I recently read this book. It was refreshing to have an older woman impart godly wisdom to me as a younger wife and mother. There isn't enough of that in Christian churches. As a pastor's wife, I have seen, up close and personal, the absence of women who obey Titus 2:3-5 (ESV):
Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
The problem oddly mirrors our culture's obsession with youth. Women look younger and younger each year with the help of talented plastic surgeons and fancy spa treatments. I'm not saying all of that's a bad thing, but the sad part is that the inner spirits of most older women look just as immature.
Most of the Bible studies I have taught were comprised of women from young to old. I always felt uncomfortable teaching the older women, but at the same time, I felt they were needed in the class to impart godly wisdom to us. It happened occasionally, but not like it should. What usually occurs is the younger women teach the younger and the older women teach the older. How is that biblical?
At the end of last year, I needed advice from godly women. Instead, most older women who knew the details of my troubles told me to call it quits with my husband, turned a blind eye to our situation, or--the worst--completely abandoned me. No older woman was telling me to love my husband as Christ loves him. How confusing for me to read about Hosea pursuing Gomer with a sacrificial love and then be told to walk away from my vows. Consequently, I turned to two godly men for advice, one a pastor and one a counselor. I shared personal details with these men putting myself in a vulnerable position because so many of the older women in my life abandoned God's command in Titus. (FYI: I praise God for the godly advice from those men who did not take advantage of me. They were instruments of the Holy Spirit in my life to reconcile and restore my marriage.)
If you are offended as you read this, I pray that you will examine whether or not that is God's way of convicting you. The younger ladies need you, and we don't think you aren't cool, hip, fly, or ______ (insert slang word of your choice). We crave your wisdom and your guidance. Please don't think we should do church and family work alone because we are younger and have more energy. In reality, we are more exhausted and need your help so that we won't make a mess of it all!
Where were you, ladies? Where are you, ladies? Please teach us. And I pray I will teach the younger women when I am older. I pray I won't disappear also.
Most of the Bible studies I have taught were comprised of women from young to old. I always felt uncomfortable teaching the older women, but at the same time, I felt they were needed in the class to impart godly wisdom to us. It happened occasionally, but not like it should. What usually occurs is the younger women teach the younger and the older women teach the older. How is that biblical?
At the end of last year, I needed advice from godly women. Instead, most older women who knew the details of my troubles told me to call it quits with my husband, turned a blind eye to our situation, or--the worst--completely abandoned me. No older woman was telling me to love my husband as Christ loves him. How confusing for me to read about Hosea pursuing Gomer with a sacrificial love and then be told to walk away from my vows. Consequently, I turned to two godly men for advice, one a pastor and one a counselor. I shared personal details with these men putting myself in a vulnerable position because so many of the older women in my life abandoned God's command in Titus. (FYI: I praise God for the godly advice from those men who did not take advantage of me. They were instruments of the Holy Spirit in my life to reconcile and restore my marriage.)
If you are offended as you read this, I pray that you will examine whether or not that is God's way of convicting you. The younger ladies need you, and we don't think you aren't cool, hip, fly, or ______ (insert slang word of your choice). We crave your wisdom and your guidance. Please don't think we should do church and family work alone because we are younger and have more energy. In reality, we are more exhausted and need your help so that we won't make a mess of it all!
Where were you, ladies? Where are you, ladies? Please teach us. And I pray I will teach the younger women when I am older. I pray I won't disappear also.
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