THE EXEMPLARY DAUGHTER (PART 2)


Often in families there is a communication gap. Dad may not get home from work until almost 7:00. If mom works, she may not get home until almost 6:00. The son might have football practice that afternoon. The daughter might have choir practice until 5:00. If there is an activity that night for anyone in the family, that makes it hard for the entire family to meet for supper.

Sometimes we have to make time to speak with each person in the family. We might make a certain day a family day. If mom sews or bakes, those are wonderful times to speak with our daughters. If the father fishes or does yard work, those are great times in which to speak with our sons. Many families need quality time together, not quanity time. First, we need to involve the children in what we are doing. Travel time in the van or car is an excellent time in which to speak with our children.

We will continue our study of characteristics of the exemplary daughter.

HONEST An exemplary daughter is honest. Over and over in the Bible, we are told to be honest. When we are honest we will not steal, cheat or lie.

Dishonesty is an illness that will spread in life. Others will see it in all activities in which we become involved, in school and all throughout adulthood. Sometimes someone is dishonest to the extent that the person becomes a pathological liar. Once someone is a pathological liar, people do not know what is true and what is not when that person speaks. They are known in this way to their friends.

We read in I Peter 2:11-12,"... abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation." "... that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing." I Thessalonians 4:12

OPTIMISTIC & ENTHUSIASTIC An ideal girl is optimistic and enthusiastic. These two qualities go together, you can't have one without the other. Being optimistic and enthusiastic is the practice of looking on the bright side and expecting the best outcome in every circumstance. When we become pessimistic, we will look at the negative side.


...for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:13 (NKJV)

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
l Corinthians 6:19 (NKJV)

If we are a Christian, we belong to God and the Holy Spirit dwells in us.

NOT A GOSSIP An exemplary daughter will not gossip. If someone gossips, she seldom has friends confide in her. Her friends know that she very probably will relay the information she receives from them. This is how rumors are spread. One person tells another and that same thing happens again and again. Close friendships are broken because one of the friends gossiped.

"LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart; He who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach against his friend" Psalm 15:1-3

Proverbs 25:9," Debate your case with your neighbor, and do not disclose the secret to another."

PURE IN HEART The exemplary daughter should posses a pure heart. The definition of pure is to be free from anything that would corrupt us.

The heart in the Bible is called the mind. Our minds are such complicated things. There are various areas of the mind.


The first area is the intellect. Our intellect thinks, understands and believes. Verses to read are Genesis 6:5, Mathew 13: 15, and Romans 10:10.


A second area is our emotions. Our emotions include desire, love and trust. Verses to read are Romans 10:1, Matthew 22:37 and Proverbs 3:5.


Another area is our will. Our will determines, purposes and obeys. Verses to read are I Corinthians 7:37, Acts 11:23 and Romans 6:17.


There is also the conscience. Our conscience condemns or it justifies. Verses to read are I Peter 3:16, Hebrews 10:22 and Romans 2:15.


Also is the memory. Our memory revives in our mind specific things that have occurred.

Peter writes in II Peter 3:1," Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder)"

Jesus tells us our mind must be kept pure because the pure in heart shall see God. Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

LOVING The last quality we will speak of is that of love. It is listed last so it will linger in your mind. When was the last time you told your mom that you loved her?

When you were in elementary school you had show and tell. You need to show and tell your parents that you love them. " Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins." Proverbs 10:12 A mother can overlook many things if she knows that you love her. This is done because she is aware that you want to please her. " And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins." I Peter 4:8

Discussion and study questions:
(1) Why would a girl need to be optimistic and enthusiastic?
(2) How are we able to demonstrate honesty?
(3) What are some ways we can become purer in heart?
(4) What does heart mean as it is used in the Bible?

Copyright 2007 Linda Lawrence