There’s an oft repeated quote that says, “Strong women, may we know them, may we raise them, may we be them,” author unknown. I understand the sentiment. To an extent, I even agree. But on this International Women’s Day, here’s what I would like to add . . .
I don’t want to just raise a strong woman. I don’t want to just be a strong woman. I want to raise a Godly woman. I want to be a Godly woman. To live a life that first and foremost serves and brings glory to my Savior. I want to remember every single day that it is in my weakness His power is made perfect, and I am not required to, nor I am I truly capable of, being strong in my own right. I want to look to the women of the bible as my role models . . . Ruth, Esther, Mary, Deborah, Abigail, Dorcas, Jochebed, Rahab . . . perfectly, imperfect . . . yet willing to stand and serve God when called upon.
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
In a world and a culture, that doesn’t see the value of being a wife and a mother . . . that doesn’t realize that there is so much beauty in who God created us to be as women . . . that believes that to dedicate your life to caring for your family is settling for less than . . . I want to emulate the Proverbs 31 wife and mother. I want bring my husband good and not harm. I want to be hard working and wise and a servant to my family, but above all, I want to fear the Lord. I say basically this same thing every year on this day, but with each passing year I find these words from Proverbs even more impactful and true. This is what and who I want to be, not only today but every day. I pray that among all the things that will mark my life here on this earth, the greatest will be that I am a woman who fears the Lord. That in all my weaknesses, His power is made perfect, and that more than anything else, my life will point to my Savior and bring glory to Him.
The Virtuous Wife
An excellent wife, who can find her?
For her worth is far above jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in
her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
She looks for wool and linen,
And works with her hands in
delight.
She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
And she rises while it is still night
And gives food to her household,
And portions to her attendants.
She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a
vineyard.
She surrounds her waist with strength
And makes her arms strong.
She senses that her profit is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
She stretches out her hands to
the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to
the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for
her household,
For all her household are
clothed with scarlet.
She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and
purple.
Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of
the land.
She makes linen garments and
sells them,
And supplies belts to
the tradesmen.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on
her tongue.
She watches over the activities of
her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and
bless her;
Her husband also, and he
praises her, saying:
“Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”
Charm is deceitful and beauty is
vain,
But a woman who fears the
LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the
gates.
Proverbs 31:10-31
Courtney's Contemplations . . . 