Opinion

I had a plethora of books growing up. They lined every shelf in my bedroom and there was always one that sat on my side table ready for me to crack open at night. As a young pre-teen I had everything from Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder to almost every book from the Goosebumps collection by R.L. Stine. At an even earlier age, my collection consisted of mostly Dr. Seuss books. As I grew older, authors like Mary Higgins Clark and Stephen King replaced those prior. But back to when I was younger; Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who! was a personal favorite of mine along with The Lorax, and don’t forget the yearly Christmas tradition of growing up with The Grinch playing on repeat. My love for Dr. Seuss began with his creative illustrations and his use of rhyme. Eventually, over time, I grew to appreciate the life lessons and morals found in each one. Horton Hears a Who! teaches children that no one is too small to make a difference, and The Lorax teaches that there are consequences to our actions and to stand up for what is right (not to mention the importance of taking care of our environment).

What does it mean to be a woman? People answer this in various ways. The truth is that the answer to this question is limitless. There is no right or wrong answer. Many people will respond to this question with Proverbs 31. Others would say that being a woman is complicated. What would be your explanation of what it means to be a woman?

In celebration of National Women’s History month, my first thought was about Esther and her influential role in the Bible. While facing what some may consider horrible adversity, Esther’s overall demeanor is still a driving force for advocacy in 2021. While Esther did not willingly step into her role, she embraced the task with the utmost dignity and grace.