I love the story about the five blind men who described an elephant. One felt his trunk and said he was like a huge hose. One felt his leg and said he was like a tree trunk. One climbed on top of the beast and said he was like a huge stone. One felt his ear and said he was shaped like a pancake. It took all of them to put the picture together.
I read the Bible every day and I like doing such. But even more, I like reading a scripture with other people. I get a bigger, fuller picture when we all describe what we saw and felt.
This morning, ten or so of the church leaders came to my house and we read from Matthew 14. After we read and journaled, five or six of us shared what came alive to us in the scriptures.
We read about a drunk king named Herod who, in his inebriated state, promised his pole-dancing step daughter he would give her anything she asked for. Egged on by her mom, she sobered him up when she asked for John the Baptist’s head on a cake plate. I loved the different perspectives on that story that were shared. I was especially moved when Leanne read her journal entry. It helped me see the story through the eyes of Whitney and Amanda’s mom:
Mothers Words are Powerful
Matthew 14:8
So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.”
Observation:
Herodius, the wife of Phillip, is angry and wants to get back at Herod. She prompts her daughter to be ready to ask for the head of John the Baptist.
What gets me is the circumstances surrounding this whole birthday party. I am sure it was not uncommon for young girls to dance and please the men at parties like this. But the forethought of the mother is so contrived. Knowing that her daughter will please the King she plans to have her carry out the most dastardly of deeds. By her bidding, her daughter will request that a man be killed. Not only that, but that he be executed by means of beheading.
Without hesitation, the daughter placated her mom. She had the opportunity to have anything she wanted- anything! Yet she chooses to please her mom.
Application:
The power of a mothers words and the influence of a mothers heart is so clearly laid out here. I have great influence and power over my daughters. How do I choose to use it? Are my words, my thoughts, my wisdom imparted through the grid of the Holy Spirit or do they roll with the whims of my flesh?
It’s nice to have a open and honest relationship with my kids. They are still at the point where they respect and welcome my opinion. May this be a subtle reminder to me to guard my words and to prayerfully consider what I pour into them. Words can bring life or words can bring death.
Prayer:
May I be a mom who speaks life into the lives of my daughters.
Leanne Woods