To a large extent, the measure of a man is determined by the woman who has most impacted his life. And that woman doesn’t have to be a member of his family (whether mother, wife, grandmother, aunt, cousin, or daughter), or the object of his deepest affection (e.g., girlfriend or fiancée), whether past or present. It can be a teacher, nurse, social worker, or some other professional.

For me, the woman who has impacted me the most in life was a very ordinary woman I got to know in an African village several years ago. At the time I met her she had made many mistakes and suffered many misfortunes. But the Lord was very merciful to her, transforming her toils and pains into blessings. Let me explain why she is a woman to remember.

Ellen was orphaned at the age of 14. From that early age she was forced to endure poverty and a life of toil, as she struggled to take care of herself and her four-year-old sister, Esther. Being the older, and playing the role of “mother” to her...