I was inside tidying up the house when I heard the sweet sounds of giggling coming from our backyard. I smiled and thought how I love to hear my daughters enjoying each others company. I decided to take a closer look to see what was so funny. As I quietly walked downstairs and toward the patio door, the giggling had turned to shouting in about 2.2 seconds, and soon there was an all out battle on the deck. Oh the simple, quiet days of summer.

After a few minutes, and some mediating from me, the battle ended and they were back to playing quietly. Madeline, 8, and Isabelle, 6, are very imaginative girls. I love to see the games they invent and the costumes they use to act out their imaginary play. This particular day Isabelle was adorned in several pieces of costume jewelry and an old hot- pink negligee of mine. I quickly announced that she was NEVER to go in the front yard with that on. What would the neighbors think? The girls informed me they were pretending to be teachers—their day job—and rock stars at night. They also informed me they were teenagers with no parents. I walked away a little perplexed, not quite knowing what to make of that.

Then it started me thinking, who are their heroes? Who do they look up to and mimic? Is it their teachers? Is it a young, female rock star? Is it a Disney Channel actress? Are these so called heroes people I would approve of?

Sure I grew up thinking Wonder Woman and the Bionic Woman were heroic, but for some reason they seemed more innocent than the young celebrity types my daughters are drawn to. They were “larger than life” helping anyone in need. The heroines my daughters are exposed to seem to get overwhelmed by fame, and end up on the cover of news magazines and on the nightly news because of poor choices they have made.

So, where does a mom find a good hero for her daughter these days? I think the answer is rather simple and obvious. The Bible. We are just over half way through our year-long study on Women of the Bible here at the Intersection. I have enjoyed this study immensely as I hope you have. What struck me this week are the amazing heroic qualities these women possessed: Esther’s courage, Ruth’s devotion, Sarah’s perseverance, Tamar’s vulnerability, Eve’s gigantic assignment, and so on. These women were far from perfect, but with God’s supernatural outpouring in their lives, they overcame the obstacles that stood before them. In the end, their stories were recorded in this great book for all to read throughout the ages.

After much thought about this subject, I am convinced that it’s time for my daughters to turn off the television, put the magazines down, and pause their Ipods for a few minutes. It’s time for them to discover the timeless and relevant stories of biblical heroes.

“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.’ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:28-30

Now that’s a heroin.

Unheard of.  A queen listening to the advice of a commoner.  My fairy-tale derived images of royalty can barely comprehend that thought.  And yet, once again, we see Queen Esther defying any stereotypes one might have of someone in her position.  Mordecai, Esther’s beloved uncle, revealed a plan in which the royal advisor wanted to annihilate the Jewish people.  No doubt concern for her dear relative and other kin permeated throughout her thought processes, but Esther also had to consider her own life for no one, not even the queen, could approach the king without first being invited.  As Krista described previously, Mordecai reminded Esther that, despite her crown, she too might be at risk of being put to death due to her heritage.  It is with a brazen confidence that she asked for others to pray and fast with her, and “when this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law.  And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16b).

Esther’s life expanded on the meaning of Ephesians 6:1-3 long before it was ever penned:

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." 

Esther no longer had an earthly father or mother, but respected and loved Mordecai as he adopted those roles in her life.  Even when she was beyond the age of being called a child, she still obeyed her “father” and it did go well with her.  In fact, we could probably even paraphrase Ephesians 6:3 to say she lived happily ever after. 

Maybe we could learn a thing or two from Queen Esther as we lay down our crowns of pride and self-reliance and glean from the wisdom our parents, uncles and mentors have to offer.

As a footnote, I want to thank my dad for being my Mordecai, the one who has helped me go on straight paths and has stood by me even when life got a little too bumpy.  I love you.  Happy Father’s Day!