Wow - this month has flown by!!! We are looking at the 31st chapter of Proverbs. I have heard this chapter all my life - at every Mother's Day Banquet - at least once a year - at many, many women's functions........always thinking it is some kind of woman that I am supposed to be trying to be and never thinking I would ever be able to be. I mean, seriously, who could be all that this woman is????? I don't know anyone like her. I have figured out that the idea we - or I - had of womanhood is nothing like the picture painted in this chapter. I mean, this women is free or bondage of any kind, she is a working woman who has money of her own and invests it on her own and makes more money, she makes her husband look good and is proud of him as he "sits at the gate" being important (that's how she sees him - important). She gets up early and goes to bed late and takes care of every need in her home. I mean, this woman is "super woman" (that's what we used to call her when I was a young woman trying to be her)!!!
BUT as I read this chapter today I realized I missed the most important verse every other time I read it. It is verse 29: "There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, BUT YOU SURPASS THEM ALL." I began to realize that I am that woman - I am the you in that verse - and so are you the you in that verse. " I can do ALL things thru Christ who strengthens me!" I can and - in God's eyes - I am that woman - super woman. I have the potential to be her. the most noticable thing about her is that she never worries about herself!!! She concentrates on those around her and takes care of those around her and never seems to take notice of what she needs herself. That is motherhood if ever I saw it!!! That is womanhood!!! We are wired to look out for the cares of everyone around us and it's when we begin to concentrate on our own needs that we get so frustrated. Just be the woman God has made you to be and you will become the Proverbs 31 woman. Don't let society dictate who you should be - be God's woman - what He made you - and you will be the one your children rise up to call blessed!!!
Vs 30 and 31 - "......a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise!"
What part of this Proverbs 31 woman really speaks to you???
I will let you know the schedule of reading for Feb on the blog tomorrow.
Stay tuned for MORE adventures in God's Word together.
1 comment:
Oh my word, she IS super woman! And I NEVER feel like super woman. Honestly, I don't even try. There's no point, because I don't feel like I could ever attain all of that. Instead, the Lord is usually dealing with one of those tiny parts of the "Proverbs 31 woman" in me all the time. That must be the way I need it! Small portions. Once we (the Lord and I) conquer one, we move on to the next. Sometimes we (really I) have to go back to a previous one and start again.
What struck me so much is that the world is telling us all the time that we as women do not do anything for ourselves. That is our problem, according to the powers that be. (i.e. the media) We need more pampering and less changing of the pampers. Then we will feel wonderful.
It is true that we must take care of ourselves in order to take care of those around us. If your plane loses oxygen, put the mask on yourself before you put it on your kid, right? But you don't have to put the mask on yourself and take a 15 minute stretching session and make sure your blanket is in proper order and your hair looks nice before you put the oxygen on your kid.
Personally, when I need a recharge, the Lord always seems to provide something. A choir practice, a jog to the post office alone, a haircut, or whatever.
I believe that the Lord DID make us as women to find fullfillment in taking care of others. He knows when we need to recharge ourselves and He can show us ways to do that. But that cannot be our focus or we will not find contentment in what we are doing.
Yes, I will say it, I am against spa treatments. No, not because they are pampering. Only because I don't like to be touched. hehe
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