THE BRAVEST WOMAN

I believe in the hearts of every woman lies a desire to be brave.  When I was little, I wanted badly to live in times where war consisted of archery, swords, armor and adventure.  I wanted to be a secret warrior who went to battle and live to tell about it.  (Kelly actually means maiden warrior)

As a 36-year-old woman, it’s safe to say that dream no longer exist.  Okay, maybe every now and then when I get caught up in a good book, but for the most part, I’m good.

Before I mention who I think the bravest woman is I must say, I am not she.  Oh, I wish I was.  I’ve had many people tell me throughout the years of motherhood how strong or brave I am.  When all my kids get sick at once and I have no help whatsoever, I’m now deemed brave or strong or amazing.  Truth is, doing what I must doesn’t qualify me for bravery.  It does, however, reveal that when a situation in life occurs, I rise to its challenge.

No, bravery comes from doing something that is out of the box.  It’s original; done with guts.  The woman who I am referring to is found in Luke 7: 36-50. (I highly recommend you read this story for yourself). I am sure many of us have all heard her story.  Sinful woman, anoint Jesus with tears, wipe tears with hair, sins are forgiven.  But there is so much more to this woman than we realize.

First off, eating in those days consisted laying along the side of a low table with your left hand propped up and your right hand used for eating.  Which left the feet exposed.  So, picture Jesus reclining, left hand used for keeping head up and right hand used for eating, feet stretched out. 

In the first century culture, a respectable woman always wore her hair up.  It was proper, dignified and honorable.  However, we have this “sinful woman” squeeze her way through the paparazzi and began to wet Jesus’ feet with her tears.   Her hair was down, loose around her face, shoulders and back.  Oh, the humanity!!!  So right then, just by looking at her we know what kind of woman she is.  What her story is.  What she’s labeled as.  I want to remind you that Jesus was at the house of a Pharisee.  The religious people of that day.  They made sure the people where held in bondage to the rules and regulations of the law.  So many dos and don’ts.  And this right here, was a major don’t.  “Don’t interrupt my dinner party so you can make a show of yourself.” “I bet she wants to take Jesus back to her place tonight.”  “She is repulsive, undignified and disgusting.”  However, there were probably several men in that room either dining with Jesus or watching him eat like a spectator at a football game who “knew” this woman.  I wonder if any of them were afraid she would point them out.  “Hey Jonah, see you tomorrow.” “Hey John, last week was amazing.” “Simon, Joseph, Matthew,”  You get the picture.  But instead of exposing their sins, she addressed her own. 

She saw the need for a savior above culture protocol.  She didn’t care what they were thinking.  And they were thinking.  In fact, the bible actually records the thoughts of the host, Simon.  Side note, Simon’s name was never mentioned until his ungodly thoughts were recorded.  The first few verses of this passage identity him as the Pharisee who invited Jesus.  Check this out, verse 39 “when the Pharisee who had invited [Jesus] saw this, he said to himself (or thought it)”….. But Jesus responds to his thoughts like this: “Simon, I have something to tell you.”  Burn….

It’s said that Jesus finally turned to the woman and said to Simon, “do you see this woman?”  That word see is translated as to gaze with wide-open eyes as at something remarkable.  He was saying, “look at what she went through to come to me.  She laid aside her cloak of humility, sin, shame, ungodly reputation and came to me.” 

She didn’t care what others thought.  No, this woman was brave.  She defied regulations of the time.  She would not let her so called identity keep her from coming to Jesus.  She didn’t come for a quick fix, she came for a life altering change.  She knew she needed a savior.  And she was unwilling to let the opportunity slip by. 

I want to be like her in so many ways.  I need Jesus, daily.  I need his comfort, peace, strength, compassion, tender mercies, forgiveness, security.  He is the only one who can supply these needs.  For me, I have not been this brave in a long time.  I have not abandoned stipulations placed on me as a stay home mom.  I have not let go of hurtful words spoken to me.  Wrongs committed against me.  Let’s be honest:  what are we still hung up on?  Most of the time, we are attacked in what we think is our identity.  Like this woman: “does Jesus even know what she does, who she is, that she is a sinner?”  Labeling at its finest.  Still, her bravery won that day and because of that she was forgiven.  Her bravery changed her life.  It got her an audience with Jesus= something we need every day.