A Living Translation

Four seminary students were discussing the merits of various translations of the Bible. One liked the King James Version best because of its beautiful English. Another liked the New American Standard Version because it is more literal and comes nearer to the Hebrew and Greek texts. Still another liked a modern translation because of the up-to-date vocabulary. The fourth student was silent. When asked to express her opinion, she replied, “I like my mother’s translation best. She translated it into life, and it was the most convincing translation I have ever seen.”

I am thankful to have a wonderful Christian mother who has truly been a living example of the Word of God. A woman possessing faith and spiritual maturity can encourage and equip another woman, particularly her daughter, to live for God’s glory. When a Christian experiences God’s grace and makes the decision to glorify Him, her life influences other lives in a positive way. Psalms 78:4, 6-7 states: “…we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done…so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget His deeds but would keep His commands” (NIV). I praise God today for the generational blessing of my daughter who is also a woman who knows, loves, and serves the Lord. Christian women are to train themselves and others in the inspired Word of God, knowing that this Word equips the believer for every good work (see 2 Timothy 3:17). Proverbs 31:1, 26 states: “The words of King Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness” (KJV). God has made women to be carriers of the seed, life-givers, and then caregivers. When pregnant, they ultimately birth the new life; then they are to nurture it, love it, and guard it. Through their softness and dedication, they press on through hardship and struggle, continually breathing words of life into those they love.

I read recently that encouragement is like oxygen. It helps people breathe more deeply and feel satisfied and content, so they feel more hopeful. A mother breathes life into her children by the words she speaks and the life she models. My mother has always been an encourager to me. No matter what project I am working on, she has always said, “Sandra Gail, you can do it.” And because she said that to me, I can believe and say to my daughter and to others, “You can do it.” One person can have a profound effect on the world by investing in another. Therefore, the choice to mentor or work with another can impact a life, a community, and ultimately, the kingdom of God. My mother wrote some thoughts in a book of memories she put together for my daughter, Haley. She states, “There are three things that will make anyone happy, and one must have them all. The possession of these things is as available to the rich as it is to the poor. Happiness consists first of something to do; secondly, someone to love; and thirdly, something to look forward to.” At the end of this memory book, she writes a few more words that are inspirational to me, so I believe they will be the same for you: “So, just for today, let us be agreeable, responsive, cheerful, and kind. Let us look our best, walk softly, praise people for what they do, and not criticize them for what they cannot do. When we find fault, let’s overlook it. Let us resolve to be unafraid of life, unafraid to be happy, and vow to enjoy the beauty around us and believe only the best of others.”

Whether or not our moms are here, or whether or not we have children, we can still encourage others and nurture with the love of a mother, which is the fruit of the love of God. The nurturing love experienced in a woman’s life enables her to empower her children and others. It is this nurturing love that is the best translation of God’s Word – a living translation.