Like Marbles In A Jar . . .

Three months ago I issued a challenge to myself and those who read this blog.  The challenge: that we, as women, try harder to build up other women.  Thirty of you left comments telling me that you personally would join in my crusade.  That small gesture in and of itself gave me such hope and built me up in ways I can’t tell you.  Thank you for supporting what I think is an important idea.

We are now one fourth of the way through a year of Being Builders.  For the first few weeks or maybe even month, I was a building rockstar!  Good thoughts and positivity towards all womankind oozed from my very pores. 

And then reality set in during February and I had to check myself too many times to count. Even though it was the ‘Month of Love’ I wasn’t feeling the love towards some of my fellow females.

So when March rolled around, I knew I had to step up my game and make a daily goal – something I could be accountable for – to help me do and be better about building up other women. I chose to pick one woman each day to build up.

At the beginning of the month I made a numbered list in a notebook.  I love me some list making!  For each number, one through thirty-one, I would record what I did that day to Be a Builder. And so the month began.

During the day I would silently pray to know who to build. Some days I knew exactly who it was I should lift and help. Other days I didn’t know until an opportunity would present itself to me to take.

Let me share a few of the ways I was able to Be a Builder:

• I sent multiple cards, emails and text messages to family, friends and acquaintances telling them how much I loved them and listing specifically their wonderful qualities. Of all the things I did this month, I believe the written or spoken words had the most impact.
• I took flowers to a woman who just received life altering medical news about one of her children.
• I made lunch and took it to a friend to eat together.
• I babysat children so a mom could have some much needed time to herself.
• I made a remark to a Target cashier about her darling red sweater set and pretty necklace.
• I delivered Builder Buckets to three women anonymously.
• I went to hear my mother speak in church.
• I complimented a complete stranger on her darling outfit.

Now that the month is over, I look at this list and see these instances, no matter how big or small, as individual, beautiful moments where I was given the opportunity to see another woman through God’s eyes.  Each of the women I built up is beautiful and remarkable in her own way.  Each has something to give to the world.  Each is a cherished daughter, sister, wife, mother and Child of God just trying her best in life.  I really felt an amazing capacity to love other women through this exercise.

As I caught this photograph of Ollie playing with marbles, I was intrigued by the beautiful composition that was being created with each marble added to the jar.  That is what my month has been like.  So many different colors, sized and types of marbles.  All lovely individually, but together, a cacophony of color and glass that catches light and shines so radiantly.

So many different colors, sizes and types of women. Alone we are great, but imagine what we could do together if we just built each other up. Each act of building up another woman is like adding a marble to the jar.  As it gets more full, it only becomes more beautiful.

How about you?  How are you doing on building up the women around you?