The contrast is one of the rewards of submission for me. Yes, in my everyday life I have a lot of responsibility, some I take on willingly, some which is foisted upon me. In submission to Him, I continue to have responsibility, but a different kind. And I truly don't believe He'd enjoy my submission to nearly the same extent if I were a "doormat". In fact, I don't think He'd have chosen me if I were. He likes strength of will - I think because He appreciates having the submission of a self-sufficient woman. It's confirmation that I make a conscious decision to submit to Him. That being said - please don't take from this the idea that He has to wrest my submission from me through some process of "taming". I give it voluntarily, hopefully with a minimum of fuss. Is there sometimes an internal struggle? Yes. And He sees it as proof that my desire to please Him overrides my usual desire to hide from others behind a mask. I have no mask, no mental/emotional defenses in place, no discomfort (except that which He chooses to create) and that's submission to me. Exposure of my inner self, acceptance of what I have to offer, joy in what He chooses to give, His determination to take even more...and an overwhelming desire and outright need to please Him.

And I do. He tells me so.