Proverbs 31:15 "She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and tasks for her maidens."
This verse is one I ought to read every day. I am not a morning person in the slightest sense!
Now, if one were to take this literally, all non-morning people, like me, could not possibly be a good wife. If we take time to look at the message behind this passage, perhaps we'll find a way to apply the principles to us night-owls.
"She rises while it is yet night..."
This evokes images of the stereotypical farm wife for me. To apply it to all the rest of us, I would say a good application of this would be to at least get up before the rest of your family members. How much earlier? At least as long as it would take you to get yourself ready for the day and to accomplish the rest of the principles of this verse. Personally, I feel I get my best sleep between 5am and 9am because whenever I get woken up during those times I feel like a zombie! We'll discuss alternatives later on.
"...and provides food for her household..."
Ideally, one would already be up and around a bit. Then you could easily get breakfast ready for everyone as the first task of your work day and also prepare any lunches that would be needed for that day. Then if you're really organized, you can look ahead at that day's meal plan and think about any other meal prep that needs to be done, like filling up the crock-pot for dinner.
"...and tasks for her maidens."
Ah, wouldn't it be nice to have a maid, let alone a number of them? Tho', if you think about it, most of the hard-labor tasks that we needed maids for have been made amazingly easy by machines; clothes washers and driers, vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, special cleansers and so on. So now instead of providing tasks for our servants, we simply need to organize the order of tasks for our machines. This is something that can be very well done in that early morning quiet.
So what about people like me? I only wake up early under duress and then I need a pot of coffee or caffeine equivalent to get me un-zombified. If you are like me, we get to do this even earlier than our morning-people counterparts! By this I mean the night before, when we night-owls shine! After you put the kids to bed, or simply after dinner has been all cleaned up, depending on what works for your family, you can sit down at the table instead of the TV or the computer and organize tomorrow. Think about your meals and write down all the tasks that need to be done and roughly when and what order, so you can simply flow from one step to the next as life lets you. Don't forget to do what meal prep you can before you go to bed. Many lunches can be made ahead, dry elements of breakfast can be assembled and others grouped together, even some dinner prep can be done!
So, while most of these things are best done by someone who is clear-eyes first thing in the morning, a large chunk of the mental prep at least can be done the night before, and sometimes that's half the battle!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Verse 14: "She brings her food from afar."
Proverbs 31:14 "She is like the ships of the merchant, she brings her food from afar."
At first blush, this passage seems counter-intuitive; isn't it best to support one's local economy and buy from local farmers as much as possible? Or even grow as much as you can yourself? Why yes! Absolutely!
The way I see this passage is to focus on the fact that they are merchant's ships. Basic business savvy says "Buy low, sell high." This means one ought to seek out the best deals in the most cost-effective fashion available to them. How this applies to the good wife is many-fold. The obvious example is economic grocery shopping. There are 2 stores that I shop at every week to get the best prices. If I had more time and fewer kids to tote around with me, there are at least 2 more locations I would frequent.
Basically, I feel the message of this passage is about doing the "footwork" involved in finding the best quality for the lowest price. This means an end to impulse buying (*gasp*!), searching garage sales, freecycle, Craig's list, eBay and the like; holding off for a sale or 1 day special, and so forth, either in an actual store or online. Do your research; is this actually a good deal compared to the regular price for a comparable item? Yes, 5% off is a discount, but if you go to another store is it 15% off there? Can you find it at 50+% off at a second-hand store? How about 90% off at a garage sale or on clearance? Can you make it yourself for less? Do you even really need it in the first place?
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."
At first blush, this passage seems counter-intuitive; isn't it best to support one's local economy and buy from local farmers as much as possible? Or even grow as much as you can yourself? Why yes! Absolutely!
The way I see this passage is to focus on the fact that they are merchant's ships. Basic business savvy says "Buy low, sell high." This means one ought to seek out the best deals in the most cost-effective fashion available to them. How this applies to the good wife is many-fold. The obvious example is economic grocery shopping. There are 2 stores that I shop at every week to get the best prices. If I had more time and fewer kids to tote around with me, there are at least 2 more locations I would frequent.
Basically, I feel the message of this passage is about doing the "footwork" involved in finding the best quality for the lowest price. This means an end to impulse buying (*gasp*!), searching garage sales, freecycle, Craig's list, eBay and the like; holding off for a sale or 1 day special, and so forth, either in an actual store or online. Do your research; is this actually a good deal compared to the regular price for a comparable item? Yes, 5% off is a discount, but if you go to another store is it 15% off there? Can you find it at 50+% off at a second-hand store? How about 90% off at a garage sale or on clearance? Can you make it yourself for less? Do you even really need it in the first place?
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."
Verse 13: "Works with willing hands."
Proverbs 31:13 "She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands."
I have seen some "translations" take this passage to mean only that a woman should be "craft"-y, in that she does arts and crafts, like spinning, crochet, or knitting and the like. As with all Scripture, it means so much more than that! One way that I read this, is that a good wife looks around her for the work that needs to be done, she seeks it out, and the "works with willing hands". Back in the day, some of the most tedious and time consuming work that always needed to be done, was the production of cloth and clothing for one's household. There was cleaning and carding the wool and flax, spinning, weaving, cutting, sewing and so forth. To make the finest threads, which are also the most comfortable to wear, was rather tedious work. And then all the work to manipulate these materials into all the household linens was nearly as tedious. But a good wife seeks out these jobs that need to be done and no one really wants to do and then does them willingly!
Nowadays, we can buy these things cheaper than we can make them, but there are still jobs for all of us that fall under that "ucky" category that no one ever wants to do. For me, this is generally any job that requires me to get out a wet rag and scrub various things around the house, like the bathtub, the floors, the windows, or even the toilet. For you it could be laundry, dishes, dusting, sweeping, or a whole host of other household chores. But remember, a good wife seeks these out and "works with willing hands"!
I have seen some "translations" take this passage to mean only that a woman should be "craft"-y, in that she does arts and crafts, like spinning, crochet, or knitting and the like. As with all Scripture, it means so much more than that! One way that I read this, is that a good wife looks around her for the work that needs to be done, she seeks it out, and the "works with willing hands". Back in the day, some of the most tedious and time consuming work that always needed to be done, was the production of cloth and clothing for one's household. There was cleaning and carding the wool and flax, spinning, weaving, cutting, sewing and so forth. To make the finest threads, which are also the most comfortable to wear, was rather tedious work. And then all the work to manipulate these materials into all the household linens was nearly as tedious. But a good wife seeks out these jobs that need to be done and no one really wants to do and then does them willingly!
Nowadays, we can buy these things cheaper than we can make them, but there are still jobs for all of us that fall under that "ucky" category that no one ever wants to do. For me, this is generally any job that requires me to get out a wet rag and scrub various things around the house, like the bathtub, the floors, the windows, or even the toilet. For you it could be laundry, dishes, dusting, sweeping, or a whole host of other household chores. But remember, a good wife seeks these out and "works with willing hands"!
The Second Mile
by Ruth Gardner
"When there is a task to do,
Do it with a smile.
Do more than you are asked to do
And go the second mile.
In your work and in your play,
Try it for a while.
You'll find that you'll be happy
When you go the second mile."
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Proverbs 31
I just realized that it would be a good idea to post the Scripture that I'm talking about! Again, this is the RSV translation.
Who can find a good wife?
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 tasks for her maidens.
She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
She clothes her loins with strength
and makes her arms strong.
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
She puts her hand to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
She opens her hand to the poor,
and reaches out her hand to the needy.
She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
She makes herself coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known 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 tounge.
She looks well to the ways of her household,
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessèd;
her husband also, he praises her:
"Many 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.
Who can find a good wife?
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 tasks for her maidens.
She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
She clothes her loins with strength
and makes her arms strong.
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
She puts her hand to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
She opens her hand to the poor,
and reaches out her hand to the needy.
She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
She makes herself coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known 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 tounge.
She looks well to the ways of her household,
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessèd;
her husband also, he praises her:
"Many 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.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Verse 10 "Far More Precious Than Jewels"
"She is far more precious than jewels."
Her worth, her price is far above that of rubies, diamonds, pearls, and many other precious jewels. If gold is precious, jewels are more so, and a good wife is "far more precious" than these things. A man would be willing to give all his wealth to find a good wife.
Her worth, her price is far above that of rubies, diamonds, pearls, and many other precious jewels. If gold is precious, jewels are more so, and a good wife is "far more precious" than these things. A man would be willing to give all his wealth to find a good wife.
Verse 10 "A Good Wife"
"Who can find a good wife? She is far more precious than jewels."
Other translations use these descriptors:
Virtuous, strong character, capable, excellent, noble character, worthy.
These are the ways a wife is described, a wife who is to be desired. They all have to do with her internal qualities, not her external ones. When are seeking a husband, or trying to please the husband you already have, these are the qualities to cultivate and have as a focus for your growth. Let's explore this concept a little more.
GOOD: (1913 Webster's Dictionary)
1. Possessing desirable qualities; adapted to answer the end
designed; promoting success, welfare, or happiness;
serviceable; useful; fit; excellent; admirable;
commendable; not bad, corrupt, evil, noxious, offensive,
or troublesome, etc.
2. Possessing moral excellence or virtue; virtuous; pious;
religious; -- said of persons or actions.
3. Kind; benevolent; humane; merciful; gracious; polite;
propitious; friendly; well-disposed; -- often followed by
to or toward, also formerly by unto.
4. Serviceable; suited; adapted; suitable; of use; to be
relied upon; -- followed especially by for.
5. Clever; skillful; dexterous; ready; handy; -- followed
especially by at.
6. Adequate; sufficient; competent; sound; not fallacious;
valid; in a commercial sense, to be depended on for the
discharge of obligations incurred; having pecuniary
ability; of unimpaired credit.
7. Real; actual; serious; as in the phrases in good earnest;
in good sooth.
8. Not small, insignificant, or of no account; considerable;
esp., in the phrases a good deal, a good way, a good
degree, a good share or part, etc.
9. Not lacking or deficient; full; complete.
10. Not blemished or impeached; fair; honorable; unsullied;
as in the phrases a good name, a good report, good
repute, etc.
With this right here I could write a whole book! Let's try to take this one step at a time.
"Possessing desirable qualities"
Obviously we, as wives, wish to be desired by our husbands, and not just for our bodies or our housekeeping skills. We should try to cultivate those qualities our husbands desire. If you're not sure what he may desire, ASK! You might be surprised by how happy he is you are showing interest in him and his preferences. If you are not yet married, turn to God and find out from Him what qualities you should work on until your husband comes into your life.
"adapted to answer the end designed"
What is our "end" for which we are "adapted" and "designed" to "answer"? Why, to be helpers for our husbands! Genesis 2:18 says "Then the Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." Then God brings all the animals in creation to Adam for him to find a "helper", "but for the man there was not found a helper fit for him" (Gen 2:20). And then God creates Eve out of Adam's rib. Only then does he find a "helper fit for him", a partner to help him and support him in all his works and endevours.
There are many works out there about this particular topic and this is not the purpose of this work. I refer you to my favorite, with a grain of salt, "Created to be His Help Meet" by Debi Pearl.
I could go on and on at great length about this, but I am going to stop here for now. I may revisit this section in the future, especially if this ever gets to book-like status.
God Bless!
- Who can find a good wife?
Other translations use these descriptors:
Virtuous, strong character, capable, excellent, noble character, worthy.
These are the ways a wife is described, a wife who is to be desired. They all have to do with her internal qualities, not her external ones. When are seeking a husband, or trying to please the husband you already have, these are the qualities to cultivate and have as a focus for your growth. Let's explore this concept a little more.
GOOD: (1913 Webster's Dictionary)
1. Possessing desirable qualities; adapted to answer the end
designed; promoting success, welfare, or happiness;
serviceable; useful; fit; excellent; admirable;
commendable; not bad, corrupt, evil, noxious, offensive,
or troublesome, etc.
2. Possessing moral excellence or virtue; virtuous; pious;
religious; -- said of persons or actions.
3. Kind; benevolent; humane; merciful; gracious; polite;
propitious; friendly; well-disposed; -- often followed by
to or toward, also formerly by unto.
4. Serviceable; suited; adapted; suitable; of use; to be
relied upon; -- followed especially by for.
5. Clever; skillful; dexterous; ready; handy; -- followed
especially by at.
6. Adequate; sufficient; competent; sound; not fallacious;
valid; in a commercial sense, to be depended on for the
discharge of obligations incurred; having pecuniary
ability; of unimpaired credit.
7. Real; actual; serious; as in the phrases in good earnest;
in good sooth.
8. Not small, insignificant, or of no account; considerable;
esp., in the phrases a good deal, a good way, a good
degree, a good share or part, etc.
9. Not lacking or deficient; full; complete.
10. Not blemished or impeached; fair; honorable; unsullied;
as in the phrases a good name, a good report, good
repute, etc.
With this right here I could write a whole book! Let's try to take this one step at a time.
"Possessing desirable qualities"
Obviously we, as wives, wish to be desired by our husbands, and not just for our bodies or our housekeeping skills. We should try to cultivate those qualities our husbands desire. If you're not sure what he may desire, ASK! You might be surprised by how happy he is you are showing interest in him and his preferences. If you are not yet married, turn to God and find out from Him what qualities you should work on until your husband comes into your life.
"adapted to answer the end designed"
What is our "end" for which we are "adapted" and "designed" to "answer"? Why, to be helpers for our husbands! Genesis 2:18 says "Then the Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." Then God brings all the animals in creation to Adam for him to find a "helper", "but for the man there was not found a helper fit for him" (Gen 2:20). And then God creates Eve out of Adam's rib. Only then does he find a "helper fit for him", a partner to help him and support him in all his works and endevours.
There are many works out there about this particular topic and this is not the purpose of this work. I refer you to my favorite, with a grain of salt, "Created to be His Help Meet" by Debi Pearl.
I could go on and on at great length about this, but I am going to stop here for now. I may revisit this section in the future, especially if this ever gets to book-like status.
God Bless!
Introduction
I have long had an affinity towards the wife in Proverbs 31. Lately, I have been feeling called to write my own thoughts about this wonderful guide for wives. I may one day turn this into a book, but for now I feel that it is important to start writing, after all, a writer is one who writes. Any and all comments, questions, suggestions and ideas are very welcome as long as they are polite; they can even offer a dissenting point of view, just keep it civil.
A little about myself, I am a Stay At Home Mom (SAHM) with 3 daughters (ages 3 years, 21 months and 5 months) and a wonderful, hard-working husband. I was baptized into the Catholic Church 5 years ago this past Easter. I am a very orthodox, conservative Catholic. I prefer to use the Revised Standard Version (RSV), but I also like to compare translations to try and get a better feel for the original meaning. You will likely find my thoughts to be slightly rambling at times, and hopefully not too incoherent. I can post many posts in one day, or none for several days, it all depends on how life is going at the time. You may find that I will go back and edit and re-edit a post many times, or never touch it again. This is going to be just a way at this time for me to express my thoughts and try to get them organized a little bit.
God Bless!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)