To Everything There is a Season

I enjoyed reading an article in the March 9, 2009, issue of People magazine highlighting Michelle Obama's initial views on acclimating to the role of First Lady of the United States. I was particularly impressed with her ability to establish a very clear vision and comfort level with her new role, which includes serving as mom-in-chief and helpmate to her husband in these initial months of the new administration.

I must admit that during the early months of the campaign my first impressions of her, which were wrong, had me a little concerned. I was afraid that her desire to be seen as an intelligent African American woman that was equal to her husband meant she would feel the need to say and do things that would come across as perhaps disrespectful or condescending.

I now believe that Mrs. Obama is a role model for so many of us, not only African Americans, that are trying to balance our roles of motherhood, career and wife. She is showing us that "to everything there is a season," and sometimes the "season" requires that we focus less on our own career and place more focus on serving in that critical role of helpmate to our spouse. And to do so does not diminish who we are as a person. In some ways, it may even magnify for others to see the many wonderful characteristics such as intelligence, compassion, love, wisdom, wit and humor that were always there.