Earlier this year I felt the word foundation or roots, dropping my spirit. I didn't really know what it meant, but thought maybe it would be tied to a women's conference. Things happened and we ended up not going with that idea. However, this weekend we went to a conference put on by Women Empowered and the word foundations jumped out at me again. It was interesting because that same day I was writing a post about the foundation of the Jewish Temple talked about in Ezra.
I have been blessed in my life to have been raised in church. My parents were saved when I was two years old and so I didn't know a life outside of the church growing up. I take for granted that foundation because I don't realize that there are people who didn't have that. Things that were so deeply ingrained in me as a child, that I also taught to my own children, and grandchildren I am learning other people didn't have that same foundation in their lives.
"Teach children how they should live, and they will remember it all their life." Proverbs 22:6
Not only was I blessed to be raised in the church, I have been privileged to sit under some of the best teachers and preachers in this generation. I was not only taught by them, but instructed in building my own foundation in studying the Bible daily.
"But as for you, continue in the truths that you were taught and firmly believe. You know who your teachers were, and you remember that ever since you were a child, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.". 2 Timothy 3:14-17
This weekend I realized that I am in a position where I need to help teach those foundations that I take for granted. I know at times I find myself aggravated by others behaviors which I see as disrespectful, when in reality it is just ignorance. They do not do better because they do not know better.
"In the same way instruct the older women to behave as women should who live a holy life. They must not be slanderers or slaves to wine. They must teach what is good, in order to train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, and to be good housewives who submit themselves to their husbands, so that no one will speak evil of the message that comes from God." Titus 2:3-5
This weekend I also realized that I am now the older woman. I have never been in a place where I wasn't the baby, or at least just a little older than those around me. I don't think of myself as old, but in reality, I have been a Christian for forty years. I have have faithfully walked by the Spirit for twenty-five years. I have been married for twenty-five years. I have been in my career for over fifteen years. I have a responsibility to instruct, to teach and train those younger than me.
Maybe God was reminding me of my roots, of the foundations He has laid and built upon. Maybe I needed to see how blessed I have been in life, despite the trials because of the foundation I was given. Maybe He was showing me where I need to put my focus. It is not enough for me to know, I have to make sure that others also know, that others' foundations are made strong too.
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