Today is a first for my blog. We are having our first guest post. It was writen by my mother-in-law over at Domestically Inclined. Since she has raised two boys, and I have none, I thought I would ask her to share some of what she has learned about raising boys to be godly men. You can click here to read the entire post Practical Tips on Raising Godly Sons, but I will give you a little teaser to get you going.
"The Helpmeet and how to find her:
If your son has been listening to God’s heart and your advice on waiting for God to bring him a godly young lady, this can be a most lovely time. A good measure of a future husband is how the young man treats his mother at this point, for he will be treating his future wife the very same way soon. A Gentleman knows that gallantry is not dead. He opens the door, he stands when a young lady enters the room and he offers his seat up for her. He, like Jesus, loves her as his precious Bride.
Know the kind of woman God calls worth more than rubies, a virtuous woman who loves
God with all her heart, and will love and serve her Lord and husband and family all the days of her life. God gives young men a picture of this woman in Proverbs 31.
One good reason to marry is to serve the Lord better together as one, than separately. While your son is serving the Lord it is a good time to be watching and praying for the one! Of course Mom and Dad are on still on their knees praying for the same thing! He could be working so hard at this point that he may not even notice the godly young lady right under his nose! Not to worry, God is in control!"
Now head out and read the rest of the post and start training those young men...we're going to need some in about 20 years! :D
Friday, March 12, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Beauty is Vain
“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.”
Favor here is gracefulness or grace of manner and it is a lie (fraud is another way of translating it). You may be graceful but it is an outward appearance and cannot show your true character in any way. Beauty is something pleasing to the eyes, something satisfying to look at. And yet it is transitory, temporary, a breath literally; nothing but a puff of air. We spent so much time making ourselves look good externally; doing our hair, putting on make-up, choosing the right outfit, so when others see us we will be pleasing to look at. The problem with that is the only person we need to be attractive to is our own husbands. I know of so many mothers who as soon as their daughters start asking for make-up, they take them to have their colors done and they think they are doing them such a great service by making sure they know how to apply make-up right, so they will “look their best”. Or they teach them how to find the right clothing for their figure. Or they show them what hair styles will flatter their face shape. And why? Whether they admit it or not, it usually has something to do with how the world will perceive you and most importantly, of course, catching that perfect man. But how perfect is he for our daughters if he can be won by mere outward painting and coverings? Is that really the kind of shallow person you want to lead your daughter's future and family? Or the kind we want to lead our families? And if you can “catch” him with your outward appearance, what will keep the next pretty girl from doing the same?
We must strive to teach our children to place their trust in a God who will last, to live in such a way that their lives will have precious jewels to show for them, instead of things that will be consumed in the end, like wood, hay and stubble. (1 Cor. 3:10-15) If we put our focus on things that can be destroyed, defaced and marred, things that are fleeting, then we are not giving them the training they need, to know how to please the Lord. God doesn't love us because we are pretty. We are not out to please our friends, our church, our family, we are here to please the Lord.
We need to teach our sons to seek a woman whose beauty is in her heart; one with a meek and quiet spirit, one who fears the Lord, and one who is willing to serve Him and her husband all the days of her life. Now I recognize that men are attracted to women by sight; they like pretty things. That is part of how God made them. But there is a difference between admiring something pretty and making all your choices based on that alone. As an example, my husband thinks I’m beautiful, but he will tell you that is not why he married me, if you have seen me, you know that is true. I am short, fat and I’m going grey before I'm 30. I have wrinkles on my face and I have been pregnant for almost all of our nearly 3 years of marriage. With two children 2 and under, sometimes I don’t look my best when he comes in the door. And yet he still comes home every night. It is because, and I say this because he says it, I have a heart that is committed to doing the Lord's will. I want to live to bless God and my husband. I want to serve them both with all my heart. As my physical appearance continues to fade, hopefully, my heart will grow closer to the Lord and because of that, I will be more and more beautiful in his sight with each passing day.
Now a godly husband will appreciate that you try to look your best for him. And you should. But if he is living the word, what will matter more is that you are looking your best on the inside, that you are a woman of virtue and strength of character. If your husband does not appreciate the godly woman you are trying to be on the inside, don’t nag, simply pray that God will change his heart and help him to see you as God does. Just don’t use that as a license to be a slob in the meantime!
We must teach our children to strive for things that will last. A woman that fears the Lord is someone who shows due reverence for Him, respect for His commands and a willing to do as commanded. This is the woman who is both worthy of praise and the one who will be celebrated for her virtue. This is what we should want for our daughters to become, what we want to hear said of them. This is what we should want our sons to seek out in a wife. And this is what we need to be focused on making a reality in our own lives. And that is a beautiful thing!
Favor here is gracefulness or grace of manner and it is a lie (fraud is another way of translating it). You may be graceful but it is an outward appearance and cannot show your true character in any way. Beauty is something pleasing to the eyes, something satisfying to look at. And yet it is transitory, temporary, a breath literally; nothing but a puff of air. We spent so much time making ourselves look good externally; doing our hair, putting on make-up, choosing the right outfit, so when others see us we will be pleasing to look at. The problem with that is the only person we need to be attractive to is our own husbands. I know of so many mothers who as soon as their daughters start asking for make-up, they take them to have their colors done and they think they are doing them such a great service by making sure they know how to apply make-up right, so they will “look their best”. Or they teach them how to find the right clothing for their figure. Or they show them what hair styles will flatter their face shape. And why? Whether they admit it or not, it usually has something to do with how the world will perceive you and most importantly, of course, catching that perfect man. But how perfect is he for our daughters if he can be won by mere outward painting and coverings? Is that really the kind of shallow person you want to lead your daughter's future and family? Or the kind we want to lead our families? And if you can “catch” him with your outward appearance, what will keep the next pretty girl from doing the same?
We must strive to teach our children to place their trust in a God who will last, to live in such a way that their lives will have precious jewels to show for them, instead of things that will be consumed in the end, like wood, hay and stubble. (1 Cor. 3:10-15) If we put our focus on things that can be destroyed, defaced and marred, things that are fleeting, then we are not giving them the training they need, to know how to please the Lord. God doesn't love us because we are pretty. We are not out to please our friends, our church, our family, we are here to please the Lord.
We need to teach our sons to seek a woman whose beauty is in her heart; one with a meek and quiet spirit, one who fears the Lord, and one who is willing to serve Him and her husband all the days of her life. Now I recognize that men are attracted to women by sight; they like pretty things. That is part of how God made them. But there is a difference between admiring something pretty and making all your choices based on that alone. As an example, my husband thinks I’m beautiful, but he will tell you that is not why he married me, if you have seen me, you know that is true. I am short, fat and I’m going grey before I'm 30. I have wrinkles on my face and I have been pregnant for almost all of our nearly 3 years of marriage. With two children 2 and under, sometimes I don’t look my best when he comes in the door. And yet he still comes home every night. It is because, and I say this because he says it, I have a heart that is committed to doing the Lord's will. I want to live to bless God and my husband. I want to serve them both with all my heart. As my physical appearance continues to fade, hopefully, my heart will grow closer to the Lord and because of that, I will be more and more beautiful in his sight with each passing day.
Now a godly husband will appreciate that you try to look your best for him. And you should. But if he is living the word, what will matter more is that you are looking your best on the inside, that you are a woman of virtue and strength of character. If your husband does not appreciate the godly woman you are trying to be on the inside, don’t nag, simply pray that God will change his heart and help him to see you as God does. Just don’t use that as a license to be a slob in the meantime!
We must teach our children to strive for things that will last. A woman that fears the Lord is someone who shows due reverence for Him, respect for His commands and a willing to do as commanded. This is the woman who is both worthy of praise and the one who will be celebrated for her virtue. This is what we should want for our daughters to become, what we want to hear said of them. This is what we should want our sons to seek out in a wife. And this is what we need to be focused on making a reality in our own lives. And that is a beautiful thing!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
She Speaks with Wisdom
"She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness."
She speaks with kindness to her children, her husband, her servants. She does not speak idle words or words that will hurt someone for their thoughtlessness. When she speaks, it is not based on her emotions at the moment; she is careful with her words because she knows that words carry weigh and cannot be taken lightly. She considers her words and speaks with wisdom.
It is important as mothers to choose our words wisely. Our children will follow our lead and do as they see us doing. If we are short with our children, they will be short with each other. If we are bossy instead of speaking kindly and firmly, then they will be bossy too. If we yell or shout, they will yell and shout too. This is not to say that we don’t need to have authority over our children and there some differences in what we can and should say and what they as children are allowed to say. I am talking here about our attitudes as we speak.
As I was reading and preparing for this devotional, the Lord lead me to Psalm 145:8 which says; “The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.” I did word searches and found that to be gracious means to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior. In our homes, our children are under our authority, inferior in position to us. We need to be willing to bend with kindness towards them. Not to suspend discipline if and when it is needed, but if they want to talk to us or have need that we can meet, we need to take the time to do that. We get busy with chores or talking on the phone or working on the computer and we get frustrated when we get interrupted by our children, then they act up and we discipline them for being naughty. If we would have taken the time to listen to them, we could have answered them, either yes or no, and could have avoided making them frustrated too. It will take a little extra discipline on our parts, but if that is what we are trying to teach our children, shouldn’t we be exhibiting it ourselves? A note of clarification, there will be times when the children have to wait for mommy’s attention. And that is more training you will have to do. But you need to be careful not to use this as an excuse to keep doing what you want to do.
It is also worth noting that the word used for great there in Ps. 145, refers to being older or wiser. We are the ones who have the experience which we can draw on. They do not. They are counting on us to do what is right so they can learn from our wisdom. Let’s take the time to pass that wisdom on. Our children learn from us how to deal with tough situations, and if all we show them is anger or yelling or sarcasm, we are not training them properly. They can do all that on their own. We are born angry and selfish; we have to train that out of them.
So how are we to do this? The answer is we need to evaluate what things make us angry. Do we get most angry when we are on the phone? On the computer? In the grocery store? Once you know when you are most likely to get frustrated with your children, then you can develop a way to deal with it. For some, just knowing that that will make them angry is enough. They will be on their guard for what could set them off. For some, it will be to memorize a scripture that speaks about speaking kindly, like Proverbs 31:26 or Psalm 145:8. For some, it means taking a moment to stop yourself and just wait to respond. The key is to find a way that you can control your reactions before your emotions get the better of you.
Most importantly of all, be in prayer. God will help you do what He has asked you to. And He will show you the way too.
She speaks with kindness to her children, her husband, her servants. She does not speak idle words or words that will hurt someone for their thoughtlessness. When she speaks, it is not based on her emotions at the moment; she is careful with her words because she knows that words carry weigh and cannot be taken lightly. She considers her words and speaks with wisdom.
It is important as mothers to choose our words wisely. Our children will follow our lead and do as they see us doing. If we are short with our children, they will be short with each other. If we are bossy instead of speaking kindly and firmly, then they will be bossy too. If we yell or shout, they will yell and shout too. This is not to say that we don’t need to have authority over our children and there some differences in what we can and should say and what they as children are allowed to say. I am talking here about our attitudes as we speak.
As I was reading and preparing for this devotional, the Lord lead me to Psalm 145:8 which says; “The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.” I did word searches and found that to be gracious means to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior. In our homes, our children are under our authority, inferior in position to us. We need to be willing to bend with kindness towards them. Not to suspend discipline if and when it is needed, but if they want to talk to us or have need that we can meet, we need to take the time to do that. We get busy with chores or talking on the phone or working on the computer and we get frustrated when we get interrupted by our children, then they act up and we discipline them for being naughty. If we would have taken the time to listen to them, we could have answered them, either yes or no, and could have avoided making them frustrated too. It will take a little extra discipline on our parts, but if that is what we are trying to teach our children, shouldn’t we be exhibiting it ourselves? A note of clarification, there will be times when the children have to wait for mommy’s attention. And that is more training you will have to do. But you need to be careful not to use this as an excuse to keep doing what you want to do.
It is also worth noting that the word used for great there in Ps. 145, refers to being older or wiser. We are the ones who have the experience which we can draw on. They do not. They are counting on us to do what is right so they can learn from our wisdom. Let’s take the time to pass that wisdom on. Our children learn from us how to deal with tough situations, and if all we show them is anger or yelling or sarcasm, we are not training them properly. They can do all that on their own. We are born angry and selfish; we have to train that out of them.
So how are we to do this? The answer is we need to evaluate what things make us angry. Do we get most angry when we are on the phone? On the computer? In the grocery store? Once you know when you are most likely to get frustrated with your children, then you can develop a way to deal with it. For some, just knowing that that will make them angry is enough. They will be on their guard for what could set them off. For some, it will be to memorize a scripture that speaks about speaking kindly, like Proverbs 31:26 or Psalm 145:8. For some, it means taking a moment to stop yourself and just wait to respond. The key is to find a way that you can control your reactions before your emotions get the better of you.
Most importantly of all, be in prayer. God will help you do what He has asked you to. And He will show you the way too.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Clothed in Scarlet
“She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.”
As we were talking about yesterday, you can’t underestimate the importance of organization in the home. In this verse we see the Proverbs 31 woman is not worried about what her family will wear because she has planned ahead for their clothing needs. To give you an example of what this may look like practically; at the end of a season, say winter, my mom looks at what she has set aside for each of her children for the next winter or the next size up and decides what she will need to buy for them to make it through the following winter. Then since it is the end of the season and there are clearance sales everywhere, she picks up the items she knows they will need to be well-clothed at clearance prices. You can do this by shopping at thrift stores, or sewing their clothes yourself as well. Whatever method you chose, it is always good to be prepared.
As you begin to do these things, involve your children, especially your daughters. When they are young, they may only be able to help with counting how many socks are in a stack or telling you what colors of items you have set aside, but as they get older, involve them in the planning stages. Have them help you plan their wardrobes for the next year. Have them help you make a list or have them make a list of their own and review it with them, making suggestions about how they can improve their plan. Then take them shopping or shop online and let them pick out those new clothes. Make sure to give them guidelines to use as they choose. Give them examples of acceptable styles and let them chose the colors they like. At first you may have to guide them to matching items or styles but as they get older, they will develop a sense of color coordination and style all their own. These are just some suggestions of how to get them involved; the goal is to train our children, especially our daughters how to do the things that they will need to do for their own families someday. Be creative! Find a way that works for you and your family and have fun with it!
Another way to get your children involved is to have them help with the sewing. When they are younger, you may teach them how to sew on buttons. I remember being about 6 or 7 and she would hand me my dad’s work shirts so I could sew buttons back on them. I was so proud of being able to help my dad and once I sewed those buttons on, they never came off again! I made sure of it. The point is let them help where they can. As they get older, teach them how to use a sewing machine and let them make their own clothes or clothes for their little siblings if they want to. Sons should learn this too. Basic sewing will be a much appreciated skill if they are ever living on their own and need repairs done to their clothing. And it will save them money.
Before we stop for today, I want to share one interesting note on the text, for those who wondered like I did. I was always confused as to why being clothed in scarlet was so important in the winter. It means literally, double or to be doubly dressed. In other words it’s talking about layering. Her family has enough clothing that they can layer their clothes and stay warm in the cold weather.
May God bless you all as you strive to better care for your families and as you continue to build homes that will honor the Lord.
"Every wise woman buildeth (lit.establish or cause to continue) her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands." Proverbs 14:1
As we were talking about yesterday, you can’t underestimate the importance of organization in the home. In this verse we see the Proverbs 31 woman is not worried about what her family will wear because she has planned ahead for their clothing needs. To give you an example of what this may look like practically; at the end of a season, say winter, my mom looks at what she has set aside for each of her children for the next winter or the next size up and decides what she will need to buy for them to make it through the following winter. Then since it is the end of the season and there are clearance sales everywhere, she picks up the items she knows they will need to be well-clothed at clearance prices. You can do this by shopping at thrift stores, or sewing their clothes yourself as well. Whatever method you chose, it is always good to be prepared.
As you begin to do these things, involve your children, especially your daughters. When they are young, they may only be able to help with counting how many socks are in a stack or telling you what colors of items you have set aside, but as they get older, involve them in the planning stages. Have them help you plan their wardrobes for the next year. Have them help you make a list or have them make a list of their own and review it with them, making suggestions about how they can improve their plan. Then take them shopping or shop online and let them pick out those new clothes. Make sure to give them guidelines to use as they choose. Give them examples of acceptable styles and let them chose the colors they like. At first you may have to guide them to matching items or styles but as they get older, they will develop a sense of color coordination and style all their own. These are just some suggestions of how to get them involved; the goal is to train our children, especially our daughters how to do the things that they will need to do for their own families someday. Be creative! Find a way that works for you and your family and have fun with it!
Another way to get your children involved is to have them help with the sewing. When they are younger, you may teach them how to sew on buttons. I remember being about 6 or 7 and she would hand me my dad’s work shirts so I could sew buttons back on them. I was so proud of being able to help my dad and once I sewed those buttons on, they never came off again! I made sure of it. The point is let them help where they can. As they get older, teach them how to use a sewing machine and let them make their own clothes or clothes for their little siblings if they want to. Sons should learn this too. Basic sewing will be a much appreciated skill if they are ever living on their own and need repairs done to their clothing. And it will save them money.
Before we stop for today, I want to share one interesting note on the text, for those who wondered like I did. I was always confused as to why being clothed in scarlet was so important in the winter. It means literally, double or to be doubly dressed. In other words it’s talking about layering. Her family has enough clothing that they can layer their clothes and stay warm in the cold weather.
May God bless you all as you strive to better care for your families and as you continue to build homes that will honor the Lord.
"Every wise woman buildeth (lit.establish or cause to continue) her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands." Proverbs 14:1
Monday, March 8, 2010
She Rises While it is Yet Night
Just a note before we begin. Last night as I was reading through our chapter again, God lead me to this verse for today’s devotional. So far I have been able to write in the mornings before the girls wake up. Today was different. They were up early and I couldn’t bear to sit and write about what a good wife, mother and homemaker looks like while my little ones needed my attention. So I apologize for the lateness of this blog, but I figured if I am going to practice what I have been learning, I’d better care for my family first.
“She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.”
To me, there are two lessons that stood out in this passage. The first one is that she is willing to do what it takes to care for her family. She’s not afraid of getting up early serve them. Sometimes the only time we have to get things done is when the children are in bed. For our family, the time after the children go to bed at night, is time for my husband and I. So that leaves mornings before they are up or during naptime to get extra things done. Sometimes this is time for cleaning, sometimes for sewing and sometimes for reading. The point is that as mothers, we have to take what time we have, to do all the things on our to-do-list. We need to be willing to take the time when we have it, without taking it away from our family time.
The second lesson is that we can’t underestimate the importance of, is organization in the home. While I understand that some of us are naturally gifted with organizational skills, most of us have to work at being organized. I grew up in a very organized home. I am not organized and as you can imagine, I was sure that when I got married, we were not going to have schedules in my home! Now that I have two little ones and a third one on the way, I can honestly say, much to my mother’s delight, that there is no way I could make it through a day without a schedule of some kind. Now, to be scheduled does not mean that you have to wake up at 6, have breakfast at 8, clean at 9, etc…every day exactly the same. Some may find that kind of schedule possible but I don’t. I get frustrated when my schedule gets messed up and with babies, there is no way I will be able to follow that kind of a schedule all the time. So if you are like me, your schedule may look something like this: wake up, shower, start laundry for the day, feed the baby, change and dress both girls, make breakfast, etc… You will notice that there are no times listed on my daily schedule. That is because sometimes the girls wake up earlier and sometimes they don’t. I follow an order of events instead of timing myself. That way I know what I need to do for the day but I’m not stressed out if we are getting up at 9 and eating breakfast at 11. Find the method that works for you and your family and do your best to stick to it. You will be surprise at just how much help being organized brings to your day.
Another important thing to spend the time planning for are meals. This will help in so many ways; you will save money when grocery shopping if you know what you are making for the week or month and only buy what you need and you won’t have to stand in front of the fridge right before dinner, trying to figure out what you are going make because you have list of meals ready to chose from. I have tried both ways and I have found the great benefits to planning ahead. Now I’m working on planning ahead for breakfasts and lunches too but it is a process for me. So I’m taking it one step at a time. Do what you can with what you have and your abilities.
We will talk more about planning ahead tomorrow, when we cover verse 21, but for now, ask the Lord to help you find where your weak areas are and start working on a plan to bring more organization to your home. The goals in being organized are bring a calm and peace to your home and freeing you to better serve your family and others. Children especially need the assurance that they know what to expect in their days and not just when they are babies. If they know what to expect and what is expected from them, they will be much more calm and helpful without having to try to motivate them all day long. They will know when to expect meals, when school starts each day, when they are to take a nap. So with a little planning on our part, we can bless our children with a sense of security and stability in their lives.
Blessings!
“She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.”
To me, there are two lessons that stood out in this passage. The first one is that she is willing to do what it takes to care for her family. She’s not afraid of getting up early serve them. Sometimes the only time we have to get things done is when the children are in bed. For our family, the time after the children go to bed at night, is time for my husband and I. So that leaves mornings before they are up or during naptime to get extra things done. Sometimes this is time for cleaning, sometimes for sewing and sometimes for reading. The point is that as mothers, we have to take what time we have, to do all the things on our to-do-list. We need to be willing to take the time when we have it, without taking it away from our family time.
The second lesson is that we can’t underestimate the importance of, is organization in the home. While I understand that some of us are naturally gifted with organizational skills, most of us have to work at being organized. I grew up in a very organized home. I am not organized and as you can imagine, I was sure that when I got married, we were not going to have schedules in my home! Now that I have two little ones and a third one on the way, I can honestly say, much to my mother’s delight, that there is no way I could make it through a day without a schedule of some kind. Now, to be scheduled does not mean that you have to wake up at 6, have breakfast at 8, clean at 9, etc…every day exactly the same. Some may find that kind of schedule possible but I don’t. I get frustrated when my schedule gets messed up and with babies, there is no way I will be able to follow that kind of a schedule all the time. So if you are like me, your schedule may look something like this: wake up, shower, start laundry for the day, feed the baby, change and dress both girls, make breakfast, etc… You will notice that there are no times listed on my daily schedule. That is because sometimes the girls wake up earlier and sometimes they don’t. I follow an order of events instead of timing myself. That way I know what I need to do for the day but I’m not stressed out if we are getting up at 9 and eating breakfast at 11. Find the method that works for you and your family and do your best to stick to it. You will be surprise at just how much help being organized brings to your day.
Another important thing to spend the time planning for are meals. This will help in so many ways; you will save money when grocery shopping if you know what you are making for the week or month and only buy what you need and you won’t have to stand in front of the fridge right before dinner, trying to figure out what you are going make because you have list of meals ready to chose from. I have tried both ways and I have found the great benefits to planning ahead. Now I’m working on planning ahead for breakfasts and lunches too but it is a process for me. So I’m taking it one step at a time. Do what you can with what you have and your abilities.
We will talk more about planning ahead tomorrow, when we cover verse 21, but for now, ask the Lord to help you find where your weak areas are and start working on a plan to bring more organization to your home. The goals in being organized are bring a calm and peace to your home and freeing you to better serve your family and others. Children especially need the assurance that they know what to expect in their days and not just when they are babies. If they know what to expect and what is expected from them, they will be much more calm and helpful without having to try to motivate them all day long. They will know when to expect meals, when school starts each day, when they are to take a nap. So with a little planning on our part, we can bless our children with a sense of security and stability in their lives.
Blessings!
Friday, March 5, 2010
She Looks Well to the Ways of Her Household
"She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness."
This verse probably should have been included with yesterday’s devotional, but it was pretty long already so I split it up into to two parts. Remember we were talking about the Proverbs 31 woman taking care of her home so her husband is free to do something other than worry about what she is up to. Today we get to see a bit of the how she does this.
I love the practical. Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you. It’s nice to hear all the great ideas and glowing dreams but if you are not taught how to apply it or if there isn’t a practical application, then it does no good and when you are looking for ways to grow closer to God truly, all the esoteric spouting in the world isn’t going to help you. It may sound pretty but then the sound fades and all you have is a faint impression you just missed something beautiful.
When we read that “she looks well” it means she’s paying attention very carefully to those around her. One way you could translate that phrase is “she observes accurately”. This is something that can’t happen when we are distracted by our own pursuits, by our own ambition, and it cannot happen in our own strength. Now, how accurately can we observe our homes if we are never in them? If we spend all our time out, whether that is out shopping, visiting, working, playing, whatever the case maybe, if we are not at home, we can’t see what is really going on. This is especially true with our children. If we only see our children for an hour or two a day and during that time we are in front of the TV or computer or they are working on homework, how much of what they are thinking, feeling or doing are you really able to see? I love how the verse doesn’t say anything about she talks to her children. Not that this is not important, but there is no way you will know what is really going on in your children’s lives if you don’t watch them. Kids lie, kids don’t know how to tell you what they are thinking sometimes. So if you can’t watch them to pick up on these things for yourself, you will be missing out on a huge part of parenting.
This watching goes for your husband too, in a different way. If you are again always busy outside your home with some form of activity, most likely you will be too tired yourself to observe your husband. I don’t think this will come as a shock to anyone but sometimes husbands have hard time communicating with us. So as wives we sometimes feel like we are left guessing what they are thinking. But I think if take the time to learn more about how our husbands think and feel through watching and sometimes asking a few questions, we will be able to anticipate what their needs are and how best to meet them. I’m sure most husbands come home tired from work, whether that is a mental or physical tiredness depends on their job, but they are tired and the last thing they want is more strain at home. I am not saying that husbands and wives don’t need to talk things over and verbally communicate. I am not suggesting that observation is a replacement for talking about the issues you are facing as a family or as a couple. What I am suggesting is, learning to tune in to when your husband needs a moment of silence to think or when he just wants you chose the curtain color because he doesn’t have an opinion about what color would look best with the walls and furniture. Try to involve him as much as he wants to be, but don’t add more stress to him by asking for more than that. Do what you can to make his home a place of refuge where he knows he will be listened to and cared for all the time. And where he doesn’t have to chose between soft gold and linen curtains.
The last part of the verse is just as important. First of all if you are consuming laziness (which is what eating the bread of idleness means), you aren’t paying attention to your home, plain and simple. There is a stereotype that all stay at home wives are bon-bon eating couch potatoes who watch soap operas and talk shows all day, or women whose life’s goal is to stick their nose into everyone else’s business. This is exactly the opposite of what we are learning here from the Proverbs 31 woman. She fills her day with work of all kinds and there is no time in her day for pettiness or waste. She is redeeming every moment.
What your days should be filled with depends on your individual family situation. But one of our biggest chores as women is maintaining a neat and clean home. Every husband has an idea of what they want their home to look like and it is our responsibility to try our best to keep it that way. Some like it spotless and some don’t care if there are three days’ worth of dirty dishes on the counter as long as dinner is on the table at 5. Now there are concerns about basic cleanliness which we are not here to discuss today but all that aside, you need to know what is most important for your family and make sure you do that faithfully every day. Where a lot of us get lost, is we do what we have to and then we head off for a play date or we go call a friend and sit around the rest of the day, or we find some way to spend our time having fun when really there are plenty of things we could be doing to better our homes and our family’s comfort. I know there are women out there who spend too much time on their homes and they need to relax some, but if we are being honest, most of us don’t fit into that category. For most of us, we want to do that we have to and then like we did when we were children, we want our play time. But what is our motivation for that? Do we really need a break? Or are we just being lazy and wanting to get out of more work?
I would encourage you to take sometime this weekend to read over again what we have talked about and as you pray about what God would have you change in your life, I hope that you take a moment to evaluate how you spend your time. Is there something more you can be doing to serve your husband or your family? Maybe for some that means giving up something that you have done for years. Maybe it’s just as simple as watching what is going on around you in your home. Whatever God shows you, apply it. Make it a practical part of your life. It will be a blessing you and your family and most of all, it will be a blessing to our Lord.
This verse probably should have been included with yesterday’s devotional, but it was pretty long already so I split it up into to two parts. Remember we were talking about the Proverbs 31 woman taking care of her home so her husband is free to do something other than worry about what she is up to. Today we get to see a bit of the how she does this.
I love the practical. Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you. It’s nice to hear all the great ideas and glowing dreams but if you are not taught how to apply it or if there isn’t a practical application, then it does no good and when you are looking for ways to grow closer to God truly, all the esoteric spouting in the world isn’t going to help you. It may sound pretty but then the sound fades and all you have is a faint impression you just missed something beautiful.
When we read that “she looks well” it means she’s paying attention very carefully to those around her. One way you could translate that phrase is “she observes accurately”. This is something that can’t happen when we are distracted by our own pursuits, by our own ambition, and it cannot happen in our own strength. Now, how accurately can we observe our homes if we are never in them? If we spend all our time out, whether that is out shopping, visiting, working, playing, whatever the case maybe, if we are not at home, we can’t see what is really going on. This is especially true with our children. If we only see our children for an hour or two a day and during that time we are in front of the TV or computer or they are working on homework, how much of what they are thinking, feeling or doing are you really able to see? I love how the verse doesn’t say anything about she talks to her children. Not that this is not important, but there is no way you will know what is really going on in your children’s lives if you don’t watch them. Kids lie, kids don’t know how to tell you what they are thinking sometimes. So if you can’t watch them to pick up on these things for yourself, you will be missing out on a huge part of parenting.
This watching goes for your husband too, in a different way. If you are again always busy outside your home with some form of activity, most likely you will be too tired yourself to observe your husband. I don’t think this will come as a shock to anyone but sometimes husbands have hard time communicating with us. So as wives we sometimes feel like we are left guessing what they are thinking. But I think if take the time to learn more about how our husbands think and feel through watching and sometimes asking a few questions, we will be able to anticipate what their needs are and how best to meet them. I’m sure most husbands come home tired from work, whether that is a mental or physical tiredness depends on their job, but they are tired and the last thing they want is more strain at home. I am not saying that husbands and wives don’t need to talk things over and verbally communicate. I am not suggesting that observation is a replacement for talking about the issues you are facing as a family or as a couple. What I am suggesting is, learning to tune in to when your husband needs a moment of silence to think or when he just wants you chose the curtain color because he doesn’t have an opinion about what color would look best with the walls and furniture. Try to involve him as much as he wants to be, but don’t add more stress to him by asking for more than that. Do what you can to make his home a place of refuge where he knows he will be listened to and cared for all the time. And where he doesn’t have to chose between soft gold and linen curtains.
The last part of the verse is just as important. First of all if you are consuming laziness (which is what eating the bread of idleness means), you aren’t paying attention to your home, plain and simple. There is a stereotype that all stay at home wives are bon-bon eating couch potatoes who watch soap operas and talk shows all day, or women whose life’s goal is to stick their nose into everyone else’s business. This is exactly the opposite of what we are learning here from the Proverbs 31 woman. She fills her day with work of all kinds and there is no time in her day for pettiness or waste. She is redeeming every moment.
What your days should be filled with depends on your individual family situation. But one of our biggest chores as women is maintaining a neat and clean home. Every husband has an idea of what they want their home to look like and it is our responsibility to try our best to keep it that way. Some like it spotless and some don’t care if there are three days’ worth of dirty dishes on the counter as long as dinner is on the table at 5. Now there are concerns about basic cleanliness which we are not here to discuss today but all that aside, you need to know what is most important for your family and make sure you do that faithfully every day. Where a lot of us get lost, is we do what we have to and then we head off for a play date or we go call a friend and sit around the rest of the day, or we find some way to spend our time having fun when really there are plenty of things we could be doing to better our homes and our family’s comfort. I know there are women out there who spend too much time on their homes and they need to relax some, but if we are being honest, most of us don’t fit into that category. For most of us, we want to do that we have to and then like we did when we were children, we want our play time. But what is our motivation for that? Do we really need a break? Or are we just being lazy and wanting to get out of more work?
I would encourage you to take sometime this weekend to read over again what we have talked about and as you pray about what God would have you change in your life, I hope that you take a moment to evaluate how you spend your time. Is there something more you can be doing to serve your husband or your family? Maybe for some that means giving up something that you have done for years. Maybe it’s just as simple as watching what is going on around you in your home. Whatever God shows you, apply it. Make it a practical part of your life. It will be a blessing you and your family and most of all, it will be a blessing to our Lord.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Her Husband is Known in the Gates
"Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land."
Back in the time this chapter is talking about, the city gate was the place to conduct business and the place where trials were held and judgment was handed out. When it says that her husband sat with the elders, it doesn’t just mean that he sat there all day with a group of bored old men who were just trying to pass the time. These were the men who administered justice and her husband was one of them. From this we can learn that this was a man who had his house in order. Men in those days who were in positions of authority, had to have a reputation of keeping their own affairs under control. You didn’t see men in leadership whose wife or children were ill spoken of. His reputation was based on the conduct of his family as well as his own. His position of authority is at least partially dependant on his wife caring for his home. Because she keeps his house in order and manages it well, he is free to focus on judging the land and sitting with the elders, without fear of what is going on at home. He can trust her not to do things that would call either his or her integrity into question. This is another way his heart safely trusts her.
One last thing I want to note on this point. When we are talking about her husband sitting in the gates, no mention is made of her renown or that she was sitting next to him the whole time. The scripture does not say she is known in the gates. She doesn’t have a ministry of her own; she’s not a co-pastor or anything like that. It is her husband who is known. Her position is one of support, behind the scenes. She doesn’t need to be in front of the crowd to have her worth recognized and appreciated.
Besides, his children being well spoken of, there are more ways that the world can see just how well we take care of our husbands. When your husband left the house today, was he well dressed for his job? Did he have the clothing he needed clean and folded neatly? As women, we spend plenty of time thinking about what we are wearing and how to make our outfits neat and attractive. But how much time do we spend making sure our husbands shirts are ironed properly, are dry-cleaned when needed, or that his buttons are sewed on and his shoes are clean and polished? Our husbands are our public face in a way. It should be important to us how they look. I’m not suggesting that we all be vain about our husbands’ appearance and try to find ways to make him look like some kind of male model. I’m talking about making them presentable. Now I realize that some of you ladies have husbands who work in construction, or auto mechanics, or a delivery job, and they don’t have to meet the same dress standards as someone who works in a law office or a bank, but we can all make an effort to help our husbands be neatly dressed and look well-cared for.
Another way to help your husband look and be his best for his work day would be sending him off with a good breakfast. Now, again, I know there are some of you whose husbands work night shift, or graveyards, or that after being up all night with your newborn, you just don’t have the energy to make a big breakfast. As the saying goes, where there is a will, there is a way. If your husband works night shift, make sure he has a nice dinner that he can take with him or heat up at home before he goes to work. If you have a new baby, or sick children, make him extra of what you make the children for breakfast and set it aside for him to warm up the next morning. Find a way that works for you and your husband. If you don’t know what he would like, ask him for some suggestions. One of my husband’s favorite breakfasts is a peanut butter sandwich. I just make it up the night before and leave it on the stairs for him to grab on his way out the door. It doesn’t have to anything fancy. Just a little something to help him on his way. And as we all know, there is nothing that puts a smile on a man’s face quicker than a full stomach!
Prov. 12:4, “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband, but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness to his bones.” May we be a crown to our husbands each and every day!
Back in the time this chapter is talking about, the city gate was the place to conduct business and the place where trials were held and judgment was handed out. When it says that her husband sat with the elders, it doesn’t just mean that he sat there all day with a group of bored old men who were just trying to pass the time. These were the men who administered justice and her husband was one of them. From this we can learn that this was a man who had his house in order. Men in those days who were in positions of authority, had to have a reputation of keeping their own affairs under control. You didn’t see men in leadership whose wife or children were ill spoken of. His reputation was based on the conduct of his family as well as his own. His position of authority is at least partially dependant on his wife caring for his home. Because she keeps his house in order and manages it well, he is free to focus on judging the land and sitting with the elders, without fear of what is going on at home. He can trust her not to do things that would call either his or her integrity into question. This is another way his heart safely trusts her.
One last thing I want to note on this point. When we are talking about her husband sitting in the gates, no mention is made of her renown or that she was sitting next to him the whole time. The scripture does not say she is known in the gates. She doesn’t have a ministry of her own; she’s not a co-pastor or anything like that. It is her husband who is known. Her position is one of support, behind the scenes. She doesn’t need to be in front of the crowd to have her worth recognized and appreciated.
Besides, his children being well spoken of, there are more ways that the world can see just how well we take care of our husbands. When your husband left the house today, was he well dressed for his job? Did he have the clothing he needed clean and folded neatly? As women, we spend plenty of time thinking about what we are wearing and how to make our outfits neat and attractive. But how much time do we spend making sure our husbands shirts are ironed properly, are dry-cleaned when needed, or that his buttons are sewed on and his shoes are clean and polished? Our husbands are our public face in a way. It should be important to us how they look. I’m not suggesting that we all be vain about our husbands’ appearance and try to find ways to make him look like some kind of male model. I’m talking about making them presentable. Now I realize that some of you ladies have husbands who work in construction, or auto mechanics, or a delivery job, and they don’t have to meet the same dress standards as someone who works in a law office or a bank, but we can all make an effort to help our husbands be neatly dressed and look well-cared for.
Another way to help your husband look and be his best for his work day would be sending him off with a good breakfast. Now, again, I know there are some of you whose husbands work night shift, or graveyards, or that after being up all night with your newborn, you just don’t have the energy to make a big breakfast. As the saying goes, where there is a will, there is a way. If your husband works night shift, make sure he has a nice dinner that he can take with him or heat up at home before he goes to work. If you have a new baby, or sick children, make him extra of what you make the children for breakfast and set it aside for him to warm up the next morning. Find a way that works for you and your husband. If you don’t know what he would like, ask him for some suggestions. One of my husband’s favorite breakfasts is a peanut butter sandwich. I just make it up the night before and leave it on the stairs for him to grab on his way out the door. It doesn’t have to anything fancy. Just a little something to help him on his way. And as we all know, there is nothing that puts a smile on a man’s face quicker than a full stomach!
Prov. 12:4, “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband, but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness to his bones.” May we be a crown to our husbands each and every day!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
She Will Do Him Good
“She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life."
Verse 12 continues by showing us how she continually seeks to find ways to benefit him and his vision, not just when it suits her or when it coincides with what she wants. This is not the kind of woman who spends all her time at the mall, or watching talk shows, or the kind who is constantly looking for “Me Time”. In fact, I challenge you to read the chapter and see just how many times we see her doing anything for herself. We see her serving her husband, her children, her household staff, her community. What we don’t see is her heading off to get a manicure or seeing a movie with her friends, or taking classes, or going to the gym, or any of the other things our culture tells us we need to be a good mom. Now before you start sending me emails about how you are free to do those things, etc… Let me say this. None of these things are a sin. What is a sin is when you let activities like these get in the way of your mission which is serving and caring for your family. Any activity can be a sin if you let it step between you and your calling; sewing, crocheting, reading, the list goes on and on. I just picked a few of my favorite things. Just because it is domestic, doesn’t mean you can do it whenever you feel like it. If I am crocheting when I should be making dinner for my family, it is sin. I am setting something up in a place of importance that should be taking a lower place at that moment. I am making a substitution of what can be a good thing for what is the best thing. The point is we all need to make sure we have our focus on God’s plan and God’s way of doing things. And we also need to remember that we are here to help and compliment our husbands in their life’s work. We can’t do that to the best of our ability if we are seeking our own goals, pleasure or comfort in what we do.
Another very important point is that she seeks his good not just when they are married but all the days of her life. And as our pastor loves to say, in Hebrew, all means all. That means before they are married, she is already seeking ways to bless him. Maybe this is just as simple as studying how to run a home, or how to train children in a Godly way. It may be learning to serve your father, and what better practice is there for your future! This is a very important part of training our daughters. They need to know how much value God places on faithfulness, not just in marriage but all our live and in all aspects. We must teach them to do what is right at all times, even when single. I personally spent quite a few years single. And even in all that time, I still find things that I wish I would have taken the time to learn. I wish I would have learned to quilt and knit and read up on how to train my children better. Teach your daughters to bless and serve their husbands now. It doesn’t get any easier as they get older. Show them by example what it looks like to be a faithful wife, whose husband safely trusts her and who seeks to do him good all her life.
Verse 12 continues by showing us how she continually seeks to find ways to benefit him and his vision, not just when it suits her or when it coincides with what she wants. This is not the kind of woman who spends all her time at the mall, or watching talk shows, or the kind who is constantly looking for “Me Time”. In fact, I challenge you to read the chapter and see just how many times we see her doing anything for herself. We see her serving her husband, her children, her household staff, her community. What we don’t see is her heading off to get a manicure or seeing a movie with her friends, or taking classes, or going to the gym, or any of the other things our culture tells us we need to be a good mom. Now before you start sending me emails about how you are free to do those things, etc… Let me say this. None of these things are a sin. What is a sin is when you let activities like these get in the way of your mission which is serving and caring for your family. Any activity can be a sin if you let it step between you and your calling; sewing, crocheting, reading, the list goes on and on. I just picked a few of my favorite things. Just because it is domestic, doesn’t mean you can do it whenever you feel like it. If I am crocheting when I should be making dinner for my family, it is sin. I am setting something up in a place of importance that should be taking a lower place at that moment. I am making a substitution of what can be a good thing for what is the best thing. The point is we all need to make sure we have our focus on God’s plan and God’s way of doing things. And we also need to remember that we are here to help and compliment our husbands in their life’s work. We can’t do that to the best of our ability if we are seeking our own goals, pleasure or comfort in what we do.
Another very important point is that she seeks his good not just when they are married but all the days of her life. And as our pastor loves to say, in Hebrew, all means all. That means before they are married, she is already seeking ways to bless him. Maybe this is just as simple as studying how to run a home, or how to train children in a Godly way. It may be learning to serve your father, and what better practice is there for your future! This is a very important part of training our daughters. They need to know how much value God places on faithfulness, not just in marriage but all our live and in all aspects. We must teach them to do what is right at all times, even when single. I personally spent quite a few years single. And even in all that time, I still find things that I wish I would have taken the time to learn. I wish I would have learned to quilt and knit and read up on how to train my children better. Teach your daughters to bless and serve their husbands now. It doesn’t get any easier as they get older. Show them by example what it looks like to be a faithful wife, whose husband safely trusts her and who seeks to do him good all her life.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Her Husband Safely Trusts Her
By way of clarification, I will be taking a topical approach for our study. It seems to make more sense so that we aren't covering the same things more than once. That is another reason that I am encouraging all of you to read the chapter for yourselves. That way you have an idea of the flow of the chapter, since we are changing the order a bit. This first week, we will be talking about how the Proverbs 31 serves her husband.
"The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil."
In verse 11, we read that her husband can trust her and has no need for any other to fill his heart or home. The word "spoil" literally means prey or plunder. He doesn't need to go find wealth somewhere else, he knows his wife is frugal and will live within the income he provides. This is something we all need to strive to achieve. I'm not talking about being miserly or hoarding things; we will discuss generosity and caring for the poor later, but we are talking about using what you have wisely and not looking for more or nagging your husband because you don't have enough for what you want or think you need. Simply put, it is contentment. Your husband will not find you a refuge from the cares of his world if all he hears from you are complaints about how he doesn't make a good enough wage or what things your friend/sister/mother/etc... have that you don't. One suggestion is that instead of calling on him to solve some household concerns, we could try by economy to save the necessary funds to take care of the need without asking our husbands for more money.
It is important to note that the word for trust used in verse 11 means to hasten, or to speed to for refuge, to be confident or sure. Similarly, safely means a place of refuge. So we see that she is meant to be a place of security and refuge for him. After a day of being bombarded by work and the world, every man needs somewhere he can go where he knows he will be able to rest and relax.
So in conclusion, let us support our husbands by being the place they can come home to, where they can find a sympathetic ear and a warm heart. Someone they can trust, without reservation and without fear.
"The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil."
In verse 11, we read that her husband can trust her and has no need for any other to fill his heart or home. The word "spoil" literally means prey or plunder. He doesn't need to go find wealth somewhere else, he knows his wife is frugal and will live within the income he provides. This is something we all need to strive to achieve. I'm not talking about being miserly or hoarding things; we will discuss generosity and caring for the poor later, but we are talking about using what you have wisely and not looking for more or nagging your husband because you don't have enough for what you want or think you need. Simply put, it is contentment. Your husband will not find you a refuge from the cares of his world if all he hears from you are complaints about how he doesn't make a good enough wage or what things your friend/sister/mother/etc... have that you don't. One suggestion is that instead of calling on him to solve some household concerns, we could try by economy to save the necessary funds to take care of the need without asking our husbands for more money.
It is important to note that the word for trust used in verse 11 means to hasten, or to speed to for refuge, to be confident or sure. Similarly, safely means a place of refuge. So we see that she is meant to be a place of security and refuge for him. After a day of being bombarded by work and the world, every man needs somewhere he can go where he knows he will be able to rest and relax.
So in conclusion, let us support our husbands by being the place they can come home to, where they can find a sympathetic ear and a warm heart. Someone they can trust, without reservation and without fear.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Welcome to Our Month with the Proverbs 31 Woman!
So today is the day! It's finally March and time to dig into the Word and learn what God has to say about being a Godly woman. I thought it might help to give you a basic schedule of what I plan to do, Lord willing!
I will post a devotional each day of the week, some longer, some shorter. Then on the weekends, when there won't be a new devotional, feel free to read the chapter again for yourself or take the time maybe you didn't have during the week, to catch up on what you may have missed. As wives and mothers, there are days when we don't have time to read more than one verse and meditate on that. Do what you can. There is no requirement in scripture to read a book a day, or even a chapter a day. If you can do those things, do it. If all you truly have time for is a verse, be faithful to read and study that verse. I'm not here to pressure anyone to take time away from their families. If you have time when the little ones are asleep or while your husband is at work, please come and read and be encouraged. If you can't, don't feel burdened or guilty; just do what God gives you for that day.
To start things off, I want to encourage you all to read Proverbs 31:10-31 for yourselves. See what God will show you just from reading it. Write down questions you have and pray for the answers as you go about your chores. If there is one verse that sticks out to you, commit it to memory, so you can dwell on it all day. Sing it to your children, share with your daughters what you are learning so they can become Godly women themselves and teach it to your sons so they will know what they are looking for in a future wife. Think of ways to apply what you have learned from those few verses in practical ways. The Bible is meant to be our textbook for life, and its advice is always practical. We should use it practically. If you have any questions as we are studying together, please feel free to leave a comment or email me at: hisbelovedblog@gmail.com. I will do my best to answer promptly.
As part of this month of learning what it means to be a woman of God and a woman of the home, I'd like to recommend a book that I have found to encourage Godly womanhood in our daughters. It's out of print but you can find it on Amazon, When I'm a Mommy. It's a paraphrase of Proverbs 31 for little girls. My mom bought it for me when I was very young and now I read it to my daughters. If you have any other suggestions, please feel free to let me know about those too!
God bless you all as we begin this journey. May He reveal Himself to us all each and everyday and may we begin to live what we learn!
I will post a devotional each day of the week, some longer, some shorter. Then on the weekends, when there won't be a new devotional, feel free to read the chapter again for yourself or take the time maybe you didn't have during the week, to catch up on what you may have missed. As wives and mothers, there are days when we don't have time to read more than one verse and meditate on that. Do what you can. There is no requirement in scripture to read a book a day, or even a chapter a day. If you can do those things, do it. If all you truly have time for is a verse, be faithful to read and study that verse. I'm not here to pressure anyone to take time away from their families. If you have time when the little ones are asleep or while your husband is at work, please come and read and be encouraged. If you can't, don't feel burdened or guilty; just do what God gives you for that day.
To start things off, I want to encourage you all to read Proverbs 31:10-31 for yourselves. See what God will show you just from reading it. Write down questions you have and pray for the answers as you go about your chores. If there is one verse that sticks out to you, commit it to memory, so you can dwell on it all day. Sing it to your children, share with your daughters what you are learning so they can become Godly women themselves and teach it to your sons so they will know what they are looking for in a future wife. Think of ways to apply what you have learned from those few verses in practical ways. The Bible is meant to be our textbook for life, and its advice is always practical. We should use it practically. If you have any questions as we are studying together, please feel free to leave a comment or email me at: hisbelovedblog@gmail.com. I will do my best to answer promptly.
As part of this month of learning what it means to be a woman of God and a woman of the home, I'd like to recommend a book that I have found to encourage Godly womanhood in our daughters. It's out of print but you can find it on Amazon, When I'm a Mommy. It's a paraphrase of Proverbs 31 for little girls. My mom bought it for me when I was very young and now I read it to my daughters. If you have any other suggestions, please feel free to let me know about those too!
God bless you all as we begin this journey. May He reveal Himself to us all each and everyday and may we begin to live what we learn!
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