What is a gr8ful woman? A gr8ful woman is one who focuses on seeing the world through a lens of gratitude, but that is not all. A gr8ful woman is a woman of substance who chooses to walk in her purpose and in that which God has called her to be and do. I want to be a gr8ful woman. I am still working on seeing the world through a lens of gratitude and I’ll admit some days are harder than others. But thankfully, being a gr8ful woman is an ongoing process and something that I will always be striving towards. The Lord is the one who gives me the grace and strength to continue to work towards this. These are the things that came to mind as I think about what a gr8ful woman looks like.
A gr8ful woman…
1. Sees the world through a lens of gratitude.
Seeing the world through the lens of gratitude is the main focus of this blog. When a gr8ful woman makes the decision to view everything through a lens of gratitude, she will find that even though her situation might not change, or might be hard, her outlook on things will improve. She will begin to find things to be grateful for in every situation. Even the hard ones. A gr8ful woman chooses to be grateful in all things and to focus on the good and not the negative in her life. She seeks to find the lesson in the hard times and grow from it all.
2. Is gracious and kind.
A gr8ful woman is one who desires to show kindness to all she comes in contact with. She chooses to be gracious to those who might not be so nice to her. She continues to smile and stay kind when others are rude to her and when she has every right to be rude back. She seeks to understand how others are feeling and what they might be going through. This following quote says it quite nicely:
“Leave a little sparkle wherever you go”.
By showing the love of Jesus to everyone she meets, she does just that!
3. Doesn’t worry about what others say or think about her.
This one is an area that I have had to really work on and grow in. In the past I have found myself too worried about what others say and think about me that it has caused me to lose focus of what is really important. A gr8ful woman stays focused on what’s important and understands that people are going to talk regardless of what she does. If she does something right, they will talk about it. If she does something wrong, they will talk about it. That’s how people are and she’s learned to accept that, and she doesn’t let what they say affect her. She also knows that not everyone will like her and that’s okay. She is more concerned about being the woman God has called her to be and walking in that purpose above what others think or say about her. At the end of the day she knows that what God says about her is what matters most anyways.
4. Speaks God’s word into her life
This is a very important thing to do as a Christian. God’s word is powerful, does not return to Him void. One thing a gr8ful woman does is remain mindful of the things that she says. She makes sure that she tries her best to speak God’s word into her life and situation instead of complaining. When she does this, either her situation changes, or she does! I’ll admit, this is definitely an area that I need to work on in my quest to becoming a Gr8ful woman!
5. Seeks to be a blessing to others
A gr8ful woman is one who seeks to give and not to receive. I have been blessed with so much, and I want to use what I have to be a blessing to others. The Lord has been so faithful to Henry and me. Everything we’ve needed, He’s provided and more! Even with Rissy coming into the picture, the Lord has consistently provided and made a way when needed every time. A gr8ful woman wants to be a vessel that He can use to bless others. She doesn’t do it for the recognition, but simply because she is gr8ful.
6. Is a woman of purpose: Focuses on the bigger picture
When I was younger I took a class in my church’s youth group called “Purity & Purpose”. That was an excellent class and planted a seed in me that has continued to grow. I was able to take steps towards discovering my purpose which has led me to doing what I am doing now— working in education and blogging. A gr8ful woman knows that there is more to life than just existing and she seeks to discover what it is the Lord is calling her to do, so that she can make an impact for His kingdom! She walks in purpose and doesn’t allow anything or anyone to get in the way of it!
7. Is a good friend
Friendship is such an important part of life. I think the following quote is so true:
“Friends are the sunshine of life”.
A gr8ful woman seeks to be a good friend. She is honest, loyal, kind, and lends a listening ear and a helping hand when needed. I am so grateful for the good friends that I have been blessed with. It took a little time for me to find my community of friends here in Maryland, but the ones that I have are such a blessing to my life. As I am striving to be a Gr8ful woman, I hope that it is said of me that I am not just a good friend, but a great one!
8. Supports Other Women
A gr8ful woman is one who sees the value in other women, supports them, and encourages them in their journeys. She is not petty or jealous and her intentions towards others are genuine. I have been so blessed to have a core group of supportive women in my life who have done just that. I love that I do not have to question their motives or have to worry about them sabotaging what I’m doing. They have encouraged and pushed me to do things that I was hesitant to do. A gr8ful woman seeks to find ways to support other women. She finds joy and excitement in seeing one of her “girls” excel, succeed and accomplish their goals! When she supports other women, she finds no reason to be jealous! We all have a part to play in each others’ success when we support each other.
Being a gr8ful woman is so much more than just being grateful. It’s a way of life, it’s a way of being. I’ll be honest, there are days when I don’t feel so gr8ful, or feel like being a gr8ful woman, but then I remember that there are more important things in life than the little things that are bothering me. I also remember that others are watching and learning from me and that as I work towards being a gr8ful woman, I can encourage others to do the same as well. At the end of the day, I want to be a light for Jesus all while fulfilling the call He has on my life. Being a gr8ful woman is a great start!
So dear friends, are there any characteristics that you would like to add to the list? Are there any that I missed? I would love to hear your thoughts!
Gr8fully Yours,
Beaitiful post. Loved the part about seeing the bigger picture. I always try to think things through to see the bigger picture before making decisions.
Awww thank you so much!! Yes, that is so wise. Looking at things with the bigger picture in mind helps me to make better and wiser choices. Thank you so much for stopping by and for your comment! 🙂
This is awesome! I needed to read this post. I have been dealing with inner thoughts that I are fighting against my journey of becoming a gr8ful woman.
Awww thank you so much! I completely understand how you feel. I had some experiences and thoughts just yesterday myself that challenged my working towards being a gr8ful woman. Thankfully becoming a gr8ful woman is a journey and a process. And it’s so encouraging to know that we don’t have to do this in our own strength but it is the Lord who strengthens us in this journey. Thank you so much for stopping by and for your comment! Be blessed!! 🙂
I hadn’t even thought about that last point before…that when you’re truly grateful for what God has given to you, what he’s given to others won’t matter, you won’t be jealous. Thank you for all of the thoughts here, truly a blessing!