A Virtuous Woman???

When I read about “The Wife of Noble Character” in Proverbs 31, I always feel a little inadequate. Okay, a lot inadequate. I want to scream, “Are you kidding me?“ This woman gets up while its still dark to fix breakfast for everyone in her household. She buys real estate and plants vineyards with her hard-earned money. She works non-stop, gets very little sleep, and is never cranky. She helps the poor and needy. She makes clothes for herself and her family. She even makes her own bed spreads! In her spare time (spare time?), she makes linen clothes and sashes and sells them to merchants. She speaks with wisdom and faithfully instructs her children. This woman laughs at the thought of getting old. She is NEVER idle. Her children call her blessed and her husband praises her, saying in essence that no other woman could compare to her. This woman is respected by virtually everyone who knows her.

With two small children, there isn't much time for sewing (although I do have a very nice machine -my husband calls it the $500 waste of money) and I dont even own a spindle or distaff. I have never planted a vineyard (I do plant some tomatoes each summer though). My words are not always wise and sometimes they are downright ugly even to my own ears. I have never really laughed at the thought of getting old -- I might cry, but never laugh. I get up before sunrise in order to get ready to take my son to school, but I dont fix a wonderful breakfast for my family (unless you call Lucky Charms a nutritious breakfast - even though they are magically delicious).

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems impossible to live up the standard this lady has set. Impossible, that is, until I read verse 30, which says, “Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised”. We may not be able to match the productivity level of the Proverbs 31 woman, but we can model her character. The Proverbs 31 woman is a supportive of her husband, faithful, kind, diligent in her work, and loving to everyone, but I believe her most important character trait is found in three little words-- she “fears the Lord”.

Lord, help me to try my best to be like the virtuous woman you told us about in your Word. I want to be a loving wife and wonderful mother. I want to do everything for your glory, but most of all I want to "fear the Lord". I want others to see You in me.