If you, a woman, were asked the question, “What defines you?” how would you answer? If asked, “What events in your life brought you to a turning point that has made you who you are today?” how would you answer?

Many women have had to look some of life’s mighty big storms straight in the eye and face them head on. Many a timid, down-trodden woman has had to make the decision that her circumstances were not going to defeat nor define her and that she was going to find a way to overcome them. Do you know any such amazing women who did just that? What was it about her that made her amazing in your eyes? How is her greatness defined? How did she survive and thrive if she did not have an easy life or a protected life? How was she able to overcome life’s obstacles, struggles and pain to rise above it all?

Yes, we all have our own difficulties in life, some not so serious and some that affect us to the very core of our being.

Sometimes the expectations of society and the reflections from our early years of life greatly affect how we view ourselves and how we handle those hard times in life – whether we were loved and accepted or unloved and rejected.

The reflections we see from the important people in our lives impact our self-esteem and the decisions we make.

But the good news is many women have taken hold of the fact that the negative reflections don’t have to be a permanent impression. They have learned they can overcome the obstacles that are present in their lives and alter the negative reflections that have been mirrored to them.

Women today do it all – seeing to the needs of their husbands, their children and even their elderly parents, striving to make a comfortable home environment, working hard at their job and the list goes on. Many of these women have had great role models, and many have not.

No matter the circumstances, there are women who have risen above their circumstances and have refused to let their circumstances define them or decide who they are. They are the overcomers and ultimately the becomers.

There are such women in Shreveport-Bossier City who are just that – overcomers and becomers. They have proven to be amazing women who faced very difficult obstacles in their lives, survived those obstacles and rose above them. They made the decision to overcome and become in spite of what life dealt them. They had to make a decision –whether to let the trials and tests in their lives defeat them or take a stand and not let their past or present define them. They were successful in moving from being knocked down by these circumstances to changing the course of their lives from a defeated one to one of being an overcomer. They have become great moms and grandmothers in their present-day life. Examples of Real Women Who are Overcomers • Living with an alcoholic mother proved very difficult for one of the women. As a child, she was moved back and forth between her parents’ home and her grandparents’ home. Eventually, she was removed from her parents’ home and permanently placed in her grandparents’ home. Her grandmother modeled for her how to be a lady and woman of honor.

She made the decision to not let alcohol define her life. She vowed and declared to not follow in her mother’s footsteps. She is an overcomer. When she married and reared her children, alcohol had no place in her home. And what a lady she is today, beautiful inside and out.

• Another one of these women shared how she was sexually and physically abused in the home where she should have been protected. She told of eventually being placed in a foster home, where she was treated cruelly. This young girl has become not only a professional success but a great Christian influence in the lives of her children and grandchildren. She chose to love, cherish and protect them. She overcame and became in spite of her frightful childhood.

• A domestically abused wife and mother found herself in a desperate situation. She had no job and no place to find safety for herself and her child. She gathered the strength to ask for advice on how to safely leave and get help to get out of her situation. A church helped her with childcare, etc. so she could work and attend nursing school. She graduated with flying colors and is supporting herself and her son.

• A woman with a chronically ill husband had two young children. She had to provide the family income as well as care for her husband and children when she was away from home working.

This was an addition to the ordinary everyday tasks that must be done. She found the strength to keep on keeping.

She raised two emotionally healthy children who grew up to be hard workers and great parents themselves. She has helped other women who are going through the same struggles as she has had.

• A dear mom who had a child with Down syndrome chose to love her child beyond measure – to embrace his disability and help him fulfill his full potential and to see him as a blessing not a burden. She is an inspiration to other moms who have a child with a special need and a tremendous blessing to her child.

• A woman with a chronic illness struggles to be the wife and mother she so desires to be. But she is determined to accept what each day brings and the limitations that arise. She is determined to live life to the fullest when the days are good. She uses her good days to do positive things for her husband and children. She continues to put one foot in front of the other to do all she can to show her love and care for her family.

What do all these women have in common?

Each and every one of these women determined to meet each day head on, with the determination not to let life’s storms define or defeat them.

They chose strength and courage.

They are all believers in Jesus Christ and sought strength and direction through the reading of their Bible and their prayers as well as and support from Christian friends.

They gained the courage to keep on keeping on. May their lives inspire you to keep on keeping on until you overcome whatever you might be facing. If you don’t have a positive influence or role model in your life, seek out a female Sunday school teacher and ask her to mentor and encourage you.

It is never too late to become the woman God intended you to be.

Take that step today. Be an overcomer!