The Bible and PMS

Did you know the Bible addresses PMS???? Me, neither!

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to steal away for a few hours. I found myself, cup of coffee in hand, sitting at one of the glass-topped tables at our local library. It's one of my favorite places to be. Sky blue walls reaching up high to patterned, creamy white ceilings. Tall, multi-paned windows looking out onto old oaks and maples. The smell of book-lined shelves, some old, some new. The hushed stillness of library etiquette echoing off ancient walls. A Bible, a concordance, a pencil, a notebook. A retreat.

It is here that I am drawn to Titus 2. The verses are so familiar. Familiarity threatens to dull the words. The concordance makes them a bit the sharper. The Spirit makes them sharper still.

Titus 2:4 "That they may teach the young women to be sober..." The Message, the NIV, the NLT, the ESV, the NASB, the ASV, and many more, leave this part out. I'd like to leave it out, too. But the original text does not leave it out. In fact, it puts it first! Before grabbing my concordance, I ponder the word. Sober. One who is not drunk. A solemn, serious face. Perhaps even boring. These are the pictures of sober that come to my mind.

I thumb through the "S" words until I come to 'sober'. It happens to be the same Greek word used for "teach" in the same verse but not the same word used for sober later in the chapter in reference to older men (that one really does pertain to the consumption of wine!!!).
'Sophronizo/Sophron'. It means "to make of sound mind, self-controlled, moderate as to opinion or passion, temperate".

It would be easier if it meant serious or boring. I might be able to pull that off. A walk in the park if it meant "not drunk". No problem. But a sound-mind? Moderate as to opinion and passion? Temperate? Did my Creator forget that He made me with a UTERUS, for Pete's sake?

I asked Craig not long ago about habits. I asked him specifically what habits he would like to see me spend my energy in forming. I already had some ideas of my own. But I thought it only wise, as I am HIS help meet, to ask him. I was hoping he'd say something like, "Make apple pies once a week" or "Knit for one hour a day" (hee hee hee). Instead, he said he would love it if I had the habit of being more even-keeled. Hmmmmm..... Are you sure you don't want apple pies instead?

Well, when you've heard it from your husband and you've heard it from the Lord, you are pretty much without excuse! And now I'm pulling you in with me. Now you've heard it, too. So go ahead! Ask your husbands if they would like you to be more even-keeled. Then you can be without excuse, too!!!!!