The Influence of A Tomboy

In my younger days, I was comfortable with the tag of being called a "Tom Boy." I figured it was because I wore my brothers hand me downs or played sports. It never really bothered me, because everyone was considered to be a Tom Boy. But everyone seemed to outgrow it much quicker than I did... Which left me thinking..."what's wrong with me?" God showed me how it all started tho...

I can honestly say that the men in my family have a lot more influence in my life than the women do. It was my Grandfather that taught me how to manage money, that sat the standards for my schooling, that told me and showed me I could do whatever I wanted to do; that deposited so much into me. It was my Uncle who showed never ending support for all I did, that took the time to correct me when I was rebelling, that took me out to spend time with me "just because"; & that's still here. It was my Father that broke down the walls I put up against my parents, that showed me I could talk to him about whatever, that showed me I could trust him above all. & not to mention I was raised with brothers, rather than sisters...



But it was the broken women in my family that hurt me in an effort to feel better about themselves. It was the women in my family that led me to believe I could trust them and that they would be there always,...until their emotions shifted. It was the women that verbally abused me, that wanted to be my "friend" so they had me around things I should have never seen in my childhood, that taught me how to be insecure, that didn't know the meaning of "Love" because the other women in their lives couldn't teach them...



I knew I obviously need this influence in my life, being that I am, in fact, a woman. But I couldn't trust them jokers for the life of me...they never failed me when it came to failing me. I still loved them, but I just couldn't trust them further than I could throw them. So, for all the qualities I desired to possess, I looked past them.



When I looked for loyalty, trust, love, stability, courage, a strong faith, etc., I looked at my Father, Uncles & Grandfathers and modeled myself after them. A child chooses role models based on the qualities they want to possess. I wanted to be nothing like those broken, feeble minded, unloving women...



I'm now 21 and I find that a lot of my mannerisms and mindsets are that of my Father, Uncles, & Grandfathers. And now I'm fortunate enough to have a stable relationship with my Mother, a few good Aunts and a Ladylike Mentor that keep telling me to "soften up." It's not as easy as they make it sound, but I'm grateful that I'm not yet set in my ways...



Anything is possible with God. & I do want to change. Because it's a strain...it's a defense mechanism against brokenness. I just wanted to attain the success and all, but I must first accept wholeness.





I'm grateful for God revealing this to me. & I'm sure He'll see it all through. He doesn't tease.