She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive.
(Prov. 31:27 MSG)
You are not the maid! This verse in Proverbs describes a mother who is doing far more than
cleaning up after her family. It describes a mother who is discipling and developing everyone
under her care. I want more for my children. This means I want them to grow more rather than
get more. It looks different in a marriage than it does with children, but I want to foster the same
dynamic of growth in my husband.
I’ve discovered nurture does better than nagging. If you are married, be devoted to your
husband. Be careful not to undermine or dishonor one another in word or deed. It is not easy,
but it is worth it. Making one another look bad will never make either of you look good. This has
been a hard one for John and me. We both feel things very strongly, and each day is another
opportunity for growth. That’s the tricky part about being one. When we lash out at one another,
we injure ourselves. When I see newlyweds, I tell them it will only keep getting better. Time,
trials, children, and shared experiences only serve to enrich your life.
Let’s embrace our years (even if some see you as a youth) and all the lessons we’ve learned
and refuse to adopt our culture’s worship of youth and frivolity. If you’re a younger woman, this
means you have lots to look forward to. If you are an older woman like me, it means that you
are being watched. Lead by example; hiding or opting out is not an option.
**This is an excerpt from Lisa Bevere’s new book Godmothers. Used by permission. Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group copyright 2020.
Purchase your copy of Godmothers today through the Messenger International store.
About the Author: Lisa Bevere has spent nearly three decades empowering women to find their identity and purpose. She is a cancer survivor and a New York Times bestselling author. Her books include Without Rival,
Adamant, Lioness Arising, and Girls with Swords. Lisa and her husband, John, co-founded Messenger
International to develop uncompromising followers of Christ who transform their world. To this
end, Messenger has given away nearly 40 million resources in over 100 languages.