Sit with Women who Sit at the Feet of Jesus

As a child I enjoyed sitting on the living room floor as my grandparents, along with my great aunts and uncles, shared stories about the “old days”. I heard how they piled the entire family into a small caravan of Ford Model T’s and made their way west to California to find work in the oil fields. Along the way they would stop for a couple of months to give birth to their children and pick up whatever work was available so they could afford to keep moving. They entertained each other as memories of setting up camp along the roadside, sleeping on the ground with their meager blankets, and preparing meals from whatever provisions they could find flooded their minds. Laughter filled the air as they recalled the challenges and adventures they survived. I could not get enough of their stories!

Growing up in the church I recall seeking out older members of the congregation and listening to their stories. I learned of their trust in Jesus and the faithfulness of God in the face of life’s challenges as they patiently sat with me and shared the nuances of their lives.

Perhaps the greatest impact for me occurred when I was in my early twenties. Each week I rubbed shoulders with women who spent time studying God’s Word. Their lives were rich in the goodness of God. Much like Mary, the sister of Lazarus, they sat at the feet of Jesus to hear His Word. They taught me to sit at His feet and learn from Him. It probably never occurred to them that through their example they were mentoring the younger women in the church – they were simply loving Jesus and the impact He had on their lives showed.

Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.  And she had a sister called Mary, who was also seated at the Lord’s feet, and was listening to His word. – Luke 10:38-39 (NASB)

Even now, I love to sit at the feet of Jesus with the women who continually demonstrate the importance of spending time with Him. We learn from one another; we care for one another, we support one another; we love one another. Together we press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.