Paula (7), Mom, Mark (4), Jennifer (9) - 1972
"Always a Lady, Part I"
"Act like a lady" - "Sit like a lady" - "Ladies don't do that"
Have you heard that before? I remember hearing that when I was growing up. It seems that as ladies we are never pleased with ourselves. There is always some obstacle, some blemish, some excuse why we can’t be ladylike...
1. I’m a tomboy
2. I’d rather be comfortable than dress in a feminine way.
3. I’m not much to look at.
4. I’ve never been ladylike, so I would be a hypocrite if I started now.
5. I’m the wrong size.
You think you’re the wrong size? When I was nine years old I outgrew my mother, in height, weight, and shoe size! In one summer I became awkward, gangly, and klutzy. When the youth director came and asked my why I wasn’t at the high school activity I had to tell him I was in the fourth grade! Teachers would pass me in the 3rd grade line and tell me that I was in the wrong hallway for the jr. high. I became ashamed of my size and felt like God put all of his mistakes in one package - me. I would put my head and shoulders down, take my shoes off and bend at my knees during the song service at church so I would be "shorter". I did anything to try to look smaller but it only made the problem worse. Of course my all friends weighed around seventy-five pounds, I weighed 110 in the third grade! Mom would jokingly say “I need to put a brick on that girl’s head to keep her from growing!”
Dad recognized this and began to work on positive training. “When you’re this tall (not big) you must move gracefully, you must take smaller steps, smaller motions, you must “think small”. All of the thinking in the world did not shrink my 5’10½ ” frame, or my size ten shoe, or my broad shoulders. It did keep me from walking like a linebacker, slouching like a noodle, and hiding in the corner.
Most girls and ladies admire everything about everyone else. We never stop and compliment the Lord on the great job He did on our nose, or our fingers, or our ear lobes. Wouldn't that be vanity? Well, that's not taking the credit, that's giving God glory for something you had no control over and cannot change.
1. Accept and get to like how God made you. Psalm 139:14 - 17 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
2. Be the best you can personally be for Christ’s sake, not to show off. Titus 2:10 - “...showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.”
3. Be a lady in private and public. Proverbs 11:16a - “A gracious woman retaineth honour..." Psalm 101:2 - I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
4. Do what you know is right to do. Phil. 4:9 - Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. James 1:23 - For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
5. Bug yourself. Don’t get comfortable! (Here are other "bugs" to go with the "ladybug")
"Bee" in the Bible Ps. 19:7-10 - The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
"Cocoon" your spirit daily - Psalm 5:1-3 - Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. II Kings 19:30 - And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.
"Get busy" Proverbs 6:6 - 11 - Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
"Snail's Pace on Emotions" James 1:19-22 - Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
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