So let's review what a Proverbs 31 Woman is...
10 [c] 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 dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
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 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
This morning as I was getting a game plan for my day it occurred to me that I should revisit the Proverbs 31 woman. I felt God was certainly holding a truth for me there seeing as how my day was just starting & I already felt overloaded. As I stepped into the shower my mind was flooded with all the things I needed to accomplish. Clean the house, catch up the laundry, iron Church clothes for tomorrow, wash & prep all the veggies, plan my menu for the week, & last but certainly not least tackle cleaning out the laundry room. Honestly, who do I think I am?! I tend to react to the situations that arise in my home instead of being proactive. Don't get me wrong I am getting better. I iron the clothes for the week ahead, instead of ironing piece by piece. I've also started menu planning which has made a huge difference. I guess what I am getting at is this... Until today every time I read Proverbs 31 I felt like a failure. I thought wow, she really had it going on & I need to get my act together! This morning my sweet Lord said to me, "Girlfriend, get a hold of yourself! It is your calling to prioritize ME first, and then the people & things of this world. I did not call you to be in charge & DO EVERYTHING YOURSELF!" So, now that my big girl panties are pulled up (but not too high) I am going to be proactive about my home, BUT, I am not going to beat myself up for not doing all the work myself & having it all done today. You know, now that I think about it, the Proverbs 31 woman provided portions for her servant girls because she had servant girls working around her. I think that means that as long as I am running my home with guidance from my Father that there is nothing wrong with having help. Yep, I'm going to make some calls & have someone clean the house once or twice a month. Thank you Lord for shining some much needed light on a very gloomy subject! I am my worst critic & my Heavenly Father is my biggest fan!!!
