Journey of the Word

Dear Woman of the Word,

Have you ever stopped to consider the godly women in your life? Have you named them, one by one, and pondered their impact? Have you noted their age, stage of life, spiritual maturity, passions, giftings, strengths, and weaknesses, and asked yourself what you could learn from them? And as a woman in their lives, have you taken the responsibility that may be yours to pass along the wisdom God has given you?

During a unique afternoon in the park, an idea came to me, and I paused to make a list {a common habit of mine}.

May I challenge you to do the same? Take a piece of scrap paper and a pencil, and make a list.

In one column, list the names of Christian women in your life who are older than you. And by “Christian women in your life,” I mean ladies who connect with you on a regular basis and have the standing to represent Christ before your eyes and to speak truth into your soul.

In the second column, list the names of those godly women in your life who are younger than you. Women whom you have the blessed opportunity to train or to influence.

Finally, add an asterisk to those who are married. And an additional asterisk to those who have children.

And now consider:

OLDER WOMEN

Reverent in behavior. What kind of behavior do you see? For lessons are learned either way. And you – you must chose to walk as those who behave in a reverent manner. For this is pleasing to the Lord.

Not slanderers. Prevalent and expected, to be sure, but you must not follow suit. You may have to search far and wide for living examples. But then, they may be near you and you just haven’t noticed. Because those who refuse to slander tend to sit quietly by in the midst of all the clammer and all the noise.

Not slaves to much wine. My personal interpretation here? I’m aiming high so that “slave to too much wine” could never be said of me. And I’m following after women of God who do the same.

Teach what is good. If you’re wondering what is good, you might start with the Bible. And if I were you, I’d stick to that. Teach that. And learn from that.

Train the younger women. This profound mentoring plan happens to work beautifully. Maybe because God designed it. Your church not follow this plan? Be the change. Search for older women who will train you and younger women whom you can train. You don’t have to wait for the pastor to coordinate it or for someone else to implement the idea. Just do. {And if you’re wondering what to train those younger women, keep reading.}

YOUNGER WOMEN

Love their husbands and children. From wives and mothers older and younger than myself, I have abundant opportunities to learn how to love my husband and children well. I don’t have a husband or children. That doesn’t keep me from loving them well now.

Self-controlled. This word “self-controlled” tends to show up a lot in the Bible. Perhaps that’s because it’s one of the most difficult commands to obey. And perhaps that’s why we need older women in our lives to help us. And perhaps that’s why younger women need us to help them.

Pure. The purity battle wages on in every thought, word, and deed. With those who have been there, done that, and with those who make us look like veterans in the war, we must press on in the high and holy quest for purity.

Working at home. Post forthcoming on this topic. But for now, I’ll leave you with this question: What does it mean for a woman to “work at home”? {Because that is what it says.}

Kind. While this may seem obvious and simple, consider the kindness of the women in your life. And consider how easy it is to be unkind when someone else is at fault or when the situation “deserves” it.

Submissive to their own husbands. Biblical submission is beautiful and glorious. And from what I hear, it’s crazy difficult at times. So I’m looking for women who will show me how it’s done.

These 11 Lessons brought to you by Titus 2. Sure, we can debate what all of these things mean and whom should really be considered an “older” or “younger” woman in our lives. But if you’ll examine Paul’s letter to Titus with your list of godly women nearby, you might actually live this passage instead of merely reading it or memorizing it. Because it just so happens the Word is meant to be lived.

But before I leave you to your list, I must say “thank you” to the women in my life, past and present, who have taught me well. Women who knew me and women of whom I could only read. Women who may not realize I’m watching. Women who have spoken and women who graciously continue to listen. And as for those women who are younger than myself and who have looked to me for wisdom? I am reminded that any good I teach can only come from the Great Teacher himself.

And though my own biological mother, grandmothers, and sisters may seemingly outshine them all, the most beautiful reality is that I owe the wisdom of my days to dear “mothers,” “grandmothers,” and “sisters” which number in the thousands. Together, may we continue to learn, live, and teach well.

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Titus 2:3-5

{For any men who were brave enough to read the entirety of this post, check out your version in Titus 2:2, 6.}

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