Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. [Proverbs 31:10]
Tammy is now a mother of three, and all her children are active in Sunday School. Her daughter is excellent when it comes to public speaking and reciting, even though she is only seven or so. It happened when Tammy, then an honor roll student in Sunday school was called upon to name the books of the New Testament. Holding the microphone firmly in her hand, Tammy began: "Ladies and gentlemen, these are the names of the books of the New Testament", and in a sing-song voice she began, "Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, ask the woman".
Can I tell you - the whole church erupted into laughter. Tammy had called "Acts" and "Romans", "ask the woman". And now that I look at it, many years hence, many of the problems that plague our land will have to be brought to the attention of the women of this land.
In our selected scripture today, King Lemuel's mother gives him a lesson from a woman's perspective on becoming a man. She reminded him that for nine months she carried him in her womb, and promised God that she would bring him up in the way that he should go. She warned him in Proverbs 31:3 not to give his responsibility unto women and be no part of the plot to destroy leadership. We need women who will mend a family, rather than break a family.
The king had a good mother and prayed that others would be likewise blessed - not mothers who would tell their daughters to bring shame and disgrace on others, but women who would stand tall for God, decency, dignity and decorum - women who would walk down the aisle for love and not spite.
Proverbs is calling for women who will earn the respect of their families and the love of their husbands for their womanly deeds and loyalty, women who would be called blessed rather than be cursed, women who know what it is to be kind to their mothers-in-law and in-laws, on the whole. Proverbs calls for women who will stand tall for God, country and the entire brotherhood; it calls for women who will teach their daughters how to be good wives and caring mothers and women who, at the workplace, would be peacemakers, rather than strife dealers.
Who can find a virtuous woman? Look in the mirror today, sister, and in being honest with yourself. Ask if you are a woman on whom God can depend in these last and evil days. Are you that virtuous woman who can withstand the fiery darts of the wicked and flee from temptation when it approaches? Are you that virtuous woman who will be your sister's keeper and not her love stealer?
Today, women, let us be caring and not contemptuous; give and not count the cost. Do not let power go to our heads and feet to trample over others. Let us allow our husbands and significant others be the heads, as Christ is the head of the church. Let us be good here, there and everywhere. Let us read our Bibles, pray every day and weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice.
God, I thank you. Your spirit is moving through our land. Arise, oh women of God, daughters of Jerusalem. Put on your beautiful garments of leadership, praise and goodwill. God has deposited in you all that it takes to become our virtuous woman. It is yours for the keeping if only you will stir up the wonderful, divine and powerful gift within you.
o E-mail rubyanndarling@yahoo.com, or write to P.O. Box 19725 SS Nassau, Bahamas with your prayer requests, concerns and comments. God's blessings!

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