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| Here's a glimpse of how beautiful it was. |
The Bible says we can learn from the ant....well, as the lady staff and spouses of Elevation Church, we spent the evening learning from the elephant. Did you know elephants are a matriarchal society? That means a female elephant is the head of the herd full of mothers, daughters, sisters, and aunts. The only boys are the baby boys, but when they get to a certain age, the boys are on their own. I had no idea!
Holly taught us four characteristics of female elephants that we, as women, can emulate to be the community God intended us to be. I would like to challenge all women reading this to do the same.
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| I am so thankful for the example Holly is to me and the investment she has made in my life. |
Help.
Elephants literally circle around anyone in their herd who is in a vulnerable situation. Whether they are injured, birthing a baby, or weak and tired, the herd circles up to protect them. This is instinctive to them and we get to do the same. We get to surround those in our herd who are going through a difficult season. Whether being available to pray with them, bring them meals, or just be a listening ear, it's our job to protect our sisters and help them out of the center of the circle at the right time. And when we're the ones who are going through those difficult times, it's our responsibility to allow our herd to surround us because when we isolate ourselves, we open ourselves up for an attack. Anyone else have a difficult time allowing others to help? (I shared about how I found help in this area in my last blog.)
Carry each other's burdens, in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
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| These guys are getting in a formation to protect the vulnerable lady elephant in the middle. |
Example.
The matriarch is usually the leader until death, and she sets an example to the other elephants in the herd. She is wise. She makes decisions based on what she feels is best for the herd. She is essential in teaching elephants how to mother their calves. She considers the needs of the group before making decisions to move to new locations. A great example from the Bible is Elizabeth. She went before Mary as an example of grace and obedience, while also affirming what God had inside of her. I love how God created us to do the same to our friends. We get to be both matriarch and herd member at the same time and even within the same relationships.
In a loud voice, she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!" Luke 1:42-45
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| The matriarch of the herd leads the way. |
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| I had the privilege of reading a letter to my friend Amber. She has been an example to me since we got to Elevation Church. |
Remember.
You know the saying "an elephant never forgets"? Did you know it's true? There are cases of elephants working with people, not seeing them for years, and then recognizing them when they're reintroduced. Also, elephants are one of only five animals who can recognize themselves in the mirror. And, when elephants line up to travel, they always line up in the same order. Isn't that crazy? You know what is even crazier? Elephants are empathetic towards one another. They are actually known to have funerals for their members who pass away. They stay close to the mourning herd member until she is done mourning. Honestly, this is one of the most difficult of the four characteristics for me. So often I get lost in my own world-I have a big and busy family with an incredibly active church life, and a growing business and I sometimes forget to remember those in my herd. But, I am leaving my excuses behind and am learning from the elephants in this area.
We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3
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| These elephants are mourning the loss of a baby. |
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| One of my best friends, Anna, is an example of someone who remembers. I am so thankful for her! |
Devoted.
Elephants are fiercely devoted to each other. They have a tight social bond built on trust and vulnerability. They help each other in danger and have even been seen to comfort each other in death. Their devotion to each other does not mean they are exclusive, though. If a herd can't feed a baby elephant due to her mother dying, another herd, with the means to nurse her, will accept her into theirs. What if we could show the world needs a group of women so fiercely devoted to one another there's no room for jealousy or division; a group of women who accept each other for who they are and who always have room for new members? We get to be that, and isn't it so refreshing to our culture?! You know the verse in Ruth people read at weddings, did you know it's actually said between two women? Talk about devoted!
But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me." Ruth 1:16-17
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| Reunited after being apart. |
I encourage you to find your HERD of Elephant Queens. The ones who Help, who are an Example, who Remember and who are Devoted. (Notice the acronym?!?) And I encourage you to be those things for the queens in your herd. Where the devil can divide, he is more likely to be able to conquer-which is why it is essential for us to come together, as women fiercely devoted to God and one another in unity. If we learn these things from the elephants, we will be a force to be reckoned with; our relationships will be a refreshing example to the world around us and will attract people to Jesus.
If you're not sure who your herd is, take the bible's advice-a person who has friends must show herself friendly. Find a local church, get plugged into a small group or volunteer on a team, connect with other moms from your kids' class at school, put yourself out there, be the friend you hope to have; I promise it will be worth it!
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| Some of the incredible ladies from my Elevation Concord herd. I am so blessed to get to do life with them! |
