Walk of Life-Day 11, November 2020 – Thoughts From the Book of Proverbs
A gracious woman retains honour. Proverbs 11:16
There are many women characters mentioned throughout the Bible who set examples of being gracious, but it strongly fits to Mary, the earthly mother of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Th letter G in the word gracious stands for gentleness. When angel Gabriel announced Mary that she is going to be the mother of the Son of Most High she was troubled in her heart according to Luke 1:28 but whereas in the 38th verse of the same chapter she accepts it by saying “Let it be to me according to your word”. That which was told by the angel is certainly not a credential but a subject of shame and immorality and still she gently accepted it.
The letter R in the word gracious represents “Respectful”. Though she is the biological Mother of Lord Jesus Christ, she respected Him at all circumstances. At the wedding of Cana, She tells Jesus that there is a shortage of wine and tells the disciples and do as He says. This we read in Luke 2 : 4& 5 “And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.””
The letter A surely leads our attention to speak about how much Approchable is Mary! Again from the incident of Wedding at Cana she was approached for help when there was a sudden lack.
Calm was Mary at all circumstances and so it can be related to the alphabet C. When her son Jesus was worshipped with the gifts from the wise men and shepherds she did not get excited but calmly pondered everything within her heart and this we read in Luke 2 : 19 as “ Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
Mary is commonly referred as Immaculate which means someone who is absolutely flawless and clean. Out of many women who lived during that time only Mary was selected to bear Jesus in her womb by God and for sure she should have been flawless and pure and so for I it is Immaculate.
If we have to list the women characters who had obedience as an attribute, certainly Mary, tops the list. She was indeed obedient to God and to her husband. Who would have preferred to travel during those last stages of pregnancy, but Mary journeyed along with her husband hearkening unto God and her husband.
Just ordinary guidance and plans of our Lord through which He leads us and guides us sometimes seem to be vague with so much of advancement in technology and with the complete word of God with us. Without anything Mary was able to understand the heart of God. She Yielded to His heartbeat submitting herself to His will. Not only God’s heart but she understood her fellow men’s needs.
The word Sacred fits into the attribute of Mary when we think of her being gracious as she was one among those 120 people who tarried for the Holy Spirit in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost and that we read in ACTS 1:13-15.
Gracious women retains honour and to be gracious let us be GENTLE, RESPECTFUL, APPROCHABLE, CALM, IMMACULATE, OBEDIENT, UNDERSTANDING and SACRED.
