Find Your Own Voice! & Great links: Pia de Solenni, Violence against Women, Victoria's Secret Swimsuit Issues ...

Has it really been so long since I've written?!
Sheesh! You take a 3 week vacation and it takes twice as long to get back on top of things once you return.
3 Thoughts for you today!
1st - Find Your Own Voice.

Isn't it interesting how we can buckle against the secular view of things, the pressure to "fit in", the threat against young girls' dignity of self and even women's pressure to be a certain way (be it businessman or super model), and yet! we develop similar pressures within faith circles as well. It's human nature, I suppose, to want to fit in, to want to belong. But it does a young mother no good to be stressed by pressure to nurse a certain way or raise her children in a particular method (because someone told her that this was absolutely the best way). Find what works best for you.
Even amongst those blogging, evangelizing or serving others in many ways, there is a temptation to want to be like the other speaker/blogger/singer who seems more popular. RESIST THIS! It is not your way. That is what God has called HER to, not you. If you try to mimic someone else's vocation, you will fail. You must find out what God has planned JUST FOR YOU!
No, it isn't always easy to waiting on our Lord. Especially when it may feel like you're standing still on a superhighway and others have found their purpose and are whizzing by you! But, take heart! Be of good cheer! You don't need to be in the rat race at all - whether secular or faith-based - God has something better in store for you!
You might be worried you can't run that race, that you are losing in life, but here's the thing - you weren't made merely to run, to fight, to claw your way - you were made to soar! So be not afraid! Take the leap of faith to find out exactly what YOUR vocation is and leap ... and fly! - God is the wind beneath your wings.
"Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire." - St. Catherine of Siena.

2nd - Violence Against Women - The Underbelly. 
An absolutely excellent piece by Pia de Solenni. Worth the read and reflection ... here's a taste:
"There’s a reason why Christianity was the first major religion to have the same initiation rite for women and men, namely baptism, and why it was the first religion to allow women to have a say in whether or not they married, even whom they married. That reason is twofold: Mary and the Incarnation." Fascinating stuff ...

3rd - And speaking of violence against women ... well, psychological anyway, enjoy this bit about Victoria's Secret Swimsuit Issue - a mother's buying guide ... I apologize in advance for the language, but it's a hoot! Here's how it begins:
"Get ready all you moms out there: The Victoria’s Secret 2014 Swim Catalog has arrived. Actually, it has arrived several times; how many of these do we really need? Reminding me once a year that I’m two chin hairs and a thigh dimple away from being a troll is quite enough.

Dear Victoria’s Secret: You have sufficiently put me in my place. You can cease with the psychological warfare. Oh but wait, I get a free tote with my order! I guess when you only get one square of fabric to cover your ass crack, they want you to feel like you’re getting your money’s worth.

For starters, this is the shit I keep pulling out of the mailbox.  Hello ass cheeks.  Why yes, I had a good day at work thankyouverymuch.  I start looking through this magazine and I just keep wondering why I get this in the mail.  I can’t wear this shit.  I don’t even know anyone who can wear this shit…or WOULD wear this shit even if they had an ass like that.  If you are showing your ass crack at the beach, what’s the point in wearing a t-shirt? Do you get two totes with this one?..." Read the rest here!

Have a lovely Tuesday, everyone! Be who you were meant to be!
xo,
Theresa