“And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townmen know that you are a woman of noble character.” (Ruth 3: 11)
Today is that wonderful Sunday we call Mothering Sunday, a special day set aside to celebrate our mothers and the priceless role they play in the family and society. We give thanks to God for many things God has made them to be to our world. Today, we applaud mothers who are following Christ and continually draw wisdom, strength and grace for doing so. We applaud their strong character, great wisdom, many skills, and great compassion. May God continue to bless them and fill every aspect of their lives with His Glory.
There’s no better way to honour our Mothers today, than to lift up some great truths written about them in God’s Word which should also inspire today’s world. One of these is found in Ruth 3: 11 “And now my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask, all my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character.”
The message conveyed by “A woman of noble character” in this verse of the scripture is loud enough to motivate someone to further proble what exactly it means to be of noble character? It simply means to be full of godly virtues. The Hebrew word used to describe virtuous is “chayil” which means a force, valour, strength, substance, might, power, or valiance. A woman of noble character therefore, is a force to be reckoned with. She is strong and confident. She is a woman who knows what she wants and goes after it, but she does so with grace and dignity. She is a woman who embodies the fruit of the Spirit. John Wooden, a devout Christian and basket ball coach has the following to say about character “Worry more about your character than your reputation. Character is what you are, reputation merely what others think you are.” Another great quote on the importance of character is by the renown evangelist, Billy Graham ‘When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.’
Character matters. It is key in our dealings with people from time to time. But unfortunately, it has been relegated in today’s world.
Young women growing up in the 21st century face a serious battle in forming positive, godly and healthy views of their own identities and character. This is simply because the culture of this modern age is steeped in confusion regarding noble character for women. Positive and godly role models for young women are hard to find. Even the media feature female characters whose lives revolve around many scandals which unfortunately have been perceived as the right way of life. This has made many houses habitation of people tolerating each other instead of a loving home characterized by peace, joy and godly virtues as planned by God. This was not the case with Ruth. Everybody knew her as a woman of noble character.
Beloved, as we celebrate and thank God for our mothers today, it is important to find out if as a mother, you have any arrangement in place to mentor today’s girls, young ladies and women so that they too can be women of noble character of their generation. As a girl, young lady or woman, have you gone through Proverbs 31 to consider the virtues of the model described therein? Are you a woman of noble character? Or, are there problems in that area of your life? The place to get help is to get before the Lord and ask Him to move in your life to accomplish His perfect will in you so that heaven as well as your generation will celebrate you.
Have a fruitful and joyful year of celebrating God’s goodness, mercy and love on mothers and motherhood and for being blessed with the grace to be celebrated.
Your brother, Vicar & Archdeacon
S.Igein Isemede