She sits and snuggles unlike any Lab I've known (spread eagle most of the time):
She slumps when she sits (how un-ladylike!):
She's eats who-knows-what (the grossest of things), but she's always soft-mouthed with us:
She wrassles with the best of them:
Oh, but she pounces and pins and likes being top dog, too:
She's smart (can open the back door at will):
She's fiesty, fun, impish, loving, faithful, and affectionate all wrapped up into one:
And I wouldn't trade her for another female Lab on the planet.
You know, it's not so bad to be tomboyish and impish and tender. Elsie illustrates that truth well for me; it's really not the contradiction in terms I thought it was.
For years I wrestled with self-esteem issues because I didn't think I was "feminine" enough (my twin sister got that gene). Much like Elsie, I was (and am) a tomboy: I rarely wore make-up, rarely did anything to my hair except pull it back into a ponytail, never had manicured nails, and dressed in jeans or sweats most of the time. I definately do NOT represent the epitome of human feminity or style. I'm just frumpy, tomboyish me.
But Elsie teaches me that that's okay. I love Elsie for who she is: imp, snuggler, tomboy, tender-hearted soul. And, truth be told, she's much like me. I suppose the people who love me really do love me for who I am, too--the whole package, just as we love Elsie's whole package.
For years (decades) my husband tried to tell me this, but I only believed him in part, thinking that I still needed to be more "feminine" or more polished. Instead of feeling defective because I'm not (and never will be) what the world defines as the "feminine" ideal, I should learn to celebrate who God made me to be, just as I celebrate who Elsie is.
The world is a far richer place because of the Elsies who grace us with their presence. :o)
If only we could learn to accept that truth about Elsie's human equivalents.
'Til next time,
Joan
2 comments:
You know, when you remember back to your grandmother and aunties, the ladies they were, more than likely they had no glued on, super manicured, feminine finger nails. Their hair was most likely just washed clean and swept up or back so they could sweetly, serenely, adequately carry on in their work and kitchens. They were not like our current "feminine ideals" at all!
How true! Here's to our forebears, those sturdy women who worked hard and focused on life's important things!
J.
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