By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer
I have a black button-pin with white letters that say: “Well-behaved women rarely make history.” The round pin was left anonymously in my campus mailbox when I taught Creative Writing at Pueblo Community College. A reminder that March was Women’s History Month.
What a great story prompt it was. But the catchy phrase did more than what it was intended to do. It reminded me of women who didn’t make history but made a difference in the lives of those around them—in spite of being well-behaved.
Isn’t this what we want in our own lives? To have an impact on our family and see people change for the better because of our presence and our beliefs?
Scripture mentions one such woman simply as the mother of King Lemuel. She counseled her son on how to be a wise ruler, and he credited her for the advice found in Proverbs 31:1-9. Some scholars believe Lemuel may have been another name for King Solomon who wrote the book of Proverbs.
The remainder of Chapter 31 describes the character of a woman who makes a difference to those around her, and Christian women today still look to these words for guidance. Several blessings conclude the chapter, one of which is:
Her children rise up and called her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her.
Proverbs 31:28
Among biblical women who do not appear to be well-behaved is Job’s wife who encouraged him to “Curse God and die” (Job 2:9). Not exactly a phrase I want to be remembered for. Was she suffering from watching her husband’s suffering? Was she saying, “Enough is enough!”?
Then we have Lot’s wife. What kind of encouragement and instruction did she give her daughters? Had she demonstrated how to trust God? I wonder, since they took circumstances into their own hands in such an ungodly way. You can read about it in Genesis 19:15-38.
Whether we are making history or not, let’s remember that we have a purpose and God has a plan for our lives. Fame and recognition will never measure up to what the Creator has in mind for us. He sees us, and we are His precious daughters.
May we be women who make a difference in the lives of our families and others, not just this month, but every day.
“You are the God who sees me.”
Genesis 16:13
~
*For some interesting articles about women in history, check out this Library of Congress page.
Making a difference Share on X
After clearing the supper dishes, Jessica sat close to Corra’s reading chair, clearly anticipating more from the story of Esther. Joe and Pop also waited expectantly, but Josiah went outside. Corra’s heart shrank with loss.
She cut her reading short, ending with, “And if I perish, I perish.” Closing her Bible, she took a chance. “Pop, would you mind saying an evening prayer for us, since Josiah is outdoors and. . .and. . .”
“Sure thing, Miss Corra.”
“Pa’s got his hackles up about something.” Joe uncrossed his long legs and stretched them out in front of him as he gave her a quick look. “Anything happen in town?”
Corra let out a deep sigh. “Not that I know of. Everything seemed just fine on the ride in, other than the passing stage I mentioned earlier. But after he picked me up at the boardinghouse, he didn’t say a word. And not a word all the way home.”
“Nor at the table, either.” Jessica pulled a braid over her shoulder and twirled the end in her fingers.
“That much more reason to pray.” Pop scooted to the edge of his rocker, folded his bent hands, and bowed his head. “Thank You, Lord, for this ranch and this family and this fine woman You sent to share with us from the Good Book. Jerk the slack out o’ Josiah or heal up the hole in his heart. Amen.”
Corra rolled her lips around an exclamation. In all her life she’d not heard such a pointed and heartfelt prayer. ~The Wrangler’s Woman
Inspirational Western Romance – where the hero is heroic.
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