Glimpses of Selfless Beauty from Women in History

Glimpses of Selfless Beauty from Women in History

Copied from the study guide True Femininity: By Leslie Ludy

A pretty woman, with lovely soft features, kind eyes and dark hair, she was never angry, never impatient, never resentful, she patiently wore away prejudices and hatred by her gentle,  gracious presence and her blameless life. She had all the firmness of a man, and yet a more gentle and womanly woman it would be hard to find.

-Said of Lottie Moon, young missionary to China

Her presence lends warmth and health to all who came before it; if woman lost us Edan, then such as she alone restore it.

-Said of Lucy Webb Hayes, First Lady in 1821

She seemed endowed with a peculiar magnetism when you were in her presence so that you could not help thinking yourself in the presence of a being much higher than the ordinary run of the humanity. I have heard here pray, and she could offer up the finest petition to the Throne of Grace of any person I ever heard in my life. She was always gentle and kind to the Indians, as she was to everyone else. She took interest in every one at the mission, especially the children. Everyone loved her. because to see her was to love her.

-Said of Narcissa Whitman, young married missionary to the Native Americans.

“They say there is a young lady in New Haven who is beloved of that almighty Being, who made and rules the world, and that there are certain seasons in which this great Being, in some way or other invisible, comes to her and fills her mind with exceeding sweet delight, and that she hardly cares for anything, except to meditate on him — that she expects after a while to be received up where he is, to be raised up out of the world and caught up into heaven; being assured that he loves her too well to let her remain at a distance from him always. There she is to dwell with him, and to be ravished with his love and delight forever. Therefore, if you present all the world before her, with the richest of its treasures, she disregards it and cares not for it, and is unmindful of any pain or affliction. She has a strange sweetness in her mind, and singular purity in her affections; is most just and conscientious in all her actions; and you could not persuade her to do anything wrong or sinful, if you would give her all the world, lest she should offend this great Being. She is of a wonderful sweetness, calmness and universal benevolence of mind; especially after those seasons in which this great God has manifested himself to her mind. She will sometimes go about from place to place, singing sweetly; and seems to be always of joy and pleasure; and no one knows for what. She loves to be alone, and to wander in the fields and on the mountains, and seems to have someone invisible always conversing with her.”

- Written of Sarah Edwards by Jonathan Edwards, her future husband.

Psalm 45:10,11,13

10.Listen, O daughter,

Consider and incline your ear;

11.Forget your own people also, and your father’s house;

So the King will greatly desire your beauty;

Because He is your Lord, worship Him.

¹³ The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace;

Her clothing is woven with gold.

Song of Solomon 7:6

⁶ How fair and how pleasant you are,
O love, with your delights!

Proverbs 31:22, 25

Her clothing in fine lien and purple.....Strength and honor are her clothing...

Song of Solomon 2:2

² Like a lily among thorns,
So is my love among the daughters.