As a teenager, I was strongly encouraged to memorize the Proverbs 31 passage about the Virtuous Woman.
I read it and read it, over and over, until I knew every word by heart.
This passage in the Bible was a core reading for me in my high-school days, and as I would look back on it I would hope and pray that, one day, I would be this woman!
Well…
I am!
Now, let me break down the verses for you, and give my lighthearted explanation of how this passage accurately describes me today.
Proverbs 31:10-31;
10: Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.
(Why, yes! I am worth my weight in precious gems! Thank you!)
11: The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
(I tried to find something for this, as a single mom, and I decided to simply say that my children can safely trust in me… and they ARE spoiled! Haha!)
12: She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
(Again, the kids… and YES! Although they would say I am evil when chores, homework, etc. need to be done!)
13: She seeks wool, and flax, and works willingly with her hands.
(OK, sometimes not so willing, but uhm… I’m pretty sure this means she shops! Accurate!)
14: She is like the merchants’ ships; she brings her food from afar.
(Well yes I do… over the river and through the woods every time! And the irony of that… we live in my grandmother’s house!)
15: She rises also while it is yet night, and gives meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
(So, she’s up all night, feeding people… Oh yes, that’s me!)
16: She considers a field, and buys it: with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
(I’m going to give MUCH credit to my grandmother, who considered our field, and worked that sucker with passion! However, yes… I planted, cultivated, worked, sweat, some tears, and with a passion of my own, we had a HUGE garden!)
17: She girds her loins with strength and strengthens her arms.
(LoL… I call those “big girl panties” and yes, I wear them quite well! And, after carrying two toddlers around, one on each hip, I’d like to think my arms are pretty strong.)
18: She perceives that her merchandise is good: her candle goes not out by night.
(My candle burns at both ends, and never goes out! And YES! My Scentsy is AMAZING!)
19: She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
(Wellll…. I do like to sew and do things with fabrics and strings. At least this verse didn’t say she excelled at it! Whew!)
20: She stretches out her hand to the poor; yea, she reaches forth her hands to the needy.
(YES! So much yes! I will help whom I can, when I can, even when I am near the end of my rope as well!)
21: She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
(Not gonna lie… this is a struggle. I definitely do not FEAR snow, but I sure don’t like it either! And YES! My household is heavily guarded from it! Lots of winter wear!)
22: She makes herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
(Lots of purple!)
23: Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
(We will go with her “family” here. And yes, my family is known around my world… and they spend time with elders, people of wisdom and grace!)
24: She makes fine linen, and sells it; and delivers girdles to the merchant.
(I do make things, but I’ll admit I don’t sell them. I give things away more often than not. LOL)
25: Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
(THIS! Everyone who knows me knows that I endure, and I find joy in every moment possible!)
26: She opens her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
(This took some work, time, and a lot of learning! Wisdom is essential in life! And my kids wouldn’t agree with the law of kindness, which means I’m doing it right!)
27: She looks well to the ways of her household and eats not the bread of idleness.
(Psh! I never have an idle moment! Dishes, laundry, cleaning, babies, kids, homework, work, groceries, cooking, more cleaning, etc.)
28: Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and her praises her.
(Well, when my children rise up they don’t quite call me blessed… but after they are awake for a while they come around. Hehe)
29: Many daughters have done virtuously, but you excel them all.
(Why thank you! I try)
30: Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
(Lemme tell you something here… favor IS deceitful! Beauty IS vain, but praise is a testimony of good works, integrity, and given by those who have been blessed by a godly woman!)
31: Give her the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
(It took me a long time to accept praise for anything I have ever done! And while the kids I parent bicker and argue, and often buck against rules and discipline, I am seeing young men grow up and know how to treat other people with kindness and love, and I see my works coming to fruition. It is a good feeling.)
So, as a young woman I aspired to be everything this woman is in the scripture. I dreamed about accomplishing each and every verse, daily, for the rest of my life.
Little did I know, I would be her! I would be the woman who works, day and night, is exhausted, tired, and sometimes depleted of anything left to give. And I’m pretty sure she probably pulled her hair out daily!
But she is amazing! I mean think about it!
She does everything, is everything, and still finds joy! She works hard, and above all, she is greatly loved!
I work hard, I am exhausted, and sometimes depleted. But I have joy, peace, and I am most definitely LOVED!
I am the Proverbs 31 Woman!
*verses found in Proverbs, chapter 31, in the New King James Version of the Bible.
