I was listening to the radio this morning and they started playing Independent Woman by Destiny’s Child. As I was (naturally) singing along I suddenly wondered about the words I was actually saying. There’s such a big emphasis on being independent in today’s society, like it’s terrible to depend on someone else. And it just struck me that this is kind of weird.
I mean, to all intents and purposes I’m independent. I live with housemates, have an OK job, pay my rent and bills. I can cook, I do my washing and I know how to change a lightbulb.
But I depend on people. I depend on my family. I depend on my friends. If I didn’t… I think I’d be a pretty unsociable and unloving person. If it didn’t matter to me if they were there when I turned around or not… what would that say about my relationships with them? And if I didn’t depend on other people, then would other people really be able to depend on me?
More than anything else I’m dependent on my heavenly father. I can’t do anything without him, but with him all things are possible. Knowing that I can depend on him, that he will always be there and will never abandon me… it’s amazing. And essential in my life. He gives me strength, and courage and a reason to get out of bed in the morning on those days when all I want to do is pretend the world isn’t there.
So do I want to be an independent woman?
No thanks!
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.Proverbs 3:5-6
Deep stuff… is this really my youngest daughter’s musings?
Good on yer kidda [to use the vernacular], we really don’t need to be so independent and become reclusive.. we would miss out on so much of life, both now and eternally.
Amen amen to this post. You’re so right about the social pressure to be independent. It can become your whole identity if you allow it to, as I have realized recently in my own life.
“He gives me strength, and courage and a reason to get out of bed in the morning on those days when all I want to do is pretend the world isn’t there.” – oh, i so know those days!
God bless you for this post! And I pray that God continues to keep you close to Him and that you continue to push into Him.
God bless, dear