Wow! The First Lady of the United States, Mrs Michelle Obama, is just the perfect candidate for a photo op! Lately, some newspapers have been filled with anything and everything to do with the first lady, from what she wears; to her gardening; and now, her appearance on Sesame Street. I'm not usually one to be fascinated by first ladies, because although many have the combination of glamour and humility, not many (well the ones I've taken note of in my lifetime) have the triple K.O. of glamour, humility and service.
I, and a lot of people, first took note of Mrs Obama when she introduced her husband in a keynote speech at the 2008 Democratic Convention during the historic presidential campaign. I found Mrs Obama inspirational, because here was a woman who was openly showing that she supported and believed in what her husband was doing. Some women may have done that before too, but there was something special about Mrs Obama praised and took pride in the soon to be president - her husband. We live in a generation where as young women we are sometimes taught to be independent even when we are married, and to me, such a gesture by Mrs Obama declared that there is nothing wrong with supporting the success of your man. It doesn't have to always be about you, and your liberation as a woman and what your man should do to serve you.
The next time I took note of Mrs Obama is when she came under (fashion) fire for bearing arms in her White House portrait. OK? She is a woman with a lot of style, unique style in fact, which is simple and sophisticated. And I think it was clear from her previous outfits that he might go for something which shows off some of her best assets - her arms. All I have to say to all the fashionistas and tradition police who disliked her choice of outfit is that if you had arms that toned, maybe you would want to show them off too! She proved that her worth was not to be counted by what she chooses to wear, but by the substance she carries.
Lately, Mrs Obama's appearances on television shows, at public appearances and schools etc, prove to me that she is a woman of service. Being a lady, first or not, is about how your character is displayed. Do what you say and feel and what you're passionate about, don't just say it. This for me is something which is sometimes lacking in our independent woman generation: we just say what we want to do and accomplish, but we don't show too many characteristics which show what we are truly passionate about. Sometimes I feel that we have developed the ego of the hunter gatherer which some of our fellow men have; we are driven to provide for ourselves, not realising that sometimes serving leads to our provision. And this does not in any way make us weak vessels, but strong ones that are able to endure in service, and enjoy the fruits thereof without missing our purpose in life.
Proverbs 31:17 says that a woman of virtue (or 'A Wife of Noble Character' in the NLT), is "energetic and strong, a hard worker", a woman who assists her husband in providing for their household. A woman of service. A woman who do. And on that note, if Mrs Obama ever needs a place to rest her feet, I'd be glad to make her a cuppa for all that hard work!
I, and a lot of people, first took note of Mrs Obama when she introduced her husband in a keynote speech at the 2008 Democratic Convention during the historic presidential campaign. I found Mrs Obama inspirational, because here was a woman who was openly showing that she supported and believed in what her husband was doing. Some women may have done that before too, but there was something special about Mrs Obama praised and took pride in the soon to be president - her husband. We live in a generation where as young women we are sometimes taught to be independent even when we are married, and to me, such a gesture by Mrs Obama declared that there is nothing wrong with supporting the success of your man. It doesn't have to always be about you, and your liberation as a woman and what your man should do to serve you.
The next time I took note of Mrs Obama is when she came under (fashion) fire for bearing arms in her White House portrait. OK? She is a woman with a lot of style, unique style in fact, which is simple and sophisticated. And I think it was clear from her previous outfits that he might go for something which shows off some of her best assets - her arms. All I have to say to all the fashionistas and tradition police who disliked her choice of outfit is that if you had arms that toned, maybe you would want to show them off too! She proved that her worth was not to be counted by what she chooses to wear, but by the substance she carries.
Lately, Mrs Obama's appearances on television shows, at public appearances and schools etc, prove to me that she is a woman of service. Being a lady, first or not, is about how your character is displayed. Do what you say and feel and what you're passionate about, don't just say it. This for me is something which is sometimes lacking in our independent woman generation: we just say what we want to do and accomplish, but we don't show too many characteristics which show what we are truly passionate about. Sometimes I feel that we have developed the ego of the hunter gatherer which some of our fellow men have; we are driven to provide for ourselves, not realising that sometimes serving leads to our provision. And this does not in any way make us weak vessels, but strong ones that are able to endure in service, and enjoy the fruits thereof without missing our purpose in life.
Proverbs 31:17 says that a woman of virtue (or 'A Wife of Noble Character' in the NLT), is "energetic and strong, a hard worker", a woman who assists her husband in providing for their household. A woman of service. A woman who do. And on that note, if Mrs Obama ever needs a place to rest her feet, I'd be glad to make her a cuppa for all that hard work!
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