Grace and Strength: The Divine Complementarity of Character

A gracious woman retaineth honour.—The honour of woman rests not in mimicry of masculine strength, but in the distinctive power of graciousness itself. Graciousness dissociated from strength carries its own formidable influence; strength dissociated from graciousness becomes mere force, bereft of those attributes which command the world's deepest confidence.

A woman works miracles through graciousness. She enters the sick chamber noiselessly, speaks the gentle word, and carries her purposes forward by the very force of tenderness, sympathy, and persuasiveness—without violence, ostentation, or vanity. Yet to raise the foolish question whether grace or strength proves more desirable mistakes the Divine design entirely. Each possesses its own worth; their combination constitutes the perfection of character.

Strength and beauty dwell in the house of Adonai. The great architectural column stands all the better for the beautiful capital that crowns it. Both sexes must cultivate grace—not through mechanical imitation, but through continual communion with Christ, studying His spirit and reproducing spiritually all that was distinctive of His infinite character.

The Bible has ever honoured woman. It was not good for man to be alone, for he lacks grace; it was not good for woman to stand apart, for she lacks strength. When men and women assume their right Christian relation, they complete one another and together constitute the Divine idea of humanity—each retaining their distinctive honour while achieving together what neither could accomplish alone.