A Meek and Quiet Spirit is a Bold and Powerful Thing

You have probably heard the phrase "A Meek and Quiet Spirit. It is usually used to describe a woman in a positive light, being taken from the Bible. In 1 Peter 3:4, women are encouraged to adorn themselves with the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. In conservative circles, this is often used as a guide for which women should pattern their personal behavior and attitude.

I have sometimes equated this phrase with a pale, mousy woman, almost devoid of any thoughts or feelings of her own. You have seen women like this, I'm sure. I am not particularly referring to any particular church group or denomination. And, usually these are very pure, Godly women whose lives are free from worldly entanglements and purer than my life.

If you knew me personally, you would know that I certainly don't fit this description. I have to constantly battle my own impulsiveness, impatience, impertinence, and insecurity. (Sometimes, even impudence!) I am loud and talkative, and I laugh way too much! (Sometimes, I even snort!)

I personally try to run everything, and tell everyone what to do. I worry over everything, and I try to handle it all myself. Then, I wonder why I personally feel stressed as though it is all falling in on my head and it's all my responsibility to hold everything up!

I think that many women of my generation find themselves dealing with this kind of dichotomy. We were raised at a time when many mothers still held traditional roles, but the culture was changing. Women's Liberation was bursting forth with, "I Am Woman, Hear me Roar," as Helen Reddy said.

Lately, I have been revisiting some of these things. As I have considered these things, it has suddenly occurred to me that being a woman with a meek and quiet spirit is a bold and powerful thing. First of all, I think if you have a meekness about you, it is not a weak thing at all. Have you tried being meek lately? It takes a lot of personal strength to not be reactive. You are exercising great personal strength and control as you suffer idiots in your daily life and make no rash response.

Can a mamby-pamby person quietly say, "Thanks," to a critical, degrading remark? It takes strength not to respond in the way that is human and natural, but to take the high road.

Meekness is not a sheepish ignorance, but merely esteeming others and their needs over your own. The Golden Rule involves loving others as yourself and treating them in the manner you want to be treated. Meekness, in my opinion, goes a few rungs higher on the ladder of love! Meekness would "do unto others" a little more than that, possibly. Is this sense of loving service a weak thing? Have you tried it?

Meekness can be a very active, bold thing. If you are boldly stepping out in word or deed to meet someone else's needs or take their part, this can be meekness! Just being quiet and doing nothing might actually look meek and quiet, but is actually very self-centered.

A quiet spirit is not a simple lack of action. Having a quiet spirit is a definite response of faith. You trust your God to lovingly care for you, allowing a quiet sense of peace to flood your life instead of worry, restlessness, and fear. This is certainly not a quiet thing, but a bold, courageous thing! I am definitely a work in progress on this one, but this is my goal for the New Year. I want to worry less and trust God more! The New Year has been spent mainly in the hospital with my mother, so I have had plenty of opportunities to practice!

So, I have decided that having the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit is more like a medal of courage on your chest, and this is a bold and powerful thing!