Second Sunday of Advent
December 5, 2021
Joy and Proverbs
Family
The Book of Proverbs is more than a collection of mere adages we repeat in moments of confusion or stress. They are universal metaphors that serve as anchors in a bewildering and sometimes tumultuous world. In this second week of Advent we will focus on the surprising power of the proverbs to reveal God’s truth. If this week’s exploration of Proverbs calls you to search for more ways to encounter joy, click on the word Joy in the categories cloud in the blog’s right hand sidebar and choose a reflection, or enter the word Joy in the blog search bar. Today we find joy in our human family.
Some of us are blessed with a sturdy foundation of human relationships that begin in childhood. Others gather a family of faithful friends around them as they move through life. These acquired “family” members may come to us through our places of work or play or worship; but no matter their genesis, authentic friendships are invaluable in our lives as we look for joy. We give thanks for the joy that comes to us through people and relationships we perhaps take too much for granted.
In a time when women were vulnerable to men who governed every detail of their existence, words like these held great significance. Verse 5:18: So be happy with your wife and find your joy with the woman you married – pretty and graceful as a deer. We remember that many women in today’s world have significance only through men. Seen as possessions, many women have little value as humans. We pray for women who struggle to find importance in their world, and for men who believe themselves superior.
In a time when family roles were strictly defined, the following words held great power. Verse 17:21: Wise children make their fathers happy. Only fools despise their mothers. We remember that in many cultures today household and parenting roles are clearly delineated. Barred from fulfilling work, men and women struggle against rigid parameters that too often limit the joy to be found in our homes. We pray for families everywhere as they look for joy in the simplest of ways.
We might spend time today exploring the life of Malala Yousafzai, a young Pakistani woman who challenges exacting restrictions placed on young women. Or we might investigate information offered by Amnesty International or The United Nations. Choose one of the links below or look for another issue that challenges us to find joy in family . . . and share your thoughts in a comment. Information about Rosie the Riveter and other women who supported the American economy during WW II, click on the image to the left or visit:
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/american-women-in-world-war-ii
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-23241937; http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/issues/women-s-rights; http://www.un.org/en/rights/
Tomorrow, finding joy in times of deceit.
Images from: http://birthtouch.com/category/infant-sleep-methods/ and http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/american-women-in-world-war-ii
The Noontimes 