Mujer

"Lo que se siente ser libre.

Lo que es identidad.

Saber y vivir lo que fue creado, dentro de mi.

A ti mujer

Valorada

A ti mujer

Triste, desorientada.

Tu mujer

Mira hacia el sol,

Tu mujer,

Recibe Su calor

Tu mujer

Resiste el fuego ardor.

Mira, respira, profundo

Toca tus manos, nota tu piel.

Tu mujer, vales, cual pena?

Mira mujer,

Mira Quien llama.

Oye mujer, tu alma en calma.

Llora mujer, Su viento te ama.

En Braso otra vez, sola nunca, Te ama.

Tranquila mujer

Tu Paz….aquí esta.

Mira. Mira. Hoye. Respira.

Mujer o mujer

El Amor vuelve otra vez.

Mujer o mujer.

Eres todo, tu Creador dice “Mi ser.”

- Por: Erika Rodríguez

Quien eres?

What three words describe who you are?

Loyal, Fighter, Daughter

What season are you in life right now?

Rebuilding

What is your life verse?

Romas 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. NIV

What make you powerful? 

Knowing God’s got this.

What does work life, home life, personal (self-care) and spiritual balance look like?  

Self-care isn’t only spa days, saying yes to carbs and sleeping in (though those things are fabulous). I’ve learned that for me, it is putting on my own oxygen mask so that I can help put on my neighbors.

I see true self care as more than just a relaxing activity, but actually doing work, which includes taking responsibility for your physical health, mental health and spiritual health. When I take care of my health in these three areas I know what boundaries I need to set, what external help I need to seek and what goals I need to make and work toward.

There is always going to be an ebb and flow to life, sometimes it may not feel balanced. But, if I am aware of how I am taking care of my body (nutrition, stress, exercise), my mind (emotions, thoughts, relationships) and my spirit (getting Gods word in, community, worship, I could go on) and all of the rest falls into place.

What does being a mujer Latina mean to you? How do you show up authentically in various spaces as a Latina?  

It’s being proud of my heritage and my community in sharing my experience spaces that haven’t previously listened to our stories. It’s also teaching my children who they are and passing down the wonderful parts of our culture.

What barriers/injustices have you faced? How have you overcome them?  

For the longest time I’ve felt overlooked, devalued and gaslighted. I am trusting my spirit/gut/intuition (all of the above!) and finding my voice. I’m becoming comfortable calling things out and setting boundaries. It’s also reminding myself that I am worth it. I am the pearl.

What does having a "woman/mom/girl tribe look like to you? Why is it important?  

Having a tribe quite literally saved my life. No exaggeration. I was so used to suffering emotional pain all alone. When I was going through what led to a separation, I knew I had to reach out because going through it alone like before would have destroyed me. I had to be vulnerable which was incredibly uncomfortable. This group of women have stayed with me and have allowed me to go through the process. Even when I was so prickly and a complete mess, they let me just be what I was going through, without judgement.

They helped clean out my house (literally washing my walls with me!), answered desperate late-night calls, and prayed for my peace when all I had was tears. When I was breaking apart inside, my body shutting down, they were there, with love and sometimes tears, but also hope.

When I had my cancer diagnosis they rallied once more. The size of the tumor and time growing in my body should have made the stage worse. I know I should have gotten Covid due to 24-hour exposure while doing Chemo (which would have been detrimental) but I know with all of my being that everyone’s prayers kept me from the worst. Sis, get you some great friends who can pray heaven down. Be one as well. I can only describe it as the friends who broke the roof open to lower their friend into the presence of Jesus.

We are women in varied stages of life. Sharing and learning from each other’s experiences. We have been a support to each other, and nothing has been too heavy.

What would you tell a woman who is seeking a community/tribe of support but is hesitant to ask?  

Keep seeking women in your life who you relate to, who will support you, women whom you can learn from, but also women who you will invest in as well. You need this. Life isn’t meant to go through alone.

What would you tell your 15-year-old self if you could go back and tell her?  

Invest in yourself. Do all the things. Go out for the teams, join all the school clubs. Don’t get pegged into a “type” or “clique”. The most important thing right now is developing your mind and your character. Guys can wait, trust me (they aren’t ripe yet). When you invest in you, find out your own mind, know the things you are interested in and passionate about you will become who and what you are supposed to be. Don’t down play who you are or put yourself in pause for anyone.

That love you are looking for, that value you are searching for is found in discovering the depth of Christ’s love for you.

What would be your one piece of advice for moms or future moms to be?

The dishes and laundry can wait. There will always be a pile of something lying somewhere. So take the time to snuggle while they are this age. When they ask you to play, do it! Sometimes dinner will sandwiches or cereal for the win! Lol! But it won’t matter to them because they love you and you were present with them.

Quien eres?

What are three words to describe who you are?

Encouraging. Empathetic. Intentional.

What season are you in life right now?

In the beautiful trenches of motherhood

What is your life verse?

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

What make you powerful? 

Being me & not trying to be anyone else. The closer I got the God, the more I discovered Him & the more I saw His character & love for me, the more I was able to accept, trust, & love the me that He made for this world in this age & time in history. 

The same is true for you. No stipulations or contingencies or conditions. God made you to be you & that’s your superpower & gift to this world. 

What does work life, home life, personal (self-care) and spiritual balance look like?  

Balance is funny, we strive for it, but I don’t know if we ever really achieve it. In my life I feel like there’s always one area that could use help or attention. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t try to find some sort of balance in all of those areas & I do so by trying to be intentional in each area, taking regular inventory, asking for help, & when one area is clearly lacking, giving immediate attention.

The unfortunate, hard truth for me is that I don’t usually notice I’m lacking in an area until I start to feel it through anxiety, a bad attitude, or frustration, & I’m still working on giving myself & the people around me grace because life is hard sometimes & we can’t be firing in all cylinders all the time, aka no one is perfect.

What does being a mujer Latina mean to you? How do you show up authentically in various spaces as a Latina?  

I’ve grown to love my culture & appreciate where we came from. I hate to admit that i used to be embarrassed as a young girl & even a teen to be a Latina. I think when I started “growing up” & seeing the hard work it took to get what you want in life & seeing what my mom, my grandparents, & my family before them had to endure, it gave me a sense of pride & admiration for my culture & an appreciation to pass it down to my girls through traditions, celebrations, music, language, foods, & education. 

Now being a mujer Latina means I’m standing on the shoulders of mujeres poderosas y luchadoras. It means I didn’t get to where I am all on my own. It means I feel pride to represent my cultura in whatever space God gives me to walk in. It means I speak Spanish unashamedly. It means I dress with authentic cultural accents whenever I’d like to. It means keeping traditions alive in my family & so much more.

What barriers/injustices have you faced? How have you overcome them?  

As a woman, I’ve faced barriers of not doing my job “like a man would”. As a mom, I’ve been sidelined from my responsibilities without even being asked. As a Latina I’ve been made to feel looked down upon & not good enough. I’ve overcome all of these instances by allowing myself to be convinced that God made me who He needed me to to be (a woman, a Latina, a mom) in the time He made me. There’s a confidence no one can take away when you believe that everything about you was on purpose for a good purpose.

What does having a "woman/mom/girl tribe look like to you? Why is it important?  

As a woman who’s prayed for years for a girl gang like the one I have, it means the world to me to know I’m never alone or judged for whatever I’m going through. It takes me being open & vulnerable, honest & real, intentional & consistent. It also takes me being a good friend & reciprocating whatever I need in a friend to be to me. 

It’s important because isolation is a scary & dark place, a place I’ve been to in a tragic time in my life. A place I now realize is unhealthy. I read a quote & it said something like, “It’s not fair that we laugh together but you cry alone,” & this is the heart of a good friend. One who not only loves you & wants to be part of your life when times are good, but doesn’t want you to walk through hard times alone. 

We have a real enemy who would love to destroy us & he’s most effective when we’re all alone, but when we have a girl gang, his tactics aren’t as powerful against us because we don’t fight alone, our girls should speak truth & scripture to us, they should help build our faith, they should pray for us & add strength to us, they should lift our hands when we cannot.

It’s important to stay in community with your girl gang because we were designed for relationships. 

So go to the coffee date, ask your husband or family member to watch the kids, go to dinner with a few ladies, it’ll be good for your soul.

What would you tell a woman who is seeking a community/tribe of support but is hesitant to ask?  

I’d tell her to put herself out there, to be a good friend, to pray & ask God for a community where they can be themselves, to be patient, & to not give up until she finds her tribe.

What would you tell your 15 year old self if you could go back and tell her?  

I’d tell my 15 year old self that she’s enough. That the drinking, the boys, the popularity will leave her empty. I’d tell her to ask God to tell her how He sees her & I’d tell her to believe it. I’d tell her that she’s worth staying for. I’d tell her that people leaving & abandoning her had nothing to do with her, but with them. I’d tell her she’s valuable & loved beyond belief.  I’d also tell her to honor her mother & to respect her, to value her & see that she’s doing it all alone SO well!

 What are your current roles you work/serve in? What is a goal(s) you are working on or towards right now in these roles?  

I am a wife, a mom, a daughter, a sister, an auntie, a friend & a pastor. I’m working toward becoming licensed pastor & will be going back to school to earn my Masters degree to become a licensed counselor. 

My biggest goals are & will always be to be the wife God made me to be for my husband & to be the mom God made me to be for my babies in the most authentic way possible. I don’t ever want to take the funk or make people believe I’ve got it all together. I know I’ll fall short, but I’m thankful for the grace of God & my family that gives me chance after chance & loves me in my effort, shortcomings, & failures.

What would be your one piece of advice for moms or future moms to be?

You were made to be your baby’s mom. No one else can be a better mom to your baby than you. Partner with God, He made you & He made your baby, He can best help you be the mom you’re called to be & the mom your baby needs you to be.

& GIVE YOURSELF GRACE! It’s your first time! None of us were experts the first time or 5th time since all of our kids are different! Accept the fact that motherhood is the hardest, most beautiful hood you’ll ever walk through, & don’t do it alone, ask for help.