What Does It Mean To Be A Christian Woman? by Rolanda T. Pyle

There are so many aspects of Christian Womanhood. First, I think a Christian Woman should reflect Christ. The only way a Christian Woman can do that is to follow God’s directives. That involves reading, studying, and knowing the Word of God and then putting it into action in your life.

For me, being a Christian Woman has also meant, like Hannah in the Bible, dealing with barrenness. Although physically barren, I have not been spiritually or emotionally barren. I never married nor do I have any children, but I have been blessed with nieces, nephews, cousins, and four godchildren. Years ago, I was a youth leader in two of the churches that I attended over the years. Through those experiences, I developed great nurturing relationships with many of the youth. Professionally, I’ve served as a mentor to many people. One mentee is currently the Director of a program where I was the Director. It makes me proud to know that she gained something from my guidance to take her into that position. I supervised and guided social work interns as a field advisor. To me, being a Christian Woman means giving of yourself for someone else and pouring that gift into their life.

A Christian Woman must be able to trust God. Now this can be extremely hard, based on what life brings you. My life lesson in this was when my mother abandoned my family when I was a toddler. My father stepped up, and he and his mother raised me and my two siblings. It was a sad and questioning time for me growing up. I loved my grandmother, but I wanted a mother like everyone else. I became a Social Worker and eventually became the Director of the first Grandparent Resource Center in NYC, providing services to grandparents raising grandchildren.

When I thought being left without a mother was the worst thing in my life, I did not know that the Lord was working “all things” out for my good, to benefit others. I had no clue that there was a plan being worked out for my life. I never dreamed that I would be interviewed on radio and television, have newspaper articles written about me, or that I would be given so many awards and accolades. It was not a desire of my heart, nor was it anything that I imagined. What I thought was the worst thing in my life, turned out to be a blessing, because, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 KJV)

So, being a Christian Woman trusts that God will work all things out in your life for your good and His purpose, even (and especially) when you can’t see it. To me, to be a Christian Woman is being what God has ordained you to be.