Post by MammaMel on Apr 24, 2020 8:49:48 GMT -6
PREFACE
WOMEN have always made news - especially to other women. This is evident by the fact that almost every newspaper has a page devoted to the activities of women.
It is hard to over-estimate the power and influence of women, either for good or evil. The rise and fall of nations may be traced by studying the rise and fall of womanhood. Why? Because the moral fiber of a nation is determined primarily by women In the downfall of nations, moral decay has always preceded political decay, and political decay has always preceded national destruction A nation can maintain a moral strength no greater than the homes which constitute it, and the home usually rises no higher than the ideals of the woman in it. This being true, a heavy responsibility rests upon older women to lead in ways of righteousness and also upon younger women who will help to mold the moral and spiritual stature of the next generation
God portrays for us every type of woman who exists today. We see the mother, the career woman, the peasant in the field, and the woman on the throne bedecked in all her finery. God pictures the woman who is righteous and pure, a tower of strength to all who know her. He also shows us the woman who corrupts, poisons and destroys everything she touches. Some of the women married the wrong men. For instance, 'She was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance; but the man was churlish and evil in his doings" (I Sam 25:3j. On the other hand, some of them were the wrong women whom good men married, women who carried their families and others down the rocky and evil path to bitter destruction. Yet, even their lives can be invaluable to us, if we will profit from their mistakes.
Review exercises are given at the close of each chapter to emphasize the major, points and to encourage class participation. Of course, their use is optional.
In the laboratory of life, these women have made our experiments for us. Every decision we face today has been met by some woman described in God's word.
Their experiences are as up-to-date as today's newspaper. From them we can see what will promote joy and happiness and what will bring sorrow and heartache.
How to grow old gracefully is a much-discussed topic. In the true meaning of the term, the only way to grow old gracefully is to grow old with God. "The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness" (Prov. 16:31). Note the condition. This is another reason for studying God's pattern of how to live fully and to age beautifully.
Let me grow lovely, growing old, So many fine things do, Laces, and ivory, and gold, and silks, Need not be new; And there's healing in old trees; Old streets a glamour hold; Why may not I, as well as these, Grow lovely growing old?
—Karle Wilson Bailey
It is good to help elevate a nation. It is good to learn how to live abundantly and to age gracefully. However, our most urgent and vital task is to prepare our immortal souls for that inevitable day when each shall stand before the throne of judgment: "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Rom. 14:12). This is the primary concern.
The story of Bible women is important, but the story alone is simply the skeleton which supports the eternal principles which God would have us learn. This being true, and because of limited space, narrating the story is not the major purpose of this series. Only enough of it is given to form a foundation from which we may pinpoint practical lessons as they originated in the lives of Bible women and continue to flow through the centuries to furnish strength and encouragement for womanhood of every age.
—Lottie Beth Hobbs
Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. A.
