The Proverbs 31 Woman: One of My Role Models

In chapter 31 of the book of Proverbs, King Lemuel describes "the wife of noble character."  Here are selected verses from that chapter:

10 A wife of noble character who can find?  She is worth far more than rubies.  11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lack nothing of value.  12 She bring him good, not harm, all the days of her life...15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family...17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks...20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy...23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land...25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.  26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.  27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.  28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

The first few times I read over this, it was a little overwhelming.  It's a lot to live up to!  This is pretty much the perfect woman!  And that's not even all the verses.  She makes clothes and linens, too, and is also a successful businesswoman.

I see this woman in some of the special women in my life.  My mother, most especially.  She takes that "getting up while it's still dark" thing literally.  :)  My mother has been an at-home mom since I was born.  Some people would look on that as being old-fashioned, that she's not standing up for her rights as a woman. I think it's the most noble profession she could have chosen, and the one that will reap the most rewards.  A Godly wife, mother, and homemaker is, I think, the highest goal a woman can aim for.  It's the goal I have in sight.  "Wife" is coming up in less than two months.  "Homemaker" too.  I can hardly wait.  :)

Anyway, back to this woman.  Actually, back to the GOD who makes her possible.  This woman is perfect; no one person could constantly do everything right.  But God makes it possible for us as women to be the best we can be, to do our very best at everything.  Being a wife, mother and homemaker is a vocation, that is, a calling from God.  As a wife, a woman supports and encourages and takes care of her husband, in myriad ways.  As a mother, a woman has the privilege and responsibility to (along with her husband) raise her children to be God-loving and God-honoring.  As a homemaker, a woman has the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with her family first of all, and every person she encounters.  (My mother is accomplishing all of this with beautiful, God-praising results.)

God has called women to be what they are (even if it's not as a wife or mother; don't get me wrong, that's not the only vocation God calls women to!).  I feel that he has called me to this vocation.  Therefore, he will give me the strength, the wisdom, the knowledge and the abilities to accomplish it--all to his glory.  Everything I do in my life, I want to do to praise and honor God.

Unfortunately, I very often fail at that.  I'm a sinful person, despite the best intentions.  I try hard every day to live a life that is pleasing to God, but many times a day I screw up, big time.  I sometimes get very discouraged and Satan plagues me with guilt.  No matter how hard I try, I still mess up!

The amazing thing is, the God who has called me to be what I am, at every stage in my life, understands the troubles and temptations I have.  He is there with me, even when I'm sinning.  Sometimes I can fight temptation, sometimes I succumb.  But God loves me just the same, no matter what.  He forgives me no matter how many times I mess up.  He gives me a new start every day.

So this becoming-a-wife-and-homemaker thing isn't about me, really.  It's about God, working in my life and in the lives of those around me.  It's about him giving me some new jobs in which I can praise, serve and honor him.