For the last 7 and one-half years, I have had the honor of being a work-at-home-mom. About the first year of that experience, I had this continually torn feeling...by working, am I not focusing enough on my family? Are my priorities in line with what God wants me to do with my life?What a heartening and refreshing fact to know that even the Proverbs 31 woman...the "wife of noble character" that the Christian woman aspires to be WORKED FROM HOME!! Listen,
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.Talk about SuperWoman! The Proverbs 31 woman is a woman of action. Here's a list of what she does:
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark; she provides for her family and portions for her servant girls.
She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.
Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. (Proverbs 31:13-30)
- brings her husband good
- selects wool and flax
- works with eager hands
- gets up while it is still dark
- provides food for her family
- considers a field and buys it
- plants a vineyard
- sets about her work vigorously
- holds the distaff
- grasps the spindle
- opens her arms to the poor
- extends her hands to the needy
- has no fear for her household
- makes coverings for her bed
- makes linen garments and sells them
- supplies the merchants with sashes
- can laugh at the days to come
- speaks with wisdom
- watches over the affairs of her household
- surpass them all
- Noble
- Worthy
- Giving
- Eager
- Industrious
- Thoughtful
- Prepared
- Empowered
- Discerning
- Diligent
- Business savvy
- Hard-working
- Resourceful
- Committed
- Focused
- Generous
- Fearless
- Creative
- Strong
- Dignified
- Watchful
- Aware
- Wise
- Faithful
Best of all, in spite of her diligence, I get this sense that she's NOT got too much on her plate, but that she is actually balancing all of these things well. Her actions are in line with her beliefs. Her strength, dignity and nobility of character come from a harmony between God's plan and purpose for her life and the daily steps she chooses. Those day by day little choices have made this woman great. AND, even with all of her success, you know she's not a workaholic because of the warmth and esteem that her husband and children have for her. That can only happen when she puts her love for God, husband, and family in the right order BEFORE all of her work...yet she is still able to thrive and succeed in her work...in fact fueled by her love for God and family.
Reading and meditating on the Proverbs 31 woman totally removes any hint of being "torn" between work and family. It provides clarity, identity and purpose for the modern woman just as vividly as when it was first written.
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