Wise enough to listen

Titus 2: 3-5 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

I love this passage of scripture, you may notice it is in the title of the blog…in the Bible study that I am leading right now Beth Moore talked about the older ladies and honored them in a wonderful way and it brought tears to my eyes.

I have been pondering the many women who have greatly influenced my life. I remember when I agreed to lead this study I fully expected just a group of my peers and younger to attend. Boy was I shocked when I saw the diversity of age and backgrounds of the women who decided to join this study. I was humbled and terrified speechless that first week, someone else stood in the gap and led us in prayer. But, I am so very grateful for this wonderfully, diverse group of ladies that God brought together for our study.

 From a very young age I took to older women.  From wonderful grandmothers and aunts and family friends I learned to love listening to stories about earlier times and ways.  The world would find a way to misalign that and say I had mommy issues or something…but the truth is, I have always loved the stories of days gone by. There are the stories of triumph in difficulty, the stories of floundering to find their own way as I have too, and the wisdom that comes with age and experience.  These are invaluable for those of us still travelling those roads.

 I am so very thankful to the women who found me worthy enough to pour some of themselves and their knowledge into who I am and who I will be. And I just wanted to encourage younger women to have a diverse group of people close to your heart and in your life. And wiser ladies, please understand that what you have to give and share with us is incredibly valuable and we need your encouragement. Don’t feel like what you have to say and give is outdated or in any way useless. Times are different, but the desires of a woman’s heart: to be loved, to be a good wife and mom, those are timeless. And we need women to look up to who have gone before us, who have fought in the trenches and have overcome, people who won’t sugarcoat the responsibilities and difficulties of marriage, but will share some of their biggest defeats and biggest triumphs candidly.  Sometimes even when we don’t think we need this guidance.  Perhaps then most of all.  We all need encouragement and hope, a helping hand, a kind heart – just like in the scripture above.