Older Woman Where Art Thou?

I wrote this for our church newsletter coming out in April, it will be a repeat for some of you who read our newsletter. I wanted to post it here too. Love these flowers! Do you know what they are?

 1" But you must speak what is consistent with sound teaching. 2 Older men are to be self-controlled, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance. 3 In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine. [They are] to teach what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be sensible, pure, good homemakers, and submissive to their husbands, so that God's message will not be slandered." Titus 2:1-5

Recently I sat across the table from a young woman sharing coffee and conversation. It was a joy to listen to her as she shared God working in her life. My heart sank when she wondered, 'where are the older women'? She wants someone in her life to be accountable to and to speak truth into her life. Someone to walk with her as she seeks to follow the Lord.
If you have known me long enough you know that the directive and mandate of
Titus 2:1-5 is a passion of mine. The bottom line is this:
Younger women need older women who will be a friend and encourager.
Older women have been given this mandate from God's Word and the life experience the younger woman yearns to follow.
The Titus passage is not a command to lead a Bible study or do intense discipleship. It is important to note verse 1 and 5:

“But you must speak what is consistent with sound teaching.”

“...so that God's message will not be slandered.”

I cannot think of a higher calling, except motherhood, than modeling to a younger woman and encouraging her so God's message will not be slandered. This is a ministry of help that any older woman can do as younger women seek to follow God in their homes, as wives, mothers or those who work outside their home. There are also many single women who desperately need you to walk with them in this season of life.
I was also recently asked, 'who is the older woman?' We are all older to someone, but I believe these verses speak to the woman who has already raised her children and loved her husband for many years. I do not believe it speaks to the woman who still needs to mentor her own children who are still in the home. That is my opinion.

So older woman...what are you doing with the days God gives you? There is a younger woman who needs you.

Would love to hear your thoughts on the subject. If you want to chat about this I would love to do that too. I do have a structure to how I go about this ministry which I have implemented in two churches.