In Titus 2:4 the H.S. reveals that older women are to encourage, or train, younger women to, “love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands…”. By the very words of God, THIS… is a woman of honor. In today’s world it may seem that not only do women not respect and aspire wholly to those words; but that there is not even the desire to. With all the feminism and humanism in the world are there women who still seek to be honorable as God has called them to be? Yes there are, and I’d like to share with you the example of one.
This woman honors her husband by loving him. She had a deep and abiding love for her husband whom she cherished in her heart. When she made a vow to him on their wedding day it was simply that… a vow. A commitment… not to be broken. And she lived her life in love for her husband. Not just in word, but her everyday thoughtfulness to love and care for him and to be his true and faithful companion. She demonstrated her love for him by honoring and respecting him (I Pt. 3:5-6), she showed it by caring for his soul and striving to encourage him always (I Pt 3:8-9), and she exhibited it by conducting herself in an honorable way (Prov. 31:28-29)
This woman honors her children by loving them. She loved them as only a mother can. SHE was living to be an example to her two young daughters. She was working at home daily to raise and train them in the admonishment of the Lord. She did not need a corner office, and/or a fancy title, in the corporate world to find fulfillment. She found fulfillment in loving her children, and teaching, and training, and being the example for them. To see them grow and learn through her nurturing care and discipline was a labor of love beyond compare. To her, being a mother full time was not a burden, it was not a “waste”, it was not a sacrifice… it was a blessing.
This woman honors her brethren and her neighbor by being sensible, pure, and kind. When she is sensible it provides for an environment of peace. Sensible is the idea of being “self controlled”. When she does this it provides a warm welcoming environment for all. She was pure in the eyes of all as she conducted herself modestly in word and deed. She was not boisterous or gaudy, she was sweet, and humble, and kind. Kindness goes such a long way, and while kindness for some people is a lot of work, for her it was a part of who she was. There is not a soul she touched that did not know of, and feel, her kindness and warmth. Even in the midst of great personal struggle, her attention and life were devoted to the service of those around her.
This woman honors God. This woman honors God by being subject to her husband. In not being a rebellious, stubborn, hot-tempered wife she demonstrated respect and love not just for her husband, but to God. In Eph. 5:22-24 the H.S. makes it clear that the wives are to be subject to their husbands, “as the church is subject to Christ.” As the church is subject to Christ it is to the honor and glory of God; and it is no less true in regard to the wife glorifying God through subjection to her husband. This is a woman who honored God, not just because she honored her husband, but because she lived a life that embodied the principles of faithful obedience of the Lord till death.
This woman is Kimberly Peck, who at the tender age of 27 passed away of ovarian cancer on February 21, 2009. She is survived by her husband and two young daughters. While the loss has reached out to the hearts of all her faithful brethren we are comforted by her faithfulness to the Lord. (Rev. 2:10; I Thess 4:13-18) And while the grief is real and lasting, it is we who have been blessed to know this woman of honor. For God said in Titus 2:5 that the older women were to teach the younger women these things so that, “…the word of God may not be dishonored.” Kimberly Peck has honored the word of God, and in so doing provided us a great witness of faithfulness (Heb 12:1), and provided proof in our hearts that even in this day and age of feminism and humanism, there are still women of honor who are worthy of our respect, our admiration, and our recognition… to the glory of God.