Proverbs 31 An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out a night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is know in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. Strength and dignity are her clothing and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. He says, "May women have done excellently, but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
So this morning Ken and I mailed cards to our mothers for Mother's Day and I wrote a portion of this chapter of Provers to my mother because she is the best.
I remember the first time I ever heard these verses. I was just a little girl but already it was in the back of my mind that I would never achieve this kind of praise because I was not "good enough". I would never be the "virtuous woman". I would never be the "excellent wife" and my children would never "rise up and called me blessed".
And I spent a lot of years proving that to myself. I created the kind of life that I felt I deserved.
But when I came to know Him, my Lord, my Friend, my Helper.... He changed the way in which I viewed myself. He changed my perspective and my thought process. Basically, if HE could see me as something of value, why couldn't I? If He could love me so much, shouldn't I?
I thought that I was a very different kind of woman than the one in Proverbs but I found today that we have some things in common....
My husband does trust me and he brags on me, more than I deserve. I am a good nurse and I love my patients, most of them anyway, and I try to treat them like I would want someone to treat my Mama. I have an ongoing education and a reliable job that allows me to see the country. I take great pride in whatever place we live and make it my goal to make it feel like home. I have a wonderful hobby in photography and when we are at home I am an active gardener. I am a decent cook and somewhat funny :) If I didn't know me so well, I would like me.
I still have to draw the line at my children rising up and calling me blessed....we are just not there yet but I love them and I think they love me.
I do not always do the right thing. Some times I hide from God and lack trust and behave foolishly. Sometimes I have to tell Him that I am sorry for neglecting Him. But He loves me and I love Him. He is patient with me and I try to be patient with Him as well. We both agree that He is my God, that He is eternally good, that He is love personified and He is worthy to be adored. And we are trying to agree that I am of great value to Him and to the world and that my life should reflect how precious I am to Him.
It is hard for me to love me but it is easy for me to love Him and He is teaching me to love what He loves. Make sense?
And so for today it is enough. He is enough. My life is enough.
Father I cannot tell You adequately enough how much I love You. You have given me a new life, a new start, a new perspective. You have given me Yourself and that is the greatest gift of all. Thank You for Your patient pursuit of this willful child. You are my love. You are my everlasting King. You are my friend and I adore You.
