She Created Culture: A Beauty AND A Beast

I remember the day my brother first mentioned a girl named Hannah.

They’d gone out that evening and he and I were chatting afterward.

Sean and I had always been close and as a protective and slightly jealous little sister, I’d always worried that Sean might marry someone I didn’t know or didn’t like. And knowing that my brother wasn’t the type of guy to take a girl out every Friday night, he was probably decently serious about this one.

And I had questions.

Me: “What’s her full name?”

Him: “Hannah Hanson”

Me: “Really? Hannah Hanson??? Why does that sound so perfect?”

Me: “Is she bigger or smaller than me?”

Him: “What?!”

Me: “What does she look like?”

Him: “I mean she’s really pretty, but don’t you have more important questions?”

Me: “Ok, What does she do?”

Him: “She teaches music lessons, she does some photography, helps her family out a lot on the farm.”

Me: “Is she younger than you?”

Him: “She was born the November before me.”

Me: “Ahhhh, got yourself an older woman…”

Me: “Is she on social media?”

Him: “Bethany… please don’t.”

Me: “Ummm… I’m definitely going to.”

I then proceeded to Facebook stalk this Hannah Hanson. I needed to know more about the human vying for my brothers affections.

But y’all… there wasn’t a lick of dirt to be found. Not that I was really shocked. But for a little sister trying to dig deep and investigate, all I discovered was a beautiful young woman, with piercing green eyes, who seemed to lead a God honoring, adventurous, and purposeful life.

Bummer.

After scrolling and scrolling and scrolling her profile, I finally sent Hannah a friend request and a message introducing myself and just letting her know I was praying for her and for my brother, and asking God to use their friendship for the good of them both, no matter where it led.

I mean, I might have been protective, but I wasn’t a jerk.

And she really did seem like a nice human.

Hannah quickly responded with a message just as sincere and genuine. From there we exchanged pleasantries and interests through various messages. I met her for the first time when she joined our family for Christmas three months after this. A year and one month later, she and my brother tied the knot and I was truly so happy for them.

Hannah asked me to be a bridesmaid, though we didn’t know one another all that well and had only met in person a couple of times. This meant the world to me as I couldn’t imagine not getting to be a part of my brother’s big day.

This was the beginning of a friendship I’m so thankful for. See, not only did I end up becoming friends with the girl my brother decided to do life with, but she also turned out to be a huge inspiration and encouragement in my life beyond what I ever could have hoped for.

See, when my brother married Hannah Hanson, I didn’t realize that not only was he marrying a beauty (cause yep, she’s super pretty), but he was also marrying a BEAST.

And just for anyone who might not be aware…. dictionary.com says:

“A more recent slang sense of beast is completely positive. Calling someone a beast in this way means they are extremely strong, skilled, or dominant in some activity.”

I can think of no better way to describe Hannah when it comes to conquering womanhood.

I’m not trying to be corny by references to Proverbs 31. But as I read over it in preparation for this segment, I was like… good gracious… she fits all of this. (Well, I mean, except for “rising while it is yet night.” The girl likes her sleep. 😉 )

Anyway, let me give a few examples of why I think this.

She Serves Others

My brother became pastor of his first church in the same month that he and Hannah were married. Hannah will tell you herself that she’d never imagined being a Pastor’s wife before meeting Sean. Yet, God has drawn her into the part so beautifully and I have always been inspired to see the process.

Sean pastors a small church in George, IA. Their church possesses a lot of character as it is composed of Iowan locals as well as quite a few locals from the country of Micronesia (a large group of islands in the West Pacific Ocean).

I’ve watched my sister-in-law walk alongside my brother and not only support his ministry but utilize her own gifts and time to love their church well and continue to minister and reach out through the whole myriad of seasons and the ups and downs that come with being in the ministry. Even while mothering two (and a half 😉 ) young children, she cares deeply for the people they serve and walk beside in the faith.

She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. (Proverbs 31)

This is not just something she does on Sundays. Just as a pastor’s work is never truly done, neither is the work of his wife. Hannah bolsters Sean and walks with him along the way (which I believe to be abundantly important) and I am so very thankful and encouraged by her heart and her diligence in this.

She’s Industrious

Y’aaaaalllllll… this chick is crazy when it comes to finding a way to stretch a dollar or multiply it.

She seeks wool and flax,
    and works with willing hands.

While some of us get into reselling on the side… Hannah has cornered the market in a way that many of us wish we could. She’s got the “in” on getting merchandise affordably. (Don’t worry, it’s totally fair and legal, I just can’t give away all of her secrets.) The hours she spends depends on the season, but the girl knows what to get, where to get it, how much to spend on it, how to fix it up and what will sell and what will sit. I’ve tried to glean from her, but I’m convinced it’s a God-given talent to have the knack for knowing a good deal when you see it and making something of it.

Ohhhh, and take this next passage:

She is like the ships of the merchant;
    she brings her food from afar...

So, we don’t really use the term “merchant ships” much anymore… but the term Amazon is certainly one we all know well.

After Hannah randomly began reviewing her purchases from Amazon, Amazon liked her contributions so much, they offered her the opportunity to receive a certain number of items per day that are not yet available to the public. She chooses items and which are then shipped to her under the condition that she’ll offer her thoughts and assessments on the product for when it goes to market.

This allows her to keep all sorts of healthy supplements and snacks and useful accessories and appliances around her home as helpful tools for caring for her family, yet in SUCH an affordable way.

She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
    Her lamp does not go out at night.

This girl has ways I simply do not understand and she’s my go-to when I’m looking for advice on finding a good deal or need advice on a making a little extra on the side.

Not to mention, she likes to garden and can salsa and veggies and jams in the midst of all of this.

She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard…

She’s Strong

She dresses herself with strength
    and makes her arms strong.

If all of this does not show a steadfastness of heart and mind, let me tell you a short story about my sister-in-law:

Back in the April of 2020, just five days after my brother’s 30th birthday, the unimaginable happened.

An injury he sustained while working out caused a blood clot in his brain and from that a minor stroke. When his symptoms first began, he was too weak to walk.

Hannah, who was just two months postpartum after their second baby, and has a rather petite build, underarm dragged my brother across the house and to the door so they could get him to the car and then to the hospital.

The next three days would lead to a hospital stay in the ICU where Hannah was not allowed to visit my brother due to COVID restrictions and only knew what had actually happened through sparse phone calls and scattered information. She sat in her car with her children and mother for hours waiting for word. She slept nights not knowing if she’d ever see my brother again or if he’d ever be the same.

Hannah struggled through those days just as anyone would… but there was a God given inner strength I saw in her throughout the whole ordeal.

Strength and dignity are her clothing,
    and she laughs at the time to come. (Proverbs 31)

No, Hannah wasn’t laughing during those times by any means, but the fact that she had a hope and a sure future beyond the fear of losing her husband or receiving back a man much different than she’d married was obvious when I spoke with her.

By God’s good grace, my brother is alive and well and healed without injury or disability. I know this isn’t always the case… but I’m grateful beyond words for his wife and her diligence and level headedness in the midst of terrifying circumstances.

The heart of her husband trusts in her,
    and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm,
    all the days of her life.

Culture Created

I hadn’t intended to focus on younger women in this series… but when Hannah comes to mind, I see a maturity beyond her years and an example that many young women would do well to follow.

After all, the women who have created Biblical culture didn’t start when they were 50. They’ve created culture from a lifetime of living for Christ and God’s glory by walking as women of strength and courage and love and integrity.

I think it’s important for even those of us who don’t think of ourselves as “older women” to remember that there is always someone younger than you or less mature in the faith, or simply someone who needs your encouragement.

By God’s grace, Hannah has created a counter culture to the influences of the day by showing that true strength is not found in going it alone, cutting out what makes you uncomfortable, looking out for self first, or taking the easy path… but rather, it’s found in doing life together, persevering through the hard things, serving those around you, and being willing to work hard.

Hannah has created culture by showing that a woman of true strength will make this world’s “girl power” look like child’s play.

And I gotta say, I love her for it.

Thank you, Hannah. As a sister and friend, you’ve inspired me to walk with strength and dignity, and I’m so grateful for you.