Glad I’m a Woman

OK, I just have a sec but I’m so amused by something that I have to tell you about it. I am at a coffee shop close to Melissa’s apartment. The movers packed her stuff yesterday and are putting it in the truck as we speak. I’d been perched on her back porch but they needed to move that furniture, too. Besides, it’s cold here today and my hands were freezing. All that to say, I had to find a place close by and, as God would have it, it has wireless internet. The place was packed when I came in. Really cute decor with a half a dozen small round tables surrounded by four wing back chairs. By the time I ordered my coffee, several people departed and I threw my stuff in a chair as fast as I could. In a few minutes, two men – I think in late thirties – couldn’t find a place to sit so they asked if they could sit at my table. I told them to be my guest. They’d not distract me at all.

I totally lied.

Watching those two men try to do coffee was the most awkward thing I’ve ever seen. They couldn’t have been business associates or, goodness knows, they’d have talked business. And I would’ve been relieved. Instead, for the life of them, they could not think of one single thing to say. And, no, they weren’t trying to be quiet for my sake. The whole establishment is abuzz with conversation. One of them tapped on the top of his cup. The other made a few attempts at sentences starting with, “SO…” It was pitiful. Worse than pitiful. It was painful. I cannot tell you how tempted I was to help them. They needed rescuing in the worst way and I had at least five topics for conversation on the tip of my tongue: weddings, up-dos, grandboys who have learned to talk in full sentences, women’s Bible study, and baby girls moving to Atlanta with new husbands. But somehow I got the feeling they didn’t want my help. I tried not to look at them. It would have been too humiliating for them. So there I sat, pecking away on my computer, acting like I had no idea that they were having the world’s most awkward cup of coffee. Anyway, I don’t even think they were real coffee drinkers. Out of the corner of my discerning eye, I saw no pause for reflection after a single sip. Dead giveaway that they were posers. That was their first problem.

And here I am, communicating with a whole herd of women I’ve never even met with names that, five years ago, would’ve sounded like cartoon characters and about all manner of personal thing happening in my family’s life.

Yep. I love being a woman.

PS. I like to have died (that’s how my people always talked. I really do have some education. I just don’t sound like I do) over Mommy Dot Com sharing that she’d been nominated as “customer of the week” at her neighborhood Starbucks and nearly started crying when they announced someone else as the winner. Laughing my danged head off. You are customer of the week to all your siestas.

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200 Responses to “Glad I’m a Woman”

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Comments:

  1. 151
    Isaac's Mom says:

    Beth,

    I just have to tell ya…what a blessing to be able to carry on a conversation!!! I feel sorry for the poor men….lacking in…. well, you know.

    You are a hoot!! And your girls too. Glad to see and read the wedding went well and the baby girl was so giddy for the new life ahead of her.

    Thanks for sharing your personal lives with a bunch of people you have never even met!!

    Blessings to you in Jesus name.

  2. 152
    cheryl says:

    In my house coffee is done right by all!!! This weekend my husband and I went camping. I took the good coffee pot with the espresso maker on the side and the cafe verona ( my fav ). My son came home from college to house and pet sit for us and freaked out because the coffee pot was gone. I was able to teach him over the cell how to use a french press and assured him I left some of the good stuff for him. When we got home tonight he hugged me and thanked me for the best cup of coffee he had ever had. He even cleaned and mopped my house, did his own laundry and made his bed!
    Thank God for Starbucks! šŸ™‚

  3. 153
    Anonymous says:

    I read this post and thought of yesterday when I met my friend at Starbucks at 8:30 in the morning and by the time we looked at our watch it was 12:30 in the afternoon. We solve our problems and the rest of the world’s over a latte’. No one can accuse us of not knowing how to “do” coffee.

    Praise God for BFFs and coffee.

  4. 154
    Missy says:

    Hey Siesta, can we all give out a SHOUT to Brad in Dallas. “YOU GO BOY!!!!!”
    It takes a REAL man to speak out in Siestaville. lol

  5. 155
    helene says:

    oh yes Beth got that right!! my, they can’t even do dinner, let alone coffee!!!

  6. 156
    Patty says:

    Beth, I have to tell you something. This weekend my best friend and another girlfriend who is one of my favorite people in the world came to visit me. This morning we all got up to get ready for church and we were in my room talking and we all(4 of us) had weird dreams last night. I have to share Jen’s dream. She told me she didn’t care if I told you. Anyway, her dream: she was in her car driving her husband to a new job. He was going to be gone awhile with this job and she was in a hurry to drop him off. She said the dream went from there to her getting ready to pick up her husband from work and she wanted to look good since she had not seen him in awhile. Well, she got in the car and she looked in the mirror and she said, wow my hair looks good, really good, and then she noticed that she had Beth Moore’s hair. She said, wow it’s so tall and poofy!! LOL!!! Then she woke up!!
    Would it help to know we all ate Mexican for dinner?!! :o)
    I wish that you could hear her tell this.

  7. 157
    Jackie Sue says:

    You did well, Miss Beth, to leave those men to their misery. I truly don’t know how you didn’t save them. You could’ve told them about the great book you mentioned to us, “Same kind of Different As Me”…oh my word, I loved it!!! Totally loved it!!! Thanks for the recommendation. Keep sharing your reads!

  8. 158
    Anonymous says:

    I, too, think they recognized you!! How their wives must have wanted to know all about you!!!!

    As a new siesta – How fun is this group of women!!!!

    Amy B

  9. 159
    Linda says:

    I don’t think I would have been able to sit there and not say anything. How in the world did you not say anything?
    We need to hear the rest of this story. I mean, they had to atleast commented on the coffee šŸ™‚
    Thanks for the funny story.

  10. 160
    Tabitha says:

    Beth, I just love you!

    Tabitha

  11. 161
    Jolinda says:

    Oh Beth, if only those posers only knew they were the subject of our conversation in siesta-ville! I get a giggle every-time I think about it.

  12. 162
    Anonymous says:

    OK, so I’m a little late in responding. I was out of town last Friday through Sunday with my own precious daughters. Beth, before I went, I had kept up with the wedding plans and read with eager anticipation all the beautiful details, and looked at all the amazingly gorgeous photos. It made me so homesick for my daughters. We had this past weekend planned to meet in Longview, TX to attend the Feminar at Macedonia Baptist Church. My younger daughter lives in Longview, my older in OK, and I in MS. It was a wonderful, refreshing weekend. Ellie Lafarno and Phyllis Hendry both spoke, as well as Janet White from that local church. The singers were from my hometown here in MS. I love when I can spend time with my girls (boys too, though not nearly often enough). I want to thank you for just heightening my sense of anticipation in seeing my family. O how I praise God for His love and blessings. God’s blessings to you. Dee

  13. 163
    tracy l. says:

    Here is another woman moment…We are so BLESSED to be s simulcast site for August 1-2. (little ole Jacksonville, NC!!!) We were at a planning meeting last night, truely not knowing what we are doing. Which makes it all that much more FUN!. Of course, the planning committee decided that we had to have T-SHIRTS. No grand event is complete without a commerative T-shirt. I then shouted out an idea for the T-SHIRT “slogan”. “Blessed to Daughter of the KING and friend to Beth.” For some reason we all got the silliest giggles. We got so loud that our Education Minister had to come from another meeting down the hall to make sure we were OK. LOVE BEING A WOMAN!!!

  14. 164
    stephanie garcia says:

    As a newly arrived missionary on the field, I am looking forward to leading one of your studies with other missionary and ex-pat wives beginning next week. Lord willing, we will develop a “siesta”hood in Chile as well!

  15. 165
    The Preacher's Wife says:

    Hilarious…Sounds like my hubby at Starbucks. A group of us ‘old folks’ took our College Kids there after dinner one night. Us girls were all comfortable just hangin’, minglin’, chillin’, drinkin’ and my hubby and his cronies acted like they’d been dropped into Chick-ville without a clue on how to tap into their feminine side.

    They got happier when the next stop was, guess where, Marble Slab Creamery! šŸ™‚

  16. 166
    Kim Safina says:

    The Journey Continues ~

    I am on my way up to San Francisco this morning to spend a pleasure and shopping trip with my man. I plan on listening in on conversations at Starbucks! hehee
    Siesta’s, could you pray for our safety and if you are in the city, come on by corner of Pine and Powell atop Union Square. Williams Sonoma here I come! I am going to miss reading the siesta comments until I return this weekend. How was the honeymoon and recovery of the wedding celebration? Looking forward to reading Amanda and Beth~
    With “Heaven Bound” blessings,
    Kim Safina

  17. 167
    Jenn says:

    you are so right.. I am so glad that I am girl.. gifted with gab!! I am praying for you guys as things settle down for the wedding.. and you know there’s just something about the whole gabbing over coffee thing if you are a girl. Even as I live here in nepal and there is no starbucks to be found anywhere.. people are always sending me starbucks (praise God) and i find i can have the best conversations with God or girlfriends over a cup of that precious liquid.

  18. 168
    Cynthia P Faust says:

    Dear Beth,
    I do so treasure the fact that I am a woman and am graced with two female children, ages 20 & 21. I can hardly wait to talk on and on about weddings, grandestbabies, (mine will be the most wonderful, I am sure!!) and the like. Live it up with all these wonderful times, sugar. I, too, am educated but I come from the mountains of NC and I do love me some hillbilly southern charm!!

  19. 169
    Becky says:

    Well, how did this weird moment finally end for the two guys. I have never experienced anything like that. Most of the guys I know have no problem carrying on a conversation there is always something on their minds whether I care to be a part of it or not.
    But thank God for our gift of gab

    Becky
    Attalla, AL

  20. 170
    sammie says:

    It’s just that here on LPM Blog, we recognise that we are the body. It seems co-dependent in this worlds eyes, but we know that Christ’s world is upside down to this world.Amen

  21. 171
    Angela says:

    My husband read this and his comment is,
    “Sometimes we just want to drink coffee.”

    Typical, you can’t just drink coffee you have to chat too. They really are different from us.
    I love my husband.

  22. 172
    Stephanie Arnett says:

    Beth,
    You don’t need to post this but I just wanted you to know something. My husband is a youth pastor at a church in the Houston Area and I lead a small group of 10-12th grade girls. Many of them are severely dealing with rebellion and temptation currently. I am only 25 but I normally come on Tuesdays with three women ages 42,43, and 50. It’s so fun! Anyway, I feel like the Lord pressed it on me to bring several of my high school girls on Tuesday night, especially since this week is dealing with rebellion and obedience. I just wanted you to know because I trust what the Lord is doing through you and I am grateful and excited to lay “my girls” into the hands of Jesus for some good water from the word through you tomorrow night!

    Thank you,
    Stephanie Arnett

  23. 173
    Heather says:

    You know those guys went home and told their wives the “date” was “fine”…maybe even “great”!!!

    We went to a 40th birthday party for a man…during the party he thanked his friend…”for being such a good friend that they don’t even have to talk to each other”….what a friend!! Sooo funny. When we got home my husband was in awe! ĆƒÅ“

  24. 174
    Shellie Paparazzo says:

    That’s hilarious! Another thing that blows my mind is my husband will talk on the phone and as soon as he hangs up I ask him “So what did you talk about.” And he says, “I don’t know.” And it isn’t that he doesn’t want to tell me. Believe me he doesn’t have that deep of conversations! He’s not a woman after all! He just really doesn’t even remember! I’m like “Why do you even bother talking to anybody. What’s the point?” I mean, really, what a waste of time! If somebody knows why he bothers with relationships please let me know.

  25. 175
    Anonymous says:

    Beth,
    This made me think of my daughter, Grace, who talks nonstop. One day I asked her if she talked so much at school. She shook her head no. So I proceeded to say, “oh, so you save it all for me.” To which she smiled and said “Yes!”

    I covet your prayers for her right now. She is 7 and is having a colonscopy and endoscopy on Friday. She thinks it’s “cool” that they’re going to take pictures of her insides (plus she gets to miss school). Mama on the other hand is about as anxious as can be. I’m trusting God and relying on the prayers of many!

    Blessings,
    Kimberly

  26. 176
    Nicole says:

    Speaking of being a woman..

    My ladies’ bible study is starting the updated A Woman’s Heart study tonight! I’m super excited!

  27. 177
    Anonymous says:

    Oh Beth – Thank you, thank you, thank you to you and Amanda for sharing your lives with us – we are all blessed! It is so fun to hear from all of you just like we were sitting with you and talking. I just love it! I do not get tired of wedding info – what a beautiful bride Melissa was – especially since her beauty is not just skin deep.
    This last post made me laugh out loud after a very long day at work! How in the world did you keep quiet? Bless their hearts – if only those two guys had known what they could have learned from you! Maybe God will bring them back to your table on another day – wouldn’t that be interesting?!
    Even though we all have trying times – isn’t it something that God has given us each other to share with, cry with, laugh with, and love Him!

  28. 178
    Shelly says:

    Dying laughing…I’m thinking my typing would have gotten faster and faster the more the silence remained.

    Bless ‘their’ hearts šŸ™‚

  29. 179
    Mommy Dot Com says:

    Beth, you made my week! Don’t think for a second that I am not marching down to my local Starbucks and annoucing to everyone in that place that I have been offically named “cusomer of the week” by the LPM siestas. I live in the buckle of the Bible belt so I expect the magnitude of this honor to be perceived. In these parts if someone happens to overhear you haven’t heard of Beth Moore they gasp until they turn deep blue. Beth Moore mentioning you by name in her blog gets you a write up in the paper. Starbucks will be a puddle of tears for erasing my name from that board. They just didn’t realize I was a siesta, that’s their problem!

  30. 180
    krisyoursis says:

    Beth–you have just blogged a perfect sermon illustration for Emerson Eggerichs to use in his next “Love and Respect” live seminar! In both his book and his public teaching, he discusses how women thrive on “face-to-face” interaction, while men need “shoulder-to-shoulder” interaction. He says studies show that guys are actually capable of more intimate conversations than girls…as long as the guys aren’t forced to have them face-to-face and can communicate while doing something shoulder-to-shoulder. He says women confront to connect, but men confront to conquer…so when guys are sitting face-to-face in a coffeehouse environment, it is extremely awkward for them because they either don’t want to be conquered, or they have enough respect for their male buddy that they don’t want him to feel like the object of a conquest. Anyway, Emerson frequently discusses in the book and teaching why men have great difficulty with the coffee house thing. Having just been through the Love & Respect Bible study with my husband, we both had a good chuckle over your blog–it’s just more proof that God made men and women so very differently…and we can praise Him for the balance those differences can bring to our lives when we choose to embrace them and to interact with our men according to God’s precepts. Bless you for this blog–as a sahm who rarely gets out of the house for more than a trip to the supermarket or the treadmill at the Y, it is such a blessing to have some conversations with women using words other than: “no,” “stop,” “go potty?” and “all-the-way-right-away-and-with-a-happy-heart,” (which is what I seem to say at least 100 times a day while communicating the importance of obedience to my children) Can’t wait to worship and study with you in Jacksonville in a few weeks!

  31. 181
    Anonymous says:

    Beth,
    Indeed, what a gift both you and AJ to bring to life thoughts, feelings, images, and love.
    Thank you for including all of us in this most precious of times. I laughed, I cried, I prayed…..I loved every minute of it.
    How is it that He knows just what I need to hear……Love Big you said…….how that speaks to my heart right now. Thank you, thank you.
    And I absolutely adore being a woman…..Jesus, You knew exactly what you were doing, no doubt about it!
    Hugs, love, and blessings,
    bethany

  32. 182
    Jenn23 says:

    Posers! That’s funny! Because if they were true coffee enthusiasts then they would have been able to talk about the coffee if nothing else. But I can see you sitting at your computer sweating it out with them! šŸ™‚

  33. 183
    Anonymous says:

    STARBUCKS Alert for 2/26/08.

    I heard on the radio this morning that all Starbuck’s will be closed between 5:30pm and 8:30pm Tuesday February 26 for employee training. All you Starbucks addicts drink up before 5:30. šŸ™‚

  34. 184
    NHizName says:

    You are so precious! I just love it that you’re so open with everyone! Thanks for sharing your life with all of us!
    And, yes, I’m glad I am a woman, too! Glad that God made us the way He did. PTL!

    Your Siesta in Christ!
    Janice

  35. 185
    vspain says:

    I was blwon away by the first bible study i went to that was one of yours… I absolutely love the fact that you are one of those women whom I have never meant but I feel like you are a bosom buddy. I love your sense of humor and the way you reach out to us when you teach… You are such an inspiring person. I am reminded of all of this after reading your blog and the women that flock to you on it! It is a beautiful thing that we women can sit down and be instafriends with ppl we have not actually met… That, I believe is one of the things that holds humanity together – Men can’t do it, God love them! And I have another theory, maybe the gentlemen were actually set up on a husband play-date by their wives… I am guilty of doing such to mine as he is very antisocial, and I am a woman. LOL Poor fellas knew nothing about each other but they had to kill 2 hours! LOL God bless! šŸ˜€

  36. 186
    Anonymous says:

    My husband and I are in a study at church using the book “Love and Respect”. The author keeps saying “not wrong, just different!” to describe men and women. I’m so thankful for the godly women in my life who tend to see things thru the same pink glasses and pink hearing aids as I do!

  37. 187
    Elaine says:

    Sometimes we need to read things that just make us laugh…..and this one made me Laugh out Loud and I really need to laugh today!!!

    Thanks Beth for sharing your time with us.

  38. 188
    AMENMom says:

    Egads Beth, have you heard about the nationwide Starbucks shutdown?! Looks like it will be during your Tuesday night Bible study though, praise the Lord!

    http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/25/news/companies/starbucks/index.htm?cnn=yes

    Nancy

  39. 189
    Anonymous says:

    Quick note: Beth,LPM,and Living Proof Live Crew,
    Praying for you all this weekend-have a blessed time in Canada:)

    katiegfromtennessee

    P.S. i think i will be able to watch the simulcast in August-looking forward to it-will pray for that too:)

  40. 190
    Sharon Brumfield says:

    Dear Beth…..
    Just wondering how you were doing without both your girls.
    Seems like your heart must be a little tender right about now.:)
    Praying for you.
    A sister

  41. 191
    Rachel Cox says:

    Beth, Amanda, Melissa… dear ones… Starbucks will be closed today at 5:30 for all employees to take a course on how to make a better espresso. šŸ˜‰ I know, I can’t believe it either, but it was on the news, so it must be true, right?! (Did you catch the sarcasm there?) I just didn’t want you to waste that precious gas and then be ever so disappointed when you discovered it is true.

    Have a blessed, even if it is Starbucks free, evening!

  42. 192
    Anonymous says:

    BETH!! Have you heard?!-

    “Starbucks said it will close its 7,100 U.S. stores at 5:30 p.m. local time (today, Feb. 26th) for an employee “re-training” session. Stores with evening hours will re-open at 9 p.m.”

  43. 193
    Anonymous says:

    Seriously, about Starbucks closing today for 3 hours, read about it at:

    http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/pressdesc.asp?id=835

  44. 194
    Anonymous says:

    I posted once, but my son and I have emerged from lockdown in the kitchen from potty bootcamp and are happier(we were pretty successful). I just finished our weekly Tea Time Tuesday with my five year old daughter and I was thinking about girl things, Melissa moving, etc. So Moore ladies, when you can reconnect, a neat place to visit in GA is down I-75 toward Macon. Get off on the Juliette Rd exit and you’ll go close to 20 miles to the east where you’ll have the wonderful pleasue of eating at The Whistle Stop Cafe in Juliette- the same as in the very “glad to be a woman” movie, Fried Green Tomatoes (didn’t you once quote a piece on armadillos by a young Amanda, Beth? Digressing- just thought of the groom’s cake). ANYWAY, fun little outing before/after watching the classic again, and the Macon mall is lovely. Enjoy GA, Melissa- my groom married me in Jonesboro, GA and then we were off to AK…albeit the darkest time of the year! Blessings- T.G.

  45. 195
    Amy T says:

    Those poor, poor men! I have to admit though that I got my gift of gab from my Daddy, not my Momma. She was very quiet. One day, my sister and I were in the front of the car just jabbering away and she was in the back with my older brother (who is quiet like her). Hardly a word was spoken back there. Finally, she leaned up and told us, “I’m glad you two have each other to talk too, so I don’t have to!”

  46. 196
    Tealady Tammy says:

    I love this entry and love being a woman. We are just honest siestas loving each other to death.

    love yall
    Tammy

  47. 197
    Anonymous says:

    I’m glad to be a woman too! And what a community of women. It refreshes my heart to have a place to share. Obviously, the guys were more about the coffee! We women are more about the relationship AND the coffee! šŸ™‚

  48. 198
    Anonymous says:

    U & P, glad to see Melissa is getting some more attention. I was feeling like she was quite neglected! hehe. šŸ™‚
    Just say no to “sniffing”…and hooray for back tickles! AND i’m glad to have my non-Houston hair back. Mama’s always right…she did warn me about that Houston hair! šŸ™‚ much love…

  49. 199
    bunny h says:

    Beth, I love the way that you make the most of every moment of life and savor it instead of overlooking it! I love to do the same.
    I wanted to say on behalf of all of us Siestas in the Atlanta area,we lovingly welcome your baby girl and her hubby and please let them know that we are all here for them if they ever need us. All you gotta do is blog for help! :~)
    I wonder if they will be ITP’s or OTP’s. Inside The perimeter (I 285) or Outside The Perimeter.I am an OTP but I work ITP. So, maybe we may have a Beth and Melissa sighting in one of our many Starbucks in the area!! That would be a blast!! I’ll be keeping my eyes pealed!!

  50. 200
    Julia says:

    I would have HAD to have said something! Makes me want to go to a coffee shop today:)

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