Proverbs 31:10-31 (NIV)
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 11Her 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. 23Her 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.
I am sure every pastor and his dog has used this passage as “Mothers Day” material so I am risking being a cliche, but for me this epilogue keeps rising to the top of the pile as I sift through the events that have transpired this week (I literally read “She is, Proverbs 31:25” in sparkle letters on a sweater this morning on Instagram- “OK, I got the hint”). This wife described above is amazing! I wonder if this wife has a closet (maybe a mini tent attached to her big tent) full of unfinished projects like me. Notice though how these projects are not written about. In fact I wonder if the reason this passage is written about the “wife” and not by the “wife” is because perhaps she would have talked more about the things she hasn’t gotten to rather that all the things that she has accomplished.
For many of us, our lives consist of many more seasons than those that are listed on a twelve month calendar. We have busy times and times where we are bored waiting for something to happen or wondering when God is going to finally use us for His “big plan”. In the mean time we keep “life going” with the weekly Costco run, getting children to multiple schools on time and dressed with lunches that may or may not be consumed, put more gas in the truck, make dinner (ugh, again,. why do we need to eat so much), visit the doctors office for any bizarre and strange sicknesses that comes up, go to a job, attempt not to forget about the load of laundry in the washing machine before it gets stinky, and spend as much time with your kids and spouse as possible so you can remember why you run around like a crazy person. Oh, and post a candid but cute pic to Instagram and Facebook so distant relatives and people from high school (with whom you spent the years of your life you are currently trying to blot out from your memory) can keep tabs on you. –Insert breathing break here-.
You are amazing too!
I think one of the really important verses to remember is verse 30. “30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised”. The stuff we do today is not the same as what the “Wife” whom they are writing about did then. Perhaps some of the things she did then can translate into our modern day errands but the truth that transcends time and costumes is the truth that she did all these tasks because she was trusting and obeying God knowing that she was fearfully and wonderfully made by the creator of the entire universe. I feel like that helps put the daily grind and perhaps some of the “parent” guilt in perspective. So all you wives out there, I am praying for busy full lives and massive amounts of being contented in Gods plans for you. Have a Happy Mothers Day! AMEN!