choir and laughs with her friends. She has a faith that reaches out to
others. She teaches the Bible to two younger women in her neigh-
borhood who come to her home one day a week.
I was privileged to be part of that study one day, and I saw first-
hand the way these younger women look up to Jessie—the fondness
and admiration in their eyes. (Once again, she was unaware of her-
self. She was there to usher them into the presence of her Lord. And
she did.)
When I see Jessie’s face, when I encounter her faith, when I join
her in prayer, I feel ashamed that I spend any time at all thinking
about outward appearances. The loveliness I see in Jessie’s life is the
kind that Peter spoke about when he said, “Your beauty should not
come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wear-
ing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your
inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is
of great worth in God’s sight” (1 Pet. 3:3–4).
Jessie is that kind of woman. Her prayer, her praise, her life itself
are beautiful in God’s sight. And in mine.
Oh, Father, thank you for the strong women of faith and beauty you
are raising up in the body of Christ. Thank you for their courage,
their faith, and their gifts. Thank you for the example they hold up
to those of us who are blessed to know them. Help me to walk in the
joy and integrity that they model for me. Amen.28 CLAIRECLONINGER