Proverbs 31:10-31
New International Version (NIV)
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
10 [a]A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
WoW. When I look at that, when I read that, when I even try to wrap my mind around one sentence of that I get overwhelmed. On a bad day I struggle with my fibromyalgia just getting out of bed and a shower is a bonus! It is on those days that images of these verses tear through my heart as I watch my husband come home from another long workday to no home cooked meal. But lately I am starting to realize, that God didn't mean for a woman to necessarily be all of these things all the time at one point in her life. She may have been all these things, but at different points in her life, what was important, and what was sustaining, and what was the focus, was that her eyes were always on The LORD. She praised Him, feared Him, raised her children to fear and love Him, and that was why the work of her hands were blessed. I think that is what I have lost sight of myself.
So I started to find ways to change that. One has been my health. There are many things I cannot change about it, but there are many things I can. Like quitting smoking, eating better, getting better diagnosis, fighting with Dr's for better treatments, researching alternative treatments and just plain not giving up and giving in (which I had).
Another is starting my make ahead meals. I am slowly changing over some of my family favorite recipies to healthier versions, and making them freezer friendly. This is not only helping with the having a hot meal ready issue, but it also might turn out to be a future income maker for me. I am not sure where God is taking me, but this is another adventure. There is one thing that is for sure, with Him it is always exciting, and you always end up better off than you were!
So I started to find ways to change that. One has been my health. There are many things I cannot change about it, but there are many things I can. Like quitting smoking, eating better, getting better diagnosis, fighting with Dr's for better treatments, researching alternative treatments and just plain not giving up and giving in (which I had).
Another is starting my make ahead meals. I am slowly changing over some of my family favorite recipies to healthier versions, and making them freezer friendly. This is not only helping with the having a hot meal ready issue, but it also might turn out to be a future income maker for me. I am not sure where God is taking me, but this is another adventure. There is one thing that is for sure, with Him it is always exciting, and you always end up better off than you were!
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