The Legacy of a Proverbs 31 Woman

I think it’s interesting that we tend to bookend a person's life with the dates of birth and death. Yet it’s the dash between the dates that determines our Legacy.

We gathered together last Thursday to celebrate the life of Laura's mother - Betty Jo Marsh, our Meme. Meme’s life – the dash between the dates that she lived among us was long and full. 

In fact, her dash was a legacy life: Her life was a blessing to all of us while she was with us, and it will continue to be a blessing for generations to come.

In the bulletin for her service we printed Proverbs 31:10-31. All too often we read that description and it seems rather abstract and removed. But for those of us who knew Betty we saw a Proverbs 31 woman up close and personal.

An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.
She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and bless her;
her husband also, and he praises her, saying:

“Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all.”

 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

MeMe lived a Legacy Life: a life that was a blessing to all of us while she was with us and that we will be a blessing for generations to come.

And because of the life she lived,

Her children – and their spouses - rise up and bless her;

And her 11 Grandchildren - and their spouses - rise up and bless her;

And her 21 Great Grandchildren rise up and bless her;

Her husband also, and he praises her.

Lord thank you for Meme. Thank you for the life she led and the example she set for all of us.

Her finger prints are all over our homes and our hearts.

Let us walk in the Light of Meme’s Legacy!

 

 

Entering the Fundamental State of Leadership - Part 4

In his book, Building the Bridge As You Walk On It, Robert Quinn identifies eight practices for entering the fundamental state of leadership. The final two are described below:

Responsible Freedom     

• The person who practices responsible freedom is spontaneous and expressive while also self disciplined and responsible.
• Rather than fleeing purpose, discipline, or structure, this person is self-structuring and tends to be ever elevated to a higher levels of awareness and capacity.
• In obtaining this higher state, the person becomes more complex and capable, more empowered and empowering to others.

Tough Love

• This person is assertive and bold, yet compassionate and concerned.
• This person calls others to higher objectives and standards while also showing empathic, relational support.
• Others are lifted by the loving recognition of their potential and the challenging call to enact it in a more creative state of purpose.

Entering the Fundamental State of Leadership - Part 3

In his book, Building the Bridge As You Walk On It, Robert Quinn identifies eight practices for entering the fundamental state of leadership. The next two are described below:

Adaptive Confidence     

• This person is adaptable and flexible while also confident and secure.
• The person has the confidence to learn from experience, moving forward into uncertain situations knowing that self and others can adapt and learn in real time.
• He or she maintains a focus on purpose while experimenting and remaining open to feedback about failure as well as success.

Detached Interdependence

• This person combines independence and strength with humility and openness.
• The person has a strong sense of purpose and belief that provides an inner strength.
• He or she is thus open, but not determined by the relationship.
• Such detached interdependence allows for rich relationships in which people enable each other in co-creating a future that is best for both.