Being Mrs. McCann: teach

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Sunday, October 23, 2011

31 Days of Virtue: Day 23

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Titus 2:3

Teaching what is good is not just for the older women or for teachers at a school. We are all teachers. We teach people with the way we act, with our words, with the way we look, how we react to a situation. And we are not only teaching our children, we are teaching anyone who comes across our path.

When we tell our husbands how much we appreciate them, we are teaching our children to respect their fathers. When we dress conservatively, we are teaching younger women that it is more attractive to be covered up than to show so much skin. When the waiter/waitress gets our food wrong for the second time, but we eat it anyway, we are teaching the stranger at the next table that compassion and patience are the better route to take than anger and frustration.

You see, we are always teaching someone something about ourselves, our way of life, our Jesus and our God. If we relay the wrong message, then that person goes away with the wrong idea about God.

I know I've said it before, but we humans can sometimes be a little stubborn and need to be reminded over and over; we must watch ourselves. We must watch our actions, our words, what we do, who we are with, and where we go. Someone is always watching and learning from us. We need to be sure to set the right example, Christ' example.

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Wednesday, October 19, 2011

31 Days of Virtue: Day 19

I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
2 Timothy 1:5

Although today's verse doesn't speak directly to or about being a virtuous woman, I think it is an important verse that needs to be included in these 31 days of virtue. We see here that Paul recognizes Timothy's mother and grandmother as key role models in his upbringing. His grandmother Lois had sincere faith which was passed on to her daughter Eunice - Timothy's mother - and then it was passed on to Timothy himself. This is where it starts, ladies. With us, with the parents.

I feel this is true of my mother and grandma. My grandma had a strong and sincere faith which was passed down to my mother. I pray that when I have children and grandchildren, they will be able to say the same of me.

As parents, we have an important job. God has entrusted these children to us, and we need to raise them up according to His word. I don't understand why people question the wrong actions of their children when the parents never disciplined them in the beginning. The Bible says "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him." - Proverbs 13:24. We must discipline our children; we must correct them when they are wrong. Yes, we want them to make their own decisions, but we must first teach them what the right decisions are; and the right decisions are those that are in line with God's word and His will.

Children will make mistakes. And as they grow older, they may even become rebellious. But if we "train a child in the way he should go, when he is old he will not turn from it." (Proverbs 22:6). This is our responsibility. Not only as virtuous women and mothers, but as parents. Together with our husbands, we are to raise our children to live right.

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011

31 Days of Virtue: Day 11

She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. Proverbs 31:26

A woman of virtue is wise. She teaches what is right. How do we acquire this characteristic of a virtuous woman? We study God's word. Studying our Bible is a very important part of our walk with Christ. If it wasn't, why would God have spoken these words to the men who wrote it?

God's word is our lifeline. It teaches us how to live, how to treat others, how to raise our children, how to spend and budget our money. For every possible subject you can think of, there will be something about it in the Bible. We are God's children; why would He not give us something to learn from? The Bible is God's love letter to us!

But we must study it in order to learn from it. Even if you are just memorizing one verse a week, be in His word. Other than learning how to live our everyday life, the Bible teaches us how to respond to those who ask us about our faith and beliefs. We always need to have an answer ready to give as to why we believe what we believe.

We also need to study the Bible to be ready for when temptation arises. Temptation will always be in our lives, and God gives us His word to help us get through that temptation and not sin. He promises that "He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." (1 Corinthians 10:13) I believe one of those ways He provides a way out is through His word.

So learn His word. Memorize His word. Hide His word in your hearts. If you do, your days will be so much better than trying to take on this life and this world by yourself.

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