by: Rev. Dr. Ralen M. Robinson

She rises not because the world made it easy but because her spirit was fed and nurtured by women who guided and equipped her for life’s trials and tribulations. She speaks because generations of women urged her not to stay quiet. Grandmothers prayed over her, so she had the chorus of women holding her up. She stands not alone but with an array of women who saw something in her, whose mother’s guidance led her, aunts offered a shoulder, and grandmothers used their wrinkled hands to grasp them when times were tough. She stands not alone but with the guidance of her mother, the support of aunts, gentle grandmothers, and the comforting grasp of mentors who spoke over her, prayed for her, showed her the essence of womanhood, and became her village.

I dress up with the armor of the women who have come before me. I carry the spirit passed down from my mother, who showed me love and guidance. She taught me all she knew, passing her wisdom and sharing her tradition. When I peer in the mirror, I see her reflecting in me. I put my glasses on; I am reminded of my mother and the clarity she brought to my life. She saw me before anyone else and prayed over me. She spoke greatness and blanketed me with love. I always marveled at my mother, Mary’s strength and resilience. It showed up and engulfed me in love, opening her arms, shielding me from harm. She embodied this strength that exceeded her five-foot frame and towered over me. In this strength, she equipped me to hone my voice and rely on myself.

I shift my scarf around my neck and peer at my reflection in the mirror. Growing up, I admired my Aunt Janice, affectionately known to us as Aunt Duchess. It wasn’t just her name that carried royalty; it was her presence. Aunt Duchess has a regal kind of elegance- effortless, yet unmistakable. She is brilliant, refined, and has a phenomenal sense of fashion. I remember growing up seeing her sweeping into rooms wrapped in bold, beautiful afghans with prints that spoke louder than words. She traveled to far-away lands and brought back stories of rich cultures and precious gifts that held the world in my hands. She told me I could trek to those places, too. But it wasn’t just the clothes. It was how she carried herself, graceful, self-assured, never shrinking. She never minimized herself or her worth but stood tall in it. She showed me what it meant to be an independent woman. She didn’t ask permission to take up space; she embodied it. And as I grew older, I saw more than the elegance. I saw the strength. The way she moved through the world with both softness and power. She dressed not only in delicate garments, but in confidence. She wrapped me in wisdom, in laughter, in high standards. She clothed me in vision, letting me see what was possible and that my dreams could be grasped if I reached out. She taught me that femininity and leadership are not opposites or sacrifices but companions. That beauty and brilliance can live in the same woman. Aunt Duchess didn’t just wear bold patterns. She wove them into the fabric of my becoming. So, I stand with my unique style and drape my inherited grace around my shoulders. And step into the world.

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” –Proverbs 31:25

I step into my purpose because youth directors have looked down upon me, whispered encouragement, and uplifted me. My high school synod youth director, Molly, encouraged me and watered my spirit. How many have connected with youth directors or associate pastors who helped us grow in our faith and pray over our purpose? Who has guided us and led us to see how God is moving around on our behalf and answering God’s call? When I think of my faith, I think of those who helped me discover and nurture it. Many of us stand here because women in the church have brought us under their wing and cared for us. Showed us that women in ministry can be leaders in the classrooms, youth retreats, and on Sunday morning. We have been fortunate to see people who look like us, stand before us, and take leadership roles. Teach us that we, too, can be what we want. That we can stand in whatever shape or form and still be loved. And that if we believe in our voice, we can create ripples like our ancestors did before us. 

Reflecting on who I am today, I can’t help but think of all the women who have embraced me and led me to this point. Who have washed over me with their wisdom, taught me to love myself, and showed me that I, too, can be what I dream and that those dreams are attainable. We may not have a lavish Aunt Duchess, mercy-filled Mother Mary, or a motivating Molly, but we have the women who have shown up for us. The ones who gently guided us and helped build us up. We have the teachers who saw more than we saw in ourselves then. The sisters who protected us and served as an example. The church mothers who prayed for us. And the aunts who became our confidants and role models. The ones who have dressed us up for the journey.

Discussion Questions: 

1. When have you witnessed a woman’s courage or resilience? How did that courage shift your perspective on what is possible?

2. What traditions have you shared with your mother or child that deepened your bond and created cherished memories?

3. What is a piece of wisdom you received from your mother or any woman who continues to be a guiding force today?

Closing Prayer: 

Gracious Parent, You who crafted mothers with hearts full of tenderness and strength, you have blessed us with their love. May that love continue to embrace us, serving as a refuge in times of storms, a light through life’s uncertainties, and a pillar of strength in times of weakness. Let us carry forward the lessons they have instilled in our hearts: lessons of faith, compassion, courage, and quiet resilience—not only from our mothers but from every woman who has shaped us and cared for us. May their legacy of love endure from one generation to the next.  Amen.

The Rev. Dr. Ralen M. Robinson serves as Pastor at Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kansas. She holds a Doctorate of Ministry in Homiletics and actively serves in leadership roles within the wider church and her community. Ralen believes her faith and a good pair of shoes can take you a long way.

Read, “Stories of presence: Stories of faith and strength”, by the Rev. Dr. Ralen M. Robinson.