Momology Magazine Issue 2.3 Houston - Wisdom | Page 28

A WISE NORTH STAR BY ROBYN WHITAKER “Where are you going as you age?” “Do you have a North Star?” “Who do you want to become after a lifetime of suffering?” “How will you sustain beauty, strength and goodness?” What holds your heart captive? Do you know what echoes from your past into the present and is determined to persist into your future? I hope you will ponder You probably feel just like I did when I heard these asked of me. Intense questions for which I had no quick answers. For weeks, I pondered my responses. these questions and find what imprisons you from the past. Possibly, it is the pain of your own sin/wrong choices or maybe it is I do not want to pursue a woman of folly or to become a foolish woman. Yet, true wisdom sin that was committed against your young can be an elusive find. Contrary to popular belief, intelligence, knowledge, age and gray body, emotions or spirit. A wise woman asks hair don’t necessarily equate with “wisdom.” I’ve seen more than my share of intellectually such questions. verbose women with silver tresses acting more than a bit foolish while claiming that age has set them free. So, what am I looking for? I know you are wondering if I have a North Star. I do! No, she is not perfect and she A woman who knows her heart well and asks God to clearly reveal what holds it captive. would be the first to admit she struggles. She is aware that a heart can easily be entangled by perfectionism, the desire to and for That is so refreshing to me. It gives me hope! control, comparison, envy, and gossip among other prisons. She is a woman who has been She is further along this journey called life caught and exposed in her sinful choices. Resentment whispers, but truth takes her heart and her heart’s desire is to merely point the to repentance. way. She encourages me to come further up and further into the life that Jesus Christ This wise woman has the courage to create a different future by looking at her past. She knows, accepts, and understands that so much of who she is was created years ago from has for me on this earth and someday more fully with Him. pain that echoes into the present. Facing her heartache, she experiences more of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As a result, she begins to hold both sorrow and joy with the capacity So, this is your life. to extend life and love to others. For you see, knowing her story, she begins to know her true identity in Jesus Christ and in this world. Do you know who you want to be? I seek a woman who lives from her heart. She sees with her heart and persists in finding Oh, I hope you find women who will be dignity in others – her heart seeks the “needs beneath the deeds” and offers kindness and your North Star. It’s one of the best ways to compassion. She will speak from her heart. Her words speak truth in love and kindness. find your way. And in this life of suffering, Silence occurs when we do not understand how to love. She desires to love well. You our hope of sustaining beauty, strength and will also see her heart as she is unashamed to express her desire for true life and love. Her goodness is found only in Jesus Christ. True authentic vulnerable heart is out in plain view sharing sorrow, joy and all of it’s in- between North Stars always point us in that direction. passionate spaces. Lastly, she prayerfully and purposely sacrifices her heart for the sake of giving others an opportunity to choose life. No, she is not a doormat. She is lovely, wise, vulnerable, kind and strong – a woman who does not short-change her intimate relationships by offering crumbs. So, I know some of you might be thinking, “Well good grief Robyn, that’s more difficult to find than a Proverbs 31 woman!” I would agree – there are often few women of wisdom to pattern our hearts after. Maybe authenticity and deep connection, although we long for it in relationships, scares us to death and we bury or ignore this God-given hope. Why do we do that? Could it be that we do not know our stories of pain? 28 Where am I going and who do I hope to become? My desire is to be a North Star.◙