This weekend I’ll be attending a huge convention (8 hours away!) to hear encouragement and to get instruction in my current calling. I am a mom of four and homeschooling two of them. I will be traveling with a woman who has more experience than I in mothering and homeschooling – a just slightly older woman.
I have been blessed by many older women in my walk with Jesus. Both women who are a generation older and women who are just a few years older. All of them sent by God to instruct, to encourage, to gently correct. All of them loving me in their own unique
“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 train 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.” Titus 2:12 (NIV)
By age I am no longer a young woman, yet I am not an old woman. I still in many ways identify with the young woman described in Titus. Maybe because I am still raising my children. I can certainly improve in the areas identified for the younger women.
I also hope to one day be the older woman. The woman who will be a blessing from God to younger women. The woman who takes a younger woman by the hand and says:
“Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.” Psalm 34:3 (NIV)
All of these things made possible only by and through the grace of God.
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…” Titus 2:12 (NIV)
My bible notes that the word translated “teaches” in this verse refers to more than instruction. It includes the whole process of training a child – instruction, encouragement, correction and discipline.
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for teaching me how to be a godly woman. Thank you for the people and experiences that you have given me to instruct, encourage, correct and discipline me. Thank you for older women who have helped me. At the right time, place younger women in my path who I can help to train in your ways. Amen
Diona
Sixty-six books in a year 