As I wrap up my “Strong Women” series, I want the women in my life to know that I see each and every one of you in each of the women I have portrayed in this series. These women of strength.
- Strength despite fear
- Strength because of love
- Strength as they face their own demons- both real & imagined
- Strength in softness
- Strength in self-sacrifice
I see you all.
XOXO,
Sheli
Jochebed, Exodus 6:20 — The New International Version (NIV)
20 Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, who bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years.
Jochebed’s name means, “Honor of God” or “God is glory”.
She doesn’t get much of a mention in the Bible, does she?
Yet, Jochebed’s story is about one of the greatest forms of courage.
She was the birth mother of Moses. Yes, THAT Moses, the one who later went on to demonstrate the power and might of God, and helped free the Hebrew people.
In an effort to save her son from the genocide that the Pharaoh ordered against Hebrew boy babies, she hid him as a newborn, then set him to be found and loved by the Pharaoh’s daughter, who raised him as her own son. Jochebed endured this, acting a wet-nurse and hiding the fact that she was his birth mother, in an effort to keep him alive and still be close to him during his infancy.
Jochebed’s courage saved not only her son, but laid the foundation for what would be, decades later, the Hebrew people’s liberation.
Zoë Alleyne Washburne
From: Firefly (tv series), Serenity (movie)
As first mate and second in command to Malcolm Reynolds on the spaceship Serenity, Zoë is a soldier turned smuggler, a tough and deadly fighter, loving wife to Serenity pilot Hoban Washburne, and loyal friend.
She is often the voice of calm & reason, NEVER plays the damsel in distress, and epitomizes a strong and powerful woman who is cautious, yet fearless.
I love her commitment to the crew of Serenity – her loyalty is unwavering.
The true soldier fights not because he hates what's in front of him, but because he loves what's behind him.
Shuri, Princess of Wakanda, Master Scientist, Master Engineer, Technological Genius
(Marvel Movies)
While Shuri’s character has not been fully explored in the MCU movies (to date, anyway), several thing are immediately discernible from what little we have seen.
To start, Shuri Is smart. In fact, brilliant would be a more accurate description.
As the Head of Technology in Wakanda, she is both a driving force and an important source of most of the country’s advanced weaponry, aeronautical accomplishments and medical marvels.
Since Wakanda’s technological superiority is beyond anything the rest of the world could imagine, I suspect her capabilities would have delighted Tony Stark… Between her engineering acumen and mechanist’s mind, she probably could have taught him a thing or two!
And, while Shuri is known to be ingenious, she is also physically capable and more than competent to hold her own in a fight. As princess of Wakanda, she had special training in various martial art forms, and is formidable in hand-to-hand combatant.
WIth all her brains and abilities, there are two traits I find most appealing about her character:
She is confident about her intelligence and her abilities, and she is driven. She is constantly looking for ways to improve things, rather than settling for the status quo.
She has no interest whatsoever in setting limits or herself, and no intention of letting anyone else. And, despite everything she has accomplished so far, she is still quite young, which means she is just getting started!
We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves.
Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan: Politician, Revolutionary, Resistance Fighter, Jedi Knight, Leader of the Rebel Alliance
From: Star Wars (movie franchise)
In her youth, Leia was known for her fiery attitude and headstrong nature. As she matured, her candor, strong personality and bright intellect made her a leader that people were willing to follow.
Despite growing up on the peaceful world of Alderaan, Leia never became soft. Her fierceness and determination to restore freedom to the galaxy helped the Rebel Alliance get through the toughest of battles. Leia always put duty before her own personal needs, making her the perfect leader for the New Republic.
But it is she who leads the battle, yes, hmm…Princess Leia Organa. Bold. Strong…her mother's blood flows through her.
