A woman’s place is… I’ll let you finish that statement. Yesterday I spoke at the District Ladies meeting. It’s a gathering of ladies, all over 40 and most over 60, who are actively trying to work in their respective churches. They dress up a little, bring something to contribute to the mission offering and the pot-luck dinner, they worship with singing, they share some devotional thoughts and thanksgivings and then they let one of the preachers give them a sermon.

Yesterday they were stuck with me. Chad was gone on a three day revival, the alternate minister had members having major surgery, and they couldn’t find anyone else on such short notice. I was up.

I was trying to collect my thoughts as I sat on the front pew, waiting my turn when I was interrupted by speakers that engaged my mind and my heart. I’d been anticipating breathing some life into this gathering when I was overtaken by words and thoughts that caused me to ponder the nature of God, the wonder of His power, and the beauty of His grace.

Two ladies gave devotionals before I was scheduled to speak. The first one spoke of how God uses everyone and anyone and He wants to use us. The second spoke about the 23rd Psalm. Both were well read and insiteful. Their words were well placed and the wisdom with which they were delivered caught me completely off guard. They were at ease behind the podium. Both were witty and candid. They were the kind of ladies that everyone would love to have as a Sunday School teacher. They humbled me.

I don’t give women the respect they deserve. I’m not sure that any of us on the male side of the gender line have. It is God’s job to preserve the church, “on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matt. 16.18b, niv), but I am convinced that He is doing that work through the use of just as many, if not more, women than men.

How many men did you have as Sunday School teachers? Who plays the instruments in most church worship settings? Who cooks for all the dinners? On church work days do more men show up or more women? If you are looking for prayer warriors in your church, in which gender would you find the most? Who is more likely to read the Bible every day, men or women? When someone dies in the church, who do we call to come and comfort and feed and care for the family? I’m just asking.

Gentlemen; who stood at the foot of the cross of Christ? Answer; John the beloved, accompanied by Mary the wife of Cleopas, Mary Magdalene, and Jesus’ mother. And who were the first to know of the resurrection? Who was it that came running back to tell the men about what they had seen?

Ladies, my hat is off to you. I was humbled yesterday in the presence of my teachers. By the way, my daughter Emily got a piece of pencil lead in her eye yesterday while she was at school. One of our church secretaries brought me the note just before I was to speak. I needed someone to get her to the doctor immediately. Carla, my wife, was at the college preparing for the noon meal and couldn’t be reached. I turned to the next best person, Momma Diane (Mrs. Diane Ferrell). She went to the rescue, took Emily to the doctor, got her some lunch, took her to Carla, and got back in time to serve and clean up after the noon meal for the District Ladies.

Women. “The LORD God said, ‘It’s not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’” Thank God for a women who fill their place well.