2008/06/17

Learning from Others


God put something on my heart today and I thought maybe I should write it down right now while it is fresh in my mind. It has to do with the older women teaching the younger women as it says in the bible.
Titus2:3-5
"The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."
I am grateful for those verses. I have had a few great older women in my life to teach me much in different areas. From some I have been taught much about the word of God, from some about being a wife and raising children. (My mom for one seems to have a special touch with our children when they are not feeling well...or sometimes maybe just need that soothing from grandma.) Having ladies to turn to has been a great inspiration for me!
So then why get offended or annoyed when an older lady with more experience in an area tries to help us in an area. It seems that often people do not want to accept help or advice from someone else. Dare I say... that maybe it is pride in our own hearts..when we believe we know best.
God has called these older women to do just that, to help the younger...so why refuse help or feel upset about such things? It's taking away from what God has asked of woman.
I keep putting myself in the younger woman category, I know!. Well the truth is I still have much to learn from older woman(and well I am young) At the same time I guess there are areas where I am not THAT young and need to be willing to help others as well. In fact I think almost our whole life is like that, where we live, learn and pass it on.
We just have to swollow our pride, be willing to learn each day, and then be willing to teach.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

When I was a younger mom, well maybe even a little now, I took offense to parental suggestions from an older lady I knew. I guess I became defensive because she came across as mean spirited and critical.
I also have found that older ladies can teach some things but alot of them raised their children different.....they didn't homeschool(it wasn't a popular thing) so they don't encourage or agree you are doing the right thing.

Margaret Braun said...

Nancy, a few of us girls in the youth have talked about this and we wonder why we don't interact more with the married ladies at church. Even with the big age gap, there's so much we could and need to learn from you.

I really enjoy talking to the married women and you have been a real blessing and encouragement to me.

Meshaay said...

I think it may have to do with pride, but also not knowing how to approach a person who's [so much] older. But I would like to gain from the wisdom of married or older Christian women. My mom has given a wealth of advice to me. :-D