From the moment we were created, there has been something special about women. Don’t get me wrong, men are special, too, but from the beginning woman has been unique. Of course, for either gender, special does not always mean good. God created us with a mind of our own – theologians call it “free will,” and we have certainly used that free will to do some very damaging things.
Our women’s Bible study group has just finished the Bad Girls of the Bible series by Liz Curtis Higgs. The study was entertaining and enlightening, and caused us to search our hearts deeply to discover what we could do better. And while we learned much, the best part of the study was just that – the study. The fellowship we shared, the trust that was built, the candor in which we revealed our feelings helped us to grow as people of God. We learned that we have a distinctive way of viewing life; something that was born in us, a distinctive way to worship, serve and praise God as only women can.
We are daughters, sisters, wives, mothers, grandmothers, and friends. Men, too, wear many different hats, but the nurturing nature that God placed in us is individual to us as women, and I thank Him for that. The Bible records the lives of many women set apart so that we may know of God’s goodness. I think of Sarah, the mother of nations; Rahab, who aided Joshua’s army; the faithfulness of Ruth and the courage of Esther. Mary Magdalene announced that “He is risen”; Dorcus was full of good works; Lydia and Pricilla carried the good news of Jesus; Eunice and Lois, the mother and grandmother, were so faithful that Paul cited them as an example for Timothy. And of course, there is Mary the Mother of Jesus who knew from the beginning that her precious Son was to be the sacrifice for the world.
We are special in God’s eyes, and that carries a big responsibility. Jesus says in Matthew 10:8, “Freely you have received; freely give.” Thankfully, at least for the women I know, this is easy. We give to others daily, of our talents, our resources and our hearts. And again He says in Matthew 13:12, “Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance.” God is with us, filling us with His grace and mercy, so that we will be equipped to give to others.
Proverbs 31 extols the virtues of a woman of noble character, and while it may be hard, even impossible to live up to that standard, we can rest in the assurance that God is with us always, guiding our hearts and our thoughts, forgiving us when we fail, picking us up and setting us, again, on the right path. Glory be to God!
Helen Schindler
ABWM-Wyoming
President |
|
-Read past thoughts-
