An Ordinary Woman and Humility
“Too much pride can put you to shame. It’s wiser to be humble.” (Proverbs 11:2 Contemporary English Version)
I strode to the information desk at my church and smiled at the man behind the counter. “I was told there’s a gift left for me back there somewhere.” He furrowed his brow and asked for my name. He rummaged through papers and boxes as I explained that I hadn’t been able to attend the leaders’ dinner last Thursday and our Women’s Ministry leader told me she had a gift for me at the information desk. Occasionally, in the past, Mary Ann had given me gift cards for Starbucks or a manicure after I’d written questions for a book we used that particular semester.
Overhearing my explanation, a woman behind the desk showed him a pile of thin booklets that had a note on top. She handed me one of the booklets. I was confused. “I think there’s a gift bag somewhere for me. You see, I wrote questions for one of the studies they used and I think Mary Ann had a gift for me as well.” They looked some more, but could find nothing. I thanked them and walked away. There must be some mistake. There had to be something else. They just weren’t looking hard enough. But…
Read MoreAn Ordinary Woman and the Peace of God
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.(Philippians 4:6-7 New International Version)
I’ve been pursuing the peace that “transcends all understanding” most of my life. I’ve had glimpses of it and imagine it’s what heaven will be like—only about a million times better.
Read MoreWHAT DO YOU MEAN ORDINARY?!
What is an ordinary woman? She’s a woman just like you and me. It doesn’t matter where you live, whether you’re married, single, widowed, or divorced, have children or not, have money or not. There are certain things that all women everywhere experience and feel. We all have to learn how to cope with growing up in an environment that is basically a man’s world. Unfortunately, for some women, it’s a very cruel world that offers little freedom. But basically, we all deal with the same fears—like will we find a husband who loves us, the fears of giving birth, and then the fears we feel for the safety and health of our children. And, particularly if single, widowed, or divorced, the fears of being alone, how will we make a living, and who will take care of us in our old age. These are some of the common threads that tie us together. Women know how to transcend history, genetics, and environment. Women know the language of the heart.
Exploring the Faith of America's Presidents