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“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).The steadfast mother was literal ly living through this as her crisis played out. Blessed- And by the time Elisha reached the house, the boy had died on the couch. So, “He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the Lord” (2 Kings 4:33), after which the boy came to life. For the second time in our journey, God uses His servants to deliver a young lad from death. Included in that familiar virtuous woman passage are these words, “Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her” (Proverbs 31:28, KJV).This woman, who was certainly a blessing to Elisha, had her faith rewarded by receiving a blessing in return. Humble- Observe carefully the Shunammite’s reaction when Elisha presented the child who had died to her alive. “She came in, fell at his feet and bowed to the ground” (2 Kings 4:37). Just like she was cautious when she received the news of his birth, she demon strated modesty and meekness when he regained his life. No high fives or victory laps. Not even a shout for joy. She simply took the boy and left the room. Marion Anderson (1897-1993), an American contralto, was told byToscanini that she had the voice of the century. She gave a concert at the White House for the Roosevelts and England’s king and queen. She sang beneath the Lincoln Memorial one Easter Day before over 75,000, a crowd that included many famous and ac complished people. Millions more listened by radio. She had plenty to choose from when asked by a reporter to name the greatest moment of her life.Yet, she answered, “The day I went home and told my mother she needn’t take in washing any more.”

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