Sarah's secret Ingredient

 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.’

Prov. 31:27-29

The sayings of King Lemuel full of wisdom and great insight, the description of a woman he considers virtuous as taught by his mother.

Reading through the bible I’ve come across great women of great impact whose influence is trans-generational. Some of which seemed to have secured the hearts of their husbands with such great skill they were loved to a fault.

For a long time, it baffled me how that Sarah had such an influence on Abraham. She seemed to do no wrong before his eyes, more so, God backed the woman up and it seemed Abraham was helpless in the face of it. Disturbed with the numerous questions that ran through my mind, I was spurred to go on a search of what secret ingredient she used to spice up her marriage; what made her have firm control of her home and here’s what I found; Sarah had an unquestionable respect for Abraham. She respected him, his office and decisions and this was demonstrated in obedience, patience, trust and perseverance.

This woman at the age of 65 followed her 75-year-old husband to ‘a place God will show him’. She seemed to adapt well to the change from a stable residence to a life similar to that of nomads not forgetting Abraham could slide in with visitors at noon, she was ever ready to host them plus living with Lot who later became an issue. My God! I am naturally calculative and like to plan ahead of time, most women are, so I don’t always find it palatable when my schedule is disrupted but she did it with grace.

She respected him as the head and submitted to him and his ideas which seemed outrageous to the point of denying her identity as his wife to become another mans. Though in error, it was in a quest for respect of his need for a child that she offered her servant Hagar. Who does that? I believe she had her own ideas which may have been smarter and may have made suggestions but she deferred to his decision. Abraham never had to think, Sarah is against me, he had her unalloyed and unflinching support. It was only in the aspect of Isaac and Ishmael that they had an issue and even in that situation, God asked him to defer to her opinion. No wonder Abraham sent his servant to their household for a wife for Isaac.

You see, the simplicity of her obedience to principles has made a lot of us overlook the power in it. I’ve found that present day Christians are always in search of something so spectacular and ‘out of this world’ as a solution to issues and despise the simplicity of the gospel which makes for thriving. Sarah did nothing different from what we are being taught to do, in fact she had her own mistakes but it’s sad that we are out searching for beds of roses without doing proper gardening which is a process that takes time.

Dear reader, the secret ingredient you seek is not far-fetched; just look more closely with an open heart.