To Be Sober

"That they may teach the young women to be sober."

Sober is an interesting word which can be used in more than one context. Many in modern times may think of this as the opposite of drunk. When I looked this up in Strong's Online Concordance, I found two of the definitions to be

2) to moderate, control, curb, disciple 3) to hold one to his duty.

Let's take a look at each of these definitions and how they can apply to women today in our search to fulfill the scriptures. The first definition uses the words "moderate", "control", and "curb". Many times we, as women, find something and we think of and we can dive right in head first, not taking the time to really examine what seems to be a harmless situation. A friend posted a CNN article on her blog about being addicted to facebook. It can happen. I know. The first few weeks I was on facebook were 'addicting'. I was finding people I had lost contact with long ago. It was so enjoyable to reconnect with them, but to what end. I was up way too late, way too often. Being up way too late would make me grumpy the next day. I would want to spend more time on facebook instead of spending it with my four awesome children. I was not at all being moderate, controlled (from within), or curbing my desires. I was not being sober.

The other definition, "To hold one to his duty," is an interesting definition. When we, as mothers, are serious about making sure that our children do the tasks to which they are assigned, when we make sure that they are being diligent in their studies, when we lovingly remind them of their obligations, we are being sober - serious.

The other thing I think of off the top of my head, though it is not one of the definitions from the Strong's Online Concordance, is being serious as the opposite of giddy. I don't know about the rest of you Mommy's out there with little girls, but my girls love to giggle. Laughing, while good at the right times, can be bad at the wrong times. My girls, especially my older one, can laugh at inappropriate times. I have to remind her to be serious about things. I have to remind her to be serious and diligent about her work. I need to remind her, from time to time, to be serious about the sin in her life, never taking it lightly or laughing at it. I need to remind her to be serious when she is talking with people because she is an ambassador.

So as a woman who is rapidly approaching 'older', I would encourage us all to be sober, to take our responsibilities seriously, to be moderate in things that could suck us in, to have self-control.