She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. Proverbs 31:26
“Women of a generous spirit nurture the child within them. They know what revitalizes them, and they don’t feel guilty for engaging in healthy play. They recognize the need for relationships with peers that infuse their lives with laughter and mutual encouragement. [Sophie] and [Kathryn] have begun to plug fun evenings into their friendships. Both love movies and talking for hours over coffee…”
Lois Monday Rabey in Women of a Generous Spirit: Touching Others With Life-Giving Love (Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 1998) 125.
I removed the names of two women in this quote and inserted Sophie and one of her many friends as today our daughter celebrated her 19th birthday in Nelson, New Zealand. I use the past tense because we shot the new header photo on our unforgettable helicopter ride to Mt. Owen in Kahurangi National Park where the Fellowship made their way out of the Mines of Moria (without Gandalf).
What’s more beautiful than a woman with generous spirit whose lips drip with wisdom, kindness, and coffee?
That’s Sophie! She playful. She lifts everyone up around her and points them closer to Christ. She loves talking with friends for hours over coffee: the beverage which happens to be one of our strongest father-daughter connections. Happy birthday Sophie! I just committed to giving her monthly gift cards for another year to enjoy and share coffee with those she loves.
Go buy coffee for someone you love today. Visit for more than an hour, and talk about life and faith. Ask how your friend is doing, and what they are learning these days from Jesus. Share openly and transparently. Be sure to get a large coffee so you linger a while.