Our Titus Older Women

Our Ladies Sunday School class has been going through the most wonderful series of lessons for the past several months. Instead of the same teachers teaching in rotation, each member of the class has been standing up to give her testimony. Some are only a few minutes, while others take the whole class time. Regardless of the length, these are the most beautiful stories ever told.

Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD. 2 Kings 22:19

One of my beautiful Titus older women is our former pastor's wife, Sister Onie Fleming. She served by her husband's side at Alpine Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carlina, for 36 1/2 years. But when she told her story this Sunday morning she didn't tell church stories or recount all the bumps int he road. Through tear-filled eyes she shared what the Lord had done for her.

It's that tender heart that I pray to God for every day. Mrs. Fleming has seen so much and knows the answers to so many things. I would love to just spend a day sitting at her feet, taking in all of her wisdom that I could, and it still wouldn't be enough time. But what has always tugged at my heart is her true burden for other people. She will weep over a struggling soul. She will get choked up while praying for someone's health problems. She'll dab away a tear when she quietly asks you to pray for her.

I don't always have a heart that tender, but by her example I can see what Paul meant when he wrote to Titus about the roles of women.

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Titus 2:3-5


The most wonderful part of listening to the story of a Christian woman give her testimony is learning from someone who's already been through what you're going through - or may go through shortly. Mrs. Fleming has already passed the 80-year mark in life, and she has already experienced many of the trials, tribulations and extreme joys that are coming along on my own path.

We've been taping each one for posterity - we will never meet this way again. For example, one of my sweet Titus older women passed away several weeks ago before we could put her story on video. Praise the Lord that we could see her testimony through her daily walk. That will forever be imprinted on my heart and my mind.

The treasure of our churches, our families and our communities are our older women. We are not floundering about in the sea of life - we have floatation devices around us every day. When it feels like we're sinking or we're not even sure of which direction to paddle, all we have to do is reach out to the ones who have already found the way and were victorious in the journey.

Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31:29-30

Who are the women in your life that have led you along the way? Who has been a tender heart at the times you needed it, and a rock when you needed that? Today is the perfect day to thank them for being your Titus older woman.

Thank you Mrs. Fleming, just for being an example.