I grew up being ignorant of my true worth as a woman. The standards that I knew of a woman's worth were those that were dictated by the world--someone who is self-confident, independent and strong. With no clear picture of what it truly meant, I equated being strong with dominance, independence as self-ruling and self-confidence with arrogance. These wrong notions were, what I thought made me valuable and worthy and I carried it through as I ushered in adulthood. Only when I became a Christian did I realize how far more important it was, to have God-confidence, to be dependent on God and to be a woman who draws strength from the Lord.
Since reading Proverbs 31, I had made it my reference as I worked on myself. I knew it was next to impossible to be exactly like her, so I stopped beating myself up that I couldn't be like her, after all she was a hypothetical woman. However, I do know that I must try my utmost to be a virtuous woman who uses this hypothetical character as an inspiration. And evidently, I wanted my own daughter to have the same encouragement as she struggles her way out of her cocoon. I wanted to give her something I didn't have when I was her age. Wisdom about her value and worth as a woman. So that when she spreads her own wings as a butterfly, it will beautifully flutter showing God's beauty and perfection.
So as I share the devotion I had with my eternal sunshine, Leila, I pray fervently for your heart and for the heart of your daughter. God wants both of you to have a more meaningful relationship with each other and with Him. If you are a mother with a daughter reading this, I pray for your wisdom that will overflow to your child, for the humble heart to look into your own and examine how you can transform it in order to be a better model, that you will be intentional in all your ways, carving out time for the special privilege to minister to your own eternal sunshine.
Devotion on Worth and Value
Ask your daughter what her favorite junk food is and ask what makes it her favorite. Because it is junk food, more often the only winning point will be taste and never its nutritional value. Yes, it can have the perfect taste of salty and sweet, not to mention addictive flavor but it is absolutely unhealthy and can never give any benefit except taste and addiction satisfaction. In the same manner, anything that seemed satisfying and looks pretty and fun outside but lacking real value for our body, soul and mind (the temple of God) should be reconsidered--food, thought, idea or activity. Try to think of something that your child does that you think has no real value in the long run (computer games, social media, superficial friends etc) and show her how this is the same as junk food. As if it's not bad enough that it gives no added value to us, it further depreciates our worth as a person and as a child of God.
Use Proverbs 31:10 as your memory verse and explain how being of noble character is worth more than any treasure. Having established this, it's time to live it out.
What you'll need:
journals (yours and hers--buy her one if she does not have one yet, it's a way to show you are intentional *wink*) or
colored index cards (we used this instead since I intended to include them in our Memory Verse Album )
colored pens
One one side, write down five things that make you valuable and on the other side five things that can diminish your worth. Discuss this briefly. This will serve as a visual reminder to each of you what you must consciously avoid and pull away from that can destroy your worth and what you must do more and get involved with to boost your value.
Prayer : Thank you, Lord that you love me and value me as your precious child. Help me live out a life that is worthy to you, strength to keep away from things that harm my worth and encouragement to do those that honor You. Show me how to be a virtuous woman/girl that lives to bring You praise and glory. Amen.
Since reading Proverbs 31, I had made it my reference as I worked on myself. I knew it was next to impossible to be exactly like her, so I stopped beating myself up that I couldn't be like her, after all she was a hypothetical woman. However, I do know that I must try my utmost to be a virtuous woman who uses this hypothetical character as an inspiration. And evidently, I wanted my own daughter to have the same encouragement as she struggles her way out of her cocoon. I wanted to give her something I didn't have when I was her age. Wisdom about her value and worth as a woman. So that when she spreads her own wings as a butterfly, it will beautifully flutter showing God's beauty and perfection.
So as I share the devotion I had with my eternal sunshine, Leila, I pray fervently for your heart and for the heart of your daughter. God wants both of you to have a more meaningful relationship with each other and with Him. If you are a mother with a daughter reading this, I pray for your wisdom that will overflow to your child, for the humble heart to look into your own and examine how you can transform it in order to be a better model, that you will be intentional in all your ways, carving out time for the special privilege to minister to your own eternal sunshine.
Devotion on Worth and Value
Ask your daughter what her favorite junk food is and ask what makes it her favorite. Because it is junk food, more often the only winning point will be taste and never its nutritional value. Yes, it can have the perfect taste of salty and sweet, not to mention addictive flavor but it is absolutely unhealthy and can never give any benefit except taste and addiction satisfaction. In the same manner, anything that seemed satisfying and looks pretty and fun outside but lacking real value for our body, soul and mind (the temple of God) should be reconsidered--food, thought, idea or activity. Try to think of something that your child does that you think has no real value in the long run (computer games, social media, superficial friends etc) and show her how this is the same as junk food. As if it's not bad enough that it gives no added value to us, it further depreciates our worth as a person and as a child of God.
Use Proverbs 31:10 as your memory verse and explain how being of noble character is worth more than any treasure. Having established this, it's time to live it out.
What you'll need:
journals (yours and hers--buy her one if she does not have one yet, it's a way to show you are intentional *wink*) or
colored index cards (we used this instead since I intended to include them in our Memory Verse Album )
colored pens
One one side, write down five things that make you valuable and on the other side five things that can diminish your worth. Discuss this briefly. This will serve as a visual reminder to each of you what you must consciously avoid and pull away from that can destroy your worth and what you must do more and get involved with to boost your value.
Prayer : Thank you, Lord that you love me and value me as your precious child. Help me live out a life that is worthy to you, strength to keep away from things that harm my worth and encouragement to do those that honor You. Show me how to be a virtuous woman/girl that lives to bring You praise and glory. Amen.