July 7

On July 7, 1981, President Ronald Reagan nominated Sandra Day O’Connor to the United States Supreme Court, making her the first woman in American history to be considered for the nation’s highest bench. Her nomination was more than a legal appointment—it was a cultural shift, a signal that the gates of the judiciary were finally opening to the half of the population long shut out of such influence.

It’s striking to remember that less than a century earlier, women in the U.S. were still considered too emotional, too delicate, or simply too unqualified to even vote, let alone interpret the Constitution. O’Connor’s nomination shattered that old narrative. A seasoned judge, a former state senator, and a graduate of Stanford Law, she had the qualifications—and the composure—to rise above every whisper of doubt. When she was confirmed unanimously by the Senate later that year, it wasn’t just a personal victory. It was a turning point for the legal system and for generations of women watching the impossible become real.

Prayer for Feminine Wisdom and Courage

God of Justice and Grace,

Thank You for the women You have raised up throughout history—

women of wisdom, quiet strength, and bold courage.

For those who led in silence, and for those who spoke when silence was expected.

On this day, we remember Sandra Day O’Connor,

the first woman nominated to the United States Supreme Court.

Her life reminds us that wisdom wears many faces—

and that courage often walks into rooms it was never invited to.

Give us eyes to see the gifts in the women around us.

Help us nurture the minds, voices, and callings of our daughters.

And may we never mistake gentleness for weakness, or grace for passivity.

Let the kind of wisdom that builds homes, heals wounds, and shapes nations

be honored, welcomed, and heard.

Amen.

Act on it:

Share a word of encouragement with a woman you admire. It might mean more than you think.