Sister or Sergeant?

     How many of you have been blamed for "being so bossy!" We are right with you in that boat. It seems that the fingers are always pointed to the older ones in this area, but there are plenty of younger sisters who would admit that they have been the recipients of the blame as well. Of course, we know good and well that it's not our fault; we just know when and why and how and who and what everybody needs to be doing--right?? And, our calls are always made in good, sound judgment, and IF we sound upset, it is ONLY because the utmost cooperation needed to carry out the proclaimed orders has not been manifested. So, when the subjects of our domain are whining that we are sitting on the throne too much, well, what would they expect at bootcamp? After all, our duty is to whip them into shape--right??

     Woe! Hold on, now! Take a seat and sip some tea; it is time that we sisters discover the true meaning of what it is to be a--Sister. Let me invite you to remove your Sergeant hat and open your eyes to the wonderful beauty of what God designed in a sister's influence.

Sisters~struggles and sometimes tears,

Sisters and friends throughout the years.

     The term "sister" has such a charming, soothing sound. It speaks of a closeness beyond the best of acquaintances. It speaks of heart connections, and an unbreakable bond. Best Friends Forever often refer to each other as "sisters". But, what makes such a term of endearment ring the bells of alarm and cause a girl to run for the door when her own biological sister enters the room and "disturbs her peace"? Why is such a name viewed with distain when a little brother tells his buddy that he has a sister, and when he is alone at his desk, hidden from the commotion of household frenzy, draws his sister on his coloring sheet as a monster? If such a name carries such a precious sound, why has it become so distorted and, thus, despised?

     Could it be that we, as sisters, have marred the lovely word by our actions, dragging it through the mud by our example? We hold ourselves up as though we deserve a high position, and forget that trust and respect have to be earned through servant-leadership. We tend to assume that honor is a birthright, and are ignorant to the fact that respect and trust are not titles that can be automatically prescribed. It goes back to what Jesus instructed and taught His disciples in Matthew 23:10-12, "Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." 

    So, what does a true, real sister look like? Here are a few descriptions that may help paint that picture for you. They may immediately remind you of your BFF, but try to put your own sibling's name in the blanks. Put yourself as "that sister" being described, and your little brother, or younger sister, as the "you/your". These quotes are taken from the little book Sisters as Friends, Friends as Sisters by Roxie Kelley. (This would make a great gift for your friend...or sister! :)

"A sister rarely sees our imperfections, but when she does, she somehow finds them to be endearing."

"You know you have a real sister when good feelings and kindnesses tumble out of her effortlessly in your presence."

"A sister is gentle with her humor. She laughs from deep within, and not just from her mouth."

"A sister never joins your inner critic; she is your most fearless defender against that foe."

"Sisters reserve time for each other...not just leftover time, but first-rate, first-pick, first-class time...and they look forward to this time together and hold it close to their hearts."

"A sister reminds us, no matter what the problem love is always the solution."

   A beautiful poem that we feel so accurately describes the endearing place of "Sister" is found in a unique book called Moral Lessons of Yesteryear. Written by an unknown author, it is titled, "Wanted, A Girl": 

The girls that are wanted are good girls--

Girls that are mother's right hand,

That fathers and brothers can trust in,

And the little ones can understand.

Girls that are fair on the hearthstone,

And pleasant when nobody sees;

Kind and sweet to their own folk,

Ready and anxious to please.

Girls that are wanted are wise girls,

That know what to do and to say;

That drive with a smile or soft word

The wrath of the household away.

The girls that are wanted are good girls--

Good from the heart and the lips;

Pure as the lily is white and pure

From its heart to its sweet leaf-tips.

   With that inspiration, here are a few tips we have gleaned along the way, learning by trial and error, yet which have helped us uncover the secrets to being true "sisters" in our home. As hard as it is at times, we must remember...

1.) Stop Sign vs. Police Man  
We are not our siblings' parent! As much as we feel that we are the ones to make the appropriate training happen, and even though there is a place to remind, give advice, warn (which is different from threatening, but that may be discussed at a later time) or even correct under the proper authority, we as sisters must remember that the ultimate responsibility of raising our siblings is not on our shoulders. Since the vast majority of us would agree that we seem to be quite practiced at dishing out orders and "ending unreasonable behavior", it will do ourselves, as well as our families, good to realize the importance of, and heed Proverbs 26:17 ~ "He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears." Most of the time, we end up jumping into a frey only to be tackled and bitten in the end, when it may not have been our responsibility to intervene in the first place. Yes, the Bible does say, "blessed are the peacemakers", but often we do not take enough time to really consider what would bring the most peace--us "grabbing the dog" and trying to solve every problem, or allowing them to grow and learn--even through a few hard knocks. 

So, what does all this have to do with stop signs and policemen? Glad you asked! Lets say you are driving down the road. You come to a stop sign. But, instead of stopping, you just drive right on through. Well, Miss Stop-Sign knows that such is against the law, so she decides that due judgment must be administered and takes off after you. With screeching sirens and glaring lights, she tracks you down, tackles your car and shoves a ticket in your face saying, "You just ran the stop sign, which is against the law--and worse yet, you did it right in front of the policeman!!" Most likely, you would be of the mind to shout right back, "Well, Missy, you're not the policeman!" (Sound similar to that common phrase which rings so often in our ears, "You're not my boss!"??)
Okay, that is pretty far out. No stop sign would be chasing after a trespassing vehicle. But why not? Because, it is only set there as a reminder, not an enforcer. In the same way, we sisters should not completely drop the ball in helping to encourage good behavior and right conduct in the lives of our siblings, but we must remember that we are only the "stop signs" if you will; our parents are the policemen so to speak. It is our job to hold up the standards set, but not our jurisdiction to perform the so-called-for discipline. (I am sometimes reminded of the verse in Scripture--look it up, it's Romans 12:19.) 

2.) We must let them grow!

I think this would probably be the hardest of all: letting them grow into maturity. If you are the oldest, or close to the top of the line, this is one thing that you did not have to wade through as a younger sibling, but it is something you still had to achieve--growing up. Often times, the process of growing into the shoes of adulthood can appear to be rather entertaining from a younger perspective. But when you are the older one, the up and coming younger ones may come across as a little threatening to your own place of prominent position as they grow in maturity. After all, they just might pass you up! (That's scary!) It is only when we recognize that we are a team--put together by God to accomplish a task with the different gifts and abilities that God has given each one of us--that we can learn to accept and receive the growing members of our family as fellow-workers and co-laborers. 

The hard realities and faults of micro-managing:

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is allow our siblings to fail. In desperation to see them succeed, most often we end up harming them more by trying to prevent them from discovering the results of their own decisions. We can encourage, and offer advice, but we must be careful to not take it personally when it is disregarded. If we offer our opinion from personal experience, we must remember that it is not against us if they do not heed it. We must show unconditional love regardless of whether or not our siblings choose what we think they should choose. The goal is to allow them the opportunity of coming to the conclusion, themselves, of what would be the right thing to do. When we consistently pour in our endless bits and pieces of opinions, we decrease their ability to think through decisions and come to wise conclusions on their own, and, ultimately, either turn them into programmed, obedient robots, or repel them off to "cut the apron strings" and find a life. Keep in mind that, most commonly, experience is the best teacher. 

3.) Be Genuine! 

"Don't walk in front of me, I will not follow; 

Don't walk behind me, I will not lead you; 

Just walk beside me and be my friend." 

(Unknown)

Our younger siblings look up to us with great admiration. But, oftentimes they do not know how to express their admiration except by wanting to be just like us, walking hand-in-hand with us. The greatest devastation that happens between siblings is the mis-understanding of communication, especially in love (from the older ones) and respect (from the younger ones). It took a rock-hard knock for me to learn this lesson, and perhaps I will share it in a later post. But, our siblings are not crying out for a "nice big sister", they long with all their hearts for a true, genuine friend. One who knows what they are going through, yet is there to walk with them through it. One who is always there for them, yet allows them to be there for her--even in small ways. One who loves them as a person, not just viewing them as go-to servants, or even "her ministry". One who will talk with them as a friend, and who can listen without always having to give "the answers". They want you to be their sister!

Awkward Moments

     I saw a quote recently that said, "Friendship is born at the moment one person says to another: 'What? You too! I thought I was the only one!'" (C. S. Lewis) So, I got one question that I want to make sure I'm not the only one in... Have you ever felt just plain awkward?

    Say, you and a person that you have barely met before are seated across the table from each other during a meal at a gathering. You are both enjoying (or supposedly trying to) the dinner of Sloppy Joe sandwiches. Neither of you are very talkative, so you just try to mind your own business--eating your sandwich. But with every other bite the sandwich remains true to its name--mostly due to the fact that you just got braces and are still getting the hang of eating with metal obstacles in your mouth. Pretty much, the whole time, you are thinking how you would SO not rather be there at the moment, and just as soon as you can make a dash to your 'forever pal', the words tumble out emphatically, "THAT was awkward!"

   You probably have that one (or more) person in your life that is just...well...a bit quirky--no, more like totally awkward. They seem to always be saying nonsense, acting like a chicken who can't get their act together, with a sense of "humorous" (or not so much) ditziness. What usually comes to your mind when you are showing your best friend around the school and "that person" comes toward you, once again doing his annoying antics? "AWKWARD!"

   Have you ever been performing, talking in front of a crowd, or anything else that had to do with being in front of people who are all sitting down looking at YOU, and something happened to make you goof up, fumble the ball, and flop "that one part"? What was your first response as soon as you stepped off stage and safely returned to the haven of your loyal friends? It probably sounded something like, "That was AWK-WARD!!" 

   We all make mistakes, mess up, and slip on key notes. But I remember the day my grandfather took me aside and reproved the "backward boasting". Backward boasting?? Wasn't that frank and honest humility in admitting my error? 

   Humility is essential. But what humility is NOT is drawing undue attention to the flaws of ourselves or those of others. There is nigh no extinguisher to the flame of inspiration, no squelching of noble challenge, no smothering of ignited passion like that of one who has "lit the fire" only to snuff it out, saying his "match got scratched". When the rubber meets the road, flaws will only be as big of a deal as we make them to be. Professional musicians know this to be true, stage presence is half of the presentation. This implies that the way a performer carries himself--whether it be with confidence and dignity, or timid skepticism of their own abilities--proclaims to the audience that he is either willing, prepared, and ready to give his best; or he is unsure if it is even worth his own effort.

   

   Mistakes will arrise in some form or another, but the downfall is when we continue dwelling on them even after it is all said and done. Those who succeed are not those who never make mistakes; they are those who, when they trip up, get back up and keep running, not looking back except to analyze what they could do better next time. The chain that binds good-intentioned folks from soaring is consistently belittling their achievements and becoming entangled with every little "oops!" to the point that they can never rise above their blunders to live life for what it was meant to be.

   

   Real life includes flops, embarrassing moments, fumbles and mis-haps, as well as complete failures. It happens to everyone. Not one person is exempt. But, there is a vast difference between those who make "ado about you" and those who use it as learning experience and quietly, simply, move on. Even though such things are sprinkled all throughout life, life is so much broader, so much deeper, far more important, offering much more potential than your hang-ups on mess-ups.

   The question is, do you really desire to make a difference in this world, living life to the fullest potential that you were created for? Or are you comfortable enough to sit complacently, chewing on your "awkward hang-ups" with your pals? If, deep inside your heart of hearts, you long to be free, to live to the hilt this life you have been so graciously given, which will only last but for a season, if you are passionate about rising above the norm, then heed the call of virtue.

Virtue, as Webster defines it, is: 

Acting power; something efficacious; excellence; or that which constitutes value and merit. 

   Virtue is strength applied with character for an intended purpose. What if our generation was more concerned about influencing the lives of others for the better than we are about our quirks? What if we were able to look beyond our minute flaws and see a world that is spiraling into darkness? What kind of world would we dwell in if each person had the strength and understanding to look past another person who is unsure of where he belongs in life, to see a fellow citizen in need of a listening ear, an encouraging word, a strengthening touch? Just what kind of people would we be if we had the maturity to put forth our best effort into everything we endeavored to do for the benefit of others, without dragging behind us the burden of lame excuses, petty annoyances, and frivolous hang-ups? Just think, what might this world look like? 

The choice is yours: will you choose awkwardness and complacency, or a life of virtuous ambitions?

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."

~ I Peter 1:13-16 ~   

His Heartbeat, My Own

"Delight thyself in the LORD; and He shall 

give thee the desires of thine heart."

~ Psalm 37:4 ~

     Far beyond our wishes, deeper than our wants, higher than our loftiest dreams, God has a plan for each one of us. For Him to give us the desires of our hearts means much more than merely granting our requests; it implies that He will develop within our hearts the desires that He intends for us to have and which He will fulfill. Ultimately, it is the essence of uniting our hearts to the heart of our Father. It is when we have drawn so close to Him that His heartbeat becomes our own---His will becomes our will, His plans become our plans, His desires become ours. 

     It has been said, "A woman's heart must be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her." I have often wondered about the application of such a statement, of how it is actually played out. Through the past months, the Lord has been deepening my understanding in that truth as I have sought a closer relationship with Him. No, it is not some mythical idea that is only good for "wise talk", neither does it require one to live a super-spiritual, isolated-to-God life as a Christian "nun" who can never enjoy the sweet pleasures of life. Instead, it offers that a lady who is truly delighting in the Lord and growing in her walk with her Savior will be a woman who inspires a brother in Christ to find his deepest joy and satisfaction in Christ before seeking to win her affection. 

     Recently, I was encouraged by the testimony of a Godly woman who truly lived out this truth. The story of how God brought Robert Wolgemuth and Nancy Leigh DeMoss together was deeply inspiring. My desire is that you, too, would be encouraged to seek first the kingdom of God, drawing nigh to Him, delighting yourself in Him and letting His desires become your own as you see how God so beautifully orchestrated the lives of two humble, surrendered servants, in His perfect time, to bring glory and honor to Himself. 

  ~Robert & Nancy~ 

Click on the link above to view their story  

The Three Sisters ~ Understanding

"But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of 
the Almighty giveth them understanding."

(Job 32:8)

     "You just don't understand!" 

     "I heard exactly what you said, and you..."

     How many times have you been in that common scenario--struggling to keep your own side while proving to the other person that you "understand"? Sure, you might have heard every word they articulated, but did you truly understand them?

"The hunger to be understood. Few needs of the human heart are greater than the need to be understood--to have a voice that is heard, respected, and valued--to have influence. Most believe that the key to influence is communication--getting your point across clearly and speaking persuasively. In fact, if you think about it, don't you find that, while others are speaking to you, instead of really listening to understand, you are often busy preparing your response? The real beginning of influence comes as others sense you are being influenced by them--when they feel understood by you--that you have listened deeply and sincerely, and that you are open. But most people are too vulnerable emotionally to listen deeply--to suspend their agenda long enough to listen with understanding before they communicate their own ideas. Our culture cries out for, even demands, understanding and influence. However, the principle of influence is governed by mutual understanding born of the commitment of at least one person to deep listening first." (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey, Forward, pg. 10) 

"Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me."

(Job 34:34)

Understanding ~ The ability to comprehend the perspectives of others

    Webster defines understanding as "The faculty of the human mind by which it apprehends the real state of things presented to it, or by which it receives or comprehends the ideas which others express and intend to communicate. The understanding is called, also, the intellectual faculty. It is the faculty by means of which we obtain a great part of our knowledge." (W. 1828 dictionary)

The Value of Understanding

     Remember the two distinctive descriptions of value that characterize a virtuous woman and wisdom? Understanding, like wisdom and the virtuous woman, is given the same recognition as having worth that exceeds the value of rubies. 

"Happy is the man...that getteth understanding. For the merchandise 
of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 
She is more precious than rubies: 

and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of 
days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honor. 

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one 
that retaineth her." 

(Proverbs 3:13-18)

     It is interesting to note that the only woman in the Bible to have been described as a woman of good understanding was Abigail--the wife of Nabal and, later, King David. "...and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance..." (I Samuel 25:3a) She was in a difficult predicament with a selfish and "churlish" man who had no heart to change. When the king arrived on her doorstep, fuming and ready to avenge himself of one  ill-mannered citizen, it was this beautiful woman of understanding who, not only spared the life of her husband, but also, by her gracious influence and careful persuasion, prevented David, a man after God's own heart, from making a rash and harmful decision that would have been a breach in his reputation. And notice how God took care of the rest. As she endeavored to be a a mediator of peace between two rivals, prudently applying a heart of understanding, this virtuous woman is now known as one of the most renowned representations of how a disaster can be turned into a blessing through understanding. (See I Samuel 25:1-42)  

How Can I Get Understanding?

"The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." 
(Psalm 119:130)

     Seeking to understand the heart of God through His Word will enable you to understand the hearts of those around you. Without first devoting yourself to deeply know Him, you will never be able to truly understand the people in your sphere of influence. But, as you learn HIS heart, reading His Word and learning to deeply listen to His voice, communing with Him on a daily, moment-by-moment basis, you will then begin to hear the unspoken, see the unseen, and feel the silent implications in the lives you are closest to--you will begin to understand deeply.

"Whence then cometh wisdom?
and where is the place of understanding?
 ...Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;
and to depart from evil is understanding."
(Job 28:20, 28)

Understanding Applied

"A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly." 

(Proverbs 21:28)

     Upon the foundation of the fear of God, wisdom is manifested, and, as wisdom is applied, understanding is nurtured. Like as with wisdom, you must desire to have a heart of understanding; you must be willing to surrender your "rights" of being right and seek to deeply listen to the hearts of those around you. Sincere understanding requires looking beyond yourself and launching into a path not easily trod; it requires a paradigm shift, a look from the perspective of another to recognize their heartfelt needs and the strength to draw them to higher ground. It does not indulge in someone's pity-party, yet it does weep with those who weep. It does not bask in the thrill of gossip, yet it does help to bear the burdens of another. A person with a heart of understanding has the ability to see through the eyes of another, yet also has the outside perspective in order to bring health and harmony. Understanding is not a gift, it is an endeavor.

"In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found." (Proverbs 10:13a)

"A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings." (Proverbs 1:5-6)

An Excellent Spirit

"He that hath knowledge spareth his words: 
and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit." 
Proverbs 17:27

   Have you ever wondered how Joseph could keep his attitude right all through being hated and completely rejected by his own brothers, sold as a slave because of their pride and greediness; then thrown in prison after being falsely accused and given no fair trial and then forgotten by his only hope of release before he arrived to the position of being second in command over all Egypt? 
 How could Moses lead that whole throng of griping and complaining people through the wilderness for forty years and still have the patience enough to intreat the Lord to spare their lives multiple times when God, Himself, was ready to start over again? 
 What about Daniel? We talk about things getting bad here in America, but Daniel was a captive. None of his family, that we know of, was there with him, probably because they were all killed. He went through four complete government hand-overs and then was thrown in the lion's den because of a rash law that was made... And still, he was known throughout all the kingdom as a man of an excellent spirit!

   We all dream about having that perfect disposition of a big sister who is adored by all who see her, or of that big sister who "never gets in trouble"; the unaffected attitude that can easily roll with the punches, or that we can talk to any time of day about anything and receive encouraging, unassuming guidance and exhortation. And nothing is so inspiring than seeing a person who is of an excellent spirit despite the chaos and troubles around. What exactly is it that makes that so idealistically attracting? And why does it seem forever unattainable?

   The reason is this: satan is the father of lies and he is so cunning in deceiving us into believing that every good and perfect gift is completely out of our reach, and we've already blown it anyways... therefore there's no hope even trying to match up and amount to anything in our own family. True success can only happen "out there". So, may as well send our siblings on their way (because they won't listen to us anyway) and not weary ourselves over trying to meet their criteria of being a big sister to them. 

   But before we get too caught up in that train of thought, let's take a moment to consider a few things: If we are born again into the kingdom of Christ, redeemed by His atoning death on the cross and received into the family of God as heirs of God through Christ, then He has given us "all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these [we] might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (1 Peter 1:3b-4). We have been given the grace and strength to soar above the "normal" state of captivity into the marvelous freedom of walking with Christ. As our relationship with Him is strengthened, so will be the other relationships He brings into our lives and He will take us by the hand and teach us to nurture them as He nourishes us.

   That's a mouthful to read, and a stake to chew on, so let's take a deeper look into how our relationship with Christ affects our relationships with others. We really do desire to have strong, thriving relationships with those He has placed in our lives, and we do long to be the sisters we know we ought to be, but where do we start?       

     If you are familiar with gardening, you would recognize this term as essential to the strength of all plants: The root system. This is what obtains the majority of nutrients and gives the plant stability. In our lives, the tap-root in this root system to spiritual growth is the fear of the Lord:

 "And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;

and to depart from evil is understanding." (Job 28:28)

 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: 

but fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7)

   The fear of the Lord is not being scared of God. Imagine that you were suddenly placed on a tight-rope walk 200 feet in the air, with nothing more than a small cord connecting you to the anchor rope that extended above where you stood. Some may identify more than others, but consider that you had a fear of heights. Would it be the high rope you stood upon that made you afraid? No; your fear of heights would not be directed at the place of hight, but at the ground. You would be afraid of even thinking of the possibility of slipping from where you were anchored and crashing in a devastating heap on the hard ground situated quite opposite from your perch. So is one that has the fear of God. She is not scared of God, but rather shudders at even the thought of slipping away from Him, for she knows that her life would surely end in destruction. 

   So, how do I get the fear of God? Take heed to the words of the wisest man on earth, King Solomon: 

 "My [daughter], if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God."  (Proverbs 2:1-5)

   You must come to the place of knowing that you don't have it all put together, and you must set your heart to seek Him with everything in you. You must purposefully search for God. Then, you must soften your heart to hear what He says. And when you have found Him and have made Him your hearts abode, then He will teach you what it is to walk in a manner that will glorify Him and edify others--He will instruct you in wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. 

   These three sisters -- Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge -- are the three keys that open the door to having flourishing relationships with others. And having them will enable us to be people of excellent spirits. In the next three posts, we will be covering each of these three keys individually, and asking God to open our eyes and hearts to see others the way He sees them. He is the giver of life, therefore He holds the secrets of how to live it. 

"The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him;

and he will show them his covenant." (Psalm 25:14)

"For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path." (Proverbs 2:6-9)     

In His Diadem

  In His Diadem is a blog designed specifically for young ladies journeying through life. A diadem is not just any type of crown, but it is one that most ornately adorns the head of a sovereign. Unlike a typical crown, a diadem is set with precious jewels of costly value. 

     Proverbs 31:10 says, "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." Rubies are one of the most valuable, most expensive of gems. The writer of this passage likens the value of such gems to the value of a virtuous woman. Not only are they hard to find,  but they are not easy to be, and those who set out to be one must pay a price that requires giving up much that this world has to offer. 

     As virtuous women, like precious gems set within the diadem of our Sovereign and Lord, Jesus Christ, we have the privilege and vital responsibility to be a part of the visible adornment that will proclaim to the world the majesty of our King through the testimony of our lives. Yet, while we are here on earth, the Lord has established pictures through our physical relationships and interactions that are just samples of the heavenly reality. 

     Those pictures are displayed through our relationships with our earthly fathers, our brothers, and, should the Lord will that we marry someday, with our husbands. Just as we adorn the diadem of our Heavenly King, we also hold a priceless responsibility to bring honor and respect to the men God has placed in our lives--whether that be our 5-year old little brother, or our 95-year old grandfather--through our conduct of virtue, grace, and purity. This is not an easy task, but being a woman whose price exceededs that of rubies is not a cheep achievement.

     We are two sisters, Anna and Elisabeth. This journey of virtuous womanhood is a road we are still treading ourselves, and we do not even pretend to claim to have it all figured out. However, as the Lord is teaching us what it is to be in His diadem, we desire to pass on the truths we learn from His Word so that you, too, might grow in the grace of our Savior.   
   
   It is a journey. But, by His grace, we can shine as lights in this dark world, richly sparkling forth the beauty of His holiness through our conduct of purity, faith, and charity. May you, dear sister, be challenged, inspired, and encouraged as you learn, with us, what it is to declare His glory in our everyday lives.

In His Diadem,
Anna & Elisabeth