Are you familiar with the Proverbs 31 woman in the Bible? You might cringe at the mere thought of her…the one who seems to have it all together with a perfect home and perfect kids. Perhaps this passage seems like a foreign language to us because of the culture during which it was written. I’ve taken a stab at this by writing my own 21st century version.
And in case you didn’t already know, this woman in Proverbs 31 was NOT a real woman! This passage of scripture is a portrayal of virtuous qualities to be found in a godly woman.
Feel better now? Enjoy and be encouraged!
Proverbs 31:10-31
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
A woman who truly seeks after God is rare in today’s world. If she were paid for all she does, her annual salary would average around $150,000.
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
Because he married a smart woman, her husband trusts her completely to run the household.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
She wants to honor her husband even though her flesh yearns to control and demand her own ways. She refrains from “husband bashing” when she’s with her girlfriends.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
She purchases things for her home wisely and creates a warm atmosphere for her family.
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
She drives to Costco to stock up on goldfish crackers and chicken nuggets. And she sometimes orders items online to save money, time and above all…her sanity.
She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.
She gets up in the middle of the night to care for a sick toddler who just puked all over the bed. When her alarm goes off she fixes pop tarts “to-go” for her older kids who are about to miss the school bus because she was up all night. Servant girls?? Those would be her children who are assigned daily chores.
She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She finds a few bargains at Goodwill and sells them on Ebay to make a profit.
She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
She strategically puts in a movie for her kids while she cleans the toilet, does a load of laundry and unloads the dishwasher. If there’s time left over she’ll quietly slip away to go to the bathroom for a few minutes of peace to herself.
She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
She earns extra income from holding a yard sale. She sleeps at peace (for the most part), yet is ready to bound out of bed at a moment’s notice when she hears her little ones crying out for her.
In her hands she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
If she has sewing abilities, this is a rare blessing! But if she’s like most, she frantically sews a button on her son’s only clean pair of pants 15 minutes before he heads out the door for school. Anything requiring more work than this is dropped off at a dry cleaners or seamstress shop.
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
She picks up a few extra items at Kroger for her neighbor whose husband just lost his job. Her friend recovering from surgery needs someone to watch her kids for an afternoon, so she gladly accepts with a compassionate heart.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
When she wakes up to the first snow on the ground, she pulls out the coats, gloves, boots and hats that she got on sale at Target. She’s also combs through clearance racks to purchase spring and summer clothing for next year.
She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
She shops at Wal-Mart to find a deal on a new comforter. She shops for clothes at consignment stores trying to stay within her family’s tight budget.
Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
Her husband walks into work feeling loved because he had a date with his wife last night. He brags on his wife to his buddies during his lunch meeting.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She gets an idea on Pinterest for a unique scarf and creates a website selling them to her friends.
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
She may physically be exhausted but her inner strength comes from God. She can laugh at the days to come (and often laughs at herself) because her confidence and hope come from the Lord.
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
After many moments of humility, she graciously gains wisdom. Her time in prayer and God’s word overflows from her heart when she instructs her children.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
She makes sure the diapers don’t run out, keeps groceries stocked in the fridge, attempts to keep the never-ending laundry caught up and oversees homework when she’d rather collapse on the couch and take a much deserved nap.
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.
When her kids get up, they plead, ” Mommy…..play with us!” Her husband quickly kisses her while rushing out the door whispering, “Babe, you rock!”
Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.
Many women hold masters degrees and will walk into fortune 500 companies sporting their high heels and business suits. But you are just as important,sporting your PJ’s with spit-up smeared on the front, rocking your little ones and reading them a story.
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Our youthful skin gradually turns to wrinkles. The number on the scales inches up while metabolism slows down. So she doesn’t obsess on her outward appearance, but focuses instead on feeding her soul…where true beauty is found in God’s eyes.
Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Her hard work will pay off in the end because she has loved deeply through thick and thin. No matter what others say, God knows and sees everything she does and loves her relentlessly.
Blessings to you!
Lisa
Check out my book Embracing The Race
Lisa Preuett~Rest Stop for the Soul 