchecks. We usually had 2 packets ready for each inmate. But that morning, she was asking for more.
She made her question so loud, enough to make all the other women knew about her fearless demeanor. That she was that kind of woman: strong, tough, and was ready to show terror to any authority. Everybody started mumbling. I could have just called the Infirmary Deputy behind me. Easier than that. And she would have been in big trouble. The deputy glanced at me, waiting for my signal. But I motioned. For him to keep still on the male side as there were more male diabetics around that time.
“You don’t need to be angry!” I replied with a little higher tone than the usual. “If everyone gets 2 packets, it’s fair enough that everybody gets 2 packets. Do you understand?” I spoke with my voice piercing the thick, glass wall partition between us.
“God bless you!” she retorted back. To which I wasn’t thankful. The mumbling from others grew into a soft din, as if bees were buzzing.
“That‘s not very nice!” I yelled. “Because He is indeed good to you. He gave you those packets of sweeteners!” I replied back. The buzzing stopped. While she looked at me with a great surprise. Surprised that I knew what she meant. Surprised how quickly I understood her prison jargon, that she meant ill despite her nice-sounding words.
She grew quiet. Bowed her head low. The other women stopped mumbling. There was a deafening silence that ensued. I knew she felt that what I said was true. And I knew it penetrated her hard heart. Strong as she thought she was, there was no hard heart that would not be softened by God’s Word or truth.
Why, you may ask I got inappropriately upset this time when that woman just uttered “God bless you?” I always ask for the Lord’s discernment. Working in the prison now for 10 years, one inmate, many years ago, told me…that they say “God bless you” to staff when they couldn’t utter a profanity. Because they could be in big trouble for disrespecting the staff that way. So, just like that lady, she just cursed me and I sensed that at that time. I wouldn’t allow her to bully me. She might think she was a strong woman…
And to her, I looked like a tiny woman of weakness…But she didn’t know. I could be strong, too. But I would rather be a woman of strength than be a strong woman, like her. Strength that is not just given at birth. Strength, not just gained by terrifying others to gain power. Strength, arising from a big physique. No! I would rather be that woman of strength. Who had gone through the fires of trials in life. Who faced tribulations, over and over and beat me down. Trials that made me rely on the One Who was the true Source of strength. Yes, I would rather be that woman. With that strength that comes from knowing God.
For a woman of strength always realizes that it’s important to seek the Lord, not only on good times, but much more, during the hardest times of her life. Instead of falling away, she surrenders to His mercy, love, grace, power, wisdom, and strength.
And yes, I was a strong woman before but is now currently being molded to become what my heart desires: "to be a woman of strength".
“…the joy of the Lord is your strength.” ~ Nehemiah 8:10
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” ~ Psalm 27:1
“Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually!” ~ Psalm 105:4
“…fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” ~ Isaiah 41:10
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” ~ Ephesians 6:10
Please visit other encouraging posts at Spiritual Sundays, hosted by sisters Charlotte and Ginger. You can also join us, if you want to.
You are a woman of strength! Loved the video and your message and I exclaim "God Bless You" in the right spirit!
ReplyDeleteShalom,
Mary
Thank you for sharing this today, Rosel. God's grace is what I live on . . . each day . . . HE continues to catch me . . . HE continues to hold me . . . You know my friend we are indeed blessed.
ReplyDeleteI love you,
Bren
Yes, you are a mighty strong woman in the Lord sis, love you.
ReplyDeleteAnother great post. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you this Holy Week....
Well handled. I can see why she was shocked by your reply. It would be interesting to hear how she responds to you in the future. Will she show respect, or will she fall back to disrespectful, inapppropriate communication?
ReplyDeletewb
Rosel, wonderful post. You handled the situation perfectly. Interesting to see what happens, if at all, later. Thanks for sharing and the video and Scripture verses as well. Blessings to you dear one.
ReplyDeleteAs always, an excellent post, Rosel! I really enjoyed the video as well. Thank you for sharing and have a beautiful Palm Sunday and Easter week.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Sandi
you are definitely a woman of strength....a woman who'se learned the armies of heaven stand behind her. Praying for your protection not just against physical harm but spiritual opposition....Sarah
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I could have a favorite one, but this is one of my favorite writings of yours. Maybe it is because it speaks so perfectly to a particular encounter I had this week that is still fresh. The Lord has certainly gifted you to serve where you are at, and then additionally gifted you to then encourage, convict and equip us in ways that only He know. Blessings sister, I am praying for you!
ReplyDeleteYou always seem to find a great video that ties in with your message. I'm going to show this one to Mrs. Geezer.
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Ron
So true that we must find our strength in Him! It's a learning process though. Great post again Rosel.
ReplyDeleteHugs and hope you're having a wonderful weekend!
Lisa
Preaching on Isaiah 7:14, C. H. Spurgeon closed with this flourish:
ReplyDelete“God with us.” It is hell’s terror. Satan trembles at the sound of it; the black-winged dragon of the pit quails before it. Let him come to you suddenly, and do you but whisper that word, “God with us,” back he falls, confounded and confused. “God with us” is the laborer’s strength; how could he preach the gospel, how could he bend his knees in prayer, how could the missionary go into foreign lands, how could the martyr stand at the stake, how could the confessor own his Master, how could men labor, if that one word were taken away? “God with us” is the sufferer’s comfort, the balm of his woe, the alleviation of his misery, the sleep which God gives to his beloved, their rest after exertion and toil. “God with us” is eternity’s sonnet, heaven’s hallelujah, the shout of the glorified, the song of the redeemed, the chorus of angels, the everlasting oratorio of the great orchestra of the sky.
Wonderful message. Great video. Thank you for sharing dear one.
ReplyDeleteGod is the strength of our hearts!
God bless all the women in faith!
xo
A very insightful post and a good reminder to acknowledge where our strength comes from.
ReplyDeleteShalom,
Denise
Another wonderful post - you certainly have been given a gift to serve in this area of ministry. (And yes, I know it is your job, but you definitely have a ministry there.)
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Joan
I am also reminded by your story of spiritual guided growth by the Holy Spirit through previous molding and testing by the Lord that shaped and formed you into the woman of God that you are today for the discernment truth the defending of faith and the furthering of the kingdom of heaven for the glory of God. Jeremiah 18:1-6 "This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD : "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. & 1Peter 1:3-9 " Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." Like clay int he hands of the Master Potter, we are molded wonderfully into a beautiful godly child by our heavenly Father. Like silver & gold, we are refined by the Master Goldsmith into a pure and precious child for His perfect Will & Purposes this side of eternity. "God bless you", and this time it means may God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," make his light shine in your heart to give you the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.2Corinthians 4:6
ReplyDeleteThen the word of the LORD came to me: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.
Another truly wonderful post and how it blessed me this morning. Have a great Sunday. Hugs, Debbie
ReplyDeleteI LOVED that video! I think I would love to share it with women at church. Is it a Tube video?
ReplyDeleteGod Bless,
Ginger
Well,I just answered my own question. I noticed that it was a tube video.
ReplyDeleteGinger
Thanks you all for your encouraging comments. All the glory to our Lord, our Savior, our Source of love and strength. I'm glad you found our sister Ginger. Sorry, I was at work and was just reading the comments now. God bless you all. Be strong in the Lord's mighty power.
ReplyDeleteYou are definitely the right person for that job! You are such a bright light to that dark place. Thank you for a powerful post.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a beautiful post, Dear. God has given you much wisdom and discernment to work in that place. And I love the little video. Have a blessed week, my sweet friend.
ReplyDeleteIt is always enlightening to me to read the things you write. I love that you share your experiences.
ReplyDeleteBlessings for the week ahead.
Charlotte
I can relate to this in many ways. I used to be that "strong" woman but now I'm learning to be a woman of strength crying out to Him in my weakness.
ReplyDeleteI remember when I began to wonder why people would say that going through trials would make you stronger because I was realizing that it actually made you weaker. It works that way for both believer and non-believer. But the believer then has God's Strength to rely on and oh how glad I am for that.
Enjoy your Sabbath rest my friend!
You are most definitely a woman of strength, Rosel. I know this because your strength from God above in turn blesses me! Thank you for blessing me so. May God always bless you!! *huge hugs*
ReplyDeleteLoved the video! God has blessed you with much wisdom and strength to do the work that you do.
ReplyDeletelove and hugs~Tammy
You are something else Rosel! You could write a book on your experiences at work. I'm glad you stood up for yourself and straightened her out. I do NOT like anyone using God's Name in an inappropriate way.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you (and I mean it). :o) (((hugs)))
Beth
I'm with you, I too, want to be a woman of strength
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing once again about your daily life. You are doing a good work!!
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed Easter!
Precious Sister,
ReplyDeleteI love you and you certainly are that woman with so much strength from Him. He continues to use you so strongly here and where you work. I had to stop in to say I've missed coming here as much as I would like. Time will heal me along with my loving Jesus.
Big Hugs,
Alleluiabelle
Rosel,
ReplyDeleteI am always so uplifted by your posts from your work with those that are incarcerated and come from a very rough background. You stand firm and let them know that you are strengthened by our Lord Jesus. God Bless You!
Jean
Amen ! I want to be a woman of Strength ,too.
ReplyDeleteYou are in my prayers .
Blessings,
~Myrna