Glendy and her husband, Sean, run The Great Commission Children’s Home in Guatemala, where we served for three days a week for a month. She’s a mom to eight kids (seven boys, one girl – two biological boys). During our time there, she earned more and more of my respect and admiration.
We joked about feeling a kindred spirit with Sandra Bullock’s character in The Blind Side as we drove down the road in her stick-shift, black van that could hold the whole family. (It mirrored Mr. T’s van from The A-Team.) She talked about taking self-defense classes and carrying a gun for protection (I smiled, thinking of Leigh Anne Tuohy saying she’s ‘always packing’). Upon more reflection, I have concluded she is indeed, Guatemala’s version of “The Blind Side” woman – and a model of the woman described in Proverbs 31. Certainly no woman is perfect, but here are a few highlights of what I saw in Glendy:
v. 11-12 “Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.” Sean raved about Glendy before we even met her. He loves his wife, and trusts her.
v.15 “She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.” Although I don’t know when she rises, Glendy makes sure her family has healthy meals and conducts her home efficiently. By law, the home is required to have help so two nannies are present at all times. Glendy takes care of them well – they are paid higher than minimum wage, are well-fed, and she treats them to special coffees and treats. By living and working at the home, the nannies have come to know the Lord.
v.17 “She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. … and her lamp does not go out at night.” Glendy is always on the go. High energy, she’s always thinking, working, holding and feeding babies, meeting with social workers and psychologists, reading legal paperwork, appearing in court (for custody cases), planning, working out (her arms are definitely strong for the tasks) late into the night.
v.20 “She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.” Just take a look at her home, the children no one wants, she takes in and loves them unconditionally. Glendy accepts the help of the cart-boy at Pricemart, though she could handle it on her own. Tipping him, she knows he needs it.
v.26 “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” Glendy sat us down to her banqueting table and shared scripture, encouragement with us and prayed. In our conversations, she departed wisdom and pointed me to God. She was a great encouragement to me.
v. 27 “She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Simple as that: Glendy – she does this. She respects and submits to her husband, she carries her cross, she sacrifices and she loves.
v.28 “Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” You can hear the love in each child as they call “Mom!” And Sean, he praises her publicly.
I have also learned a great deal from Judith, a nanny and overseer of the house. From cooking (amazing tortillas, black beans, chocolate covered bananas) to cleaning (cleaning supplies are different here) to loving on kids – with grace and discipline. I love Judith. She is salt of the earth. She’s devoted to Glendy and Sean, she loves each child and each child loves her. They KNOW they are loved. They listen to Judith. She spends time with them, she invests in them. I’m reminded a lot of my mom with her grandkids. They know they are loved and they love their GG. Same with their parents – who spend time with them, sacrifice for them, love them no matter what. I’m learning more and more about the ultimate sacrifice parents make to care for and love their children. Playing with the kids – that was the fun part. But when I wasn’t interacting directly with the kiddos and instead was mopping with a wimpy mop or shoveling dirt for the basketball court, I thought “this is because I love those kids, I’m doing it for them, because I love Alex and Danny and I want them to have the best.”
And I realize that Judith is a Proverbs 31 woman. That my Mom is a Proverbs 31 woman (I have always thought this), that Colleen and Danielle (my sisters-in-law) – they are Proverbs 31 women. The actions/circumstances look different in each woman’s life, but the character, love for God and devotion to family (whatever that family looks like) – that is what makes them “worth far more than rubies.”
“Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.” (v. 31)
Judith and Alejandra
