Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character [Proverbs 10-31; NIV]

 “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food 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. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

     Yes, you did read the title correctly and it still counts after reading the scriptures.   You are the Proverbs 31 woman!  A closer scan of Proverbs, you might say, reveals a woman that I am nothing like.  She is superwoman, having everything in order in her life.

     Let me share a thought I had that could make you think otherwise.  Friday, I was working in our family-owned chicken houses with a deluge of rain outside.  Going in between houses and trying to get my work done had my feet wet and my attitude even wetter.  I was trying to be positive by singing a Gospel song with the words, “Faith, I can move a mountain, I can do all things through Christ...” you know the one when it hit me.

     Standing in the middle of all my muck and mire, something rose up in me and I said aloud, “I am the Proverbs 31 woman.”  I understood finally that instead of checking out every single thing this woman did and trying to duplicate it, that it is a conceptual idea.  This meaning, it is something we can translate into today’s world and make a reality.

     Ladies, do you either take time to either shop or see that it’s done and basically keep your family fed?  This can be anything from online shopping to bringing home take out.  If so, you are the Proverbs 31 woman! (Verse 15)  Do you try to keep your home livable, your laundry clean, at least some of it some of the time and do you provide a positive environment for your family to come home to?  Then you are the Proverbs 31 woman! (Verses 14&19)  Do you make sure your family has some clothing to wear, even if it’s not those expensive trendy clothes your teens want?  Do your children make it to their different activities pretty much on time?  Again, you are the Proverbs 31woman!  (Verses 21 and 27)

     Do you see it?  You are blessed!  What you do is important whether it’s working on the farm, in the home or in the workforce.  These small things you are faithful in will open the doors of faithfulness even outside the home.  So remember the next time you are shopping in the middle of a snow storm for a rare kind of glue that your child needs for a school project, YOU are the Proverbs 31 woman! 

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