Honor

“There is honor for every woman who walks humbly with God and presumably for every man who does the same.” (John Greco)

 What would the Virtuous Woman’s story (Proverbs 31:10-31) look like today in scripture? Here’s an idea:

10 Who can find a confident, kind-hearted virtuous woman? For her price is far above anything this world can offer.
11 Her husband loves her with his whole heart, showing his love through service, pre-planning their dates, and still looking at her like when they were dating.
12 And she loves him with her whole heart, forgiving him of his faults, encouraging his talents, and always remembering he is a son of God.
13 During the day she googles how to get stains out of her daughter’s brand new jeans, wipes the toddler’s tray for the 50th time, and balances the budget.
14 She runs errands, gets kids to their doctor’s appointments, and goes food shopping; sometimes she even gets organic hummus to go with the Doritos she also bought.
15 During the nights, when she just wants to curl up in bed and sleep, she packs lunches for tomorrow, irons clothes for tomorrow’s workday, and wonders how long her eldest will continue to call her “Mommy;” she also remembers to put the clothes to donate in the trunk of her car so she doesn’t forget it (again).
16 She works hard to multiply what life gives her so that it is enough and more for her family; she is a wise steward of her resources.
17 She is strong and uses her strength to give voice to the voiceless in her community.
18 She doesn’t waste her time or emotional energy comparing her life to others’: Interest does not define her self-worth.
19 She takes time for self-care, enjoying hobbies that enrich and beautify her family’s home and which create space for even mom to make mistakes, learn, and grow.
20 She recognizes the abundance of her blessings – most of the time – and generously shares her talents, compassion, and material resources with others.
21 She uses her education to bless her family: her husband and children support her continued education.
22 She is wise in how she talks about her body; she knows little ears will hear and sometimes mimic body shaming feelings or talk.
23 Her husband talks respectfully about her and him, and neither uses each other as the punch line of a joke – and everyone they know knows that.
24 She works hard with her hands, her head, and her heart to bless her family and others; she has a “village” she can call on in times of need.
25 Her countenance radiates strength and goodness; and she is striving to allow her faith to overcome her fears of the future.
26 It’s easy for her to gives compliments; and she repents when she realizes she’s said something unkind about another.
27 She keeps her children and husband close to her heart, and knows when to work and when to play.
28 She watches her children grow up, and regardless of the paths they choose, they know she loves them; her husband appreciates all that she has done to nurture their children and tells her that often.
29 There are many different ways to be a virtuous woman, and you’re one of them.
30 Being on trend and staying out of pictures because your hair/makeup/outfit doesn’t look the best is lame and you know this: it’s a woman who is trying her best to keep the commandments of the Lord and repenting often who truly has joy.
31 When you see a good woman, speak it; we rise by lifting others.

The Virtuous Woman can teach ladies in 2019 some very important lessons. Here they are:

Trustworthy: “She inspires trust, and her husband’s heart is safe with her and because of her, he has every good thing.  Every day of her life she does what is best for him, never anything harmful or hurtful.” (Proverbs 31:11-12, VOICE) An admirable quality in anyone, not just women, is being able to be trusted with the big and little things; being dependable; having integrity. Follow through on what you promise to do (which admittedly doesn’t happen all the time). It’s something to value.

Eager: “Delight attends her work and guides her fingers as she selects the finest wool and flax for spinning.” (Proverbs 31:13, VOICE)  She went about her tasks eagerly, willingly, and wanting to take care of her family. Don’t complain even if it’s not your favorite task.

Purposeful/Savvy: “She moves through the market like merchant ships
 that dock here and there in distant ports, finally arriving home with food she’s carried from afar.” (Proverbs 31:14, VOICE) A commentary talks about how buying “food from afar” was a well-planned way to save money, almost like driving an extra distance to get food on sale. I’m sure it involved extra time and planning, but ultimately it was a great way of managing the household budget. And being financially savvy and intentional applies to any walk of life.

Sacrificial/Responsible: “She rises from bed early, in the still of night,
 carefully preparing food for her family and providing a portion to her servants.” (Proverbs 31:15, VOICE) They say you kiss sleeping late goodbye when you become a parent. Whether or not I’m ready to get up, my kids usually start making noise around 7 to 7:30. They are my little motivations for getting up, though. This is a great reminder to take care of my responsibilities – even if it means putting them before what I want.

Diligent: “She has a plan. She considers some land and buys it; then with her earnings, she plants a vineyard.”  (Proverbs 31:16, VOICE) This describes her business practice. She looks at a field and considers whether or not it will be a sensible buy. Because she manages it well, it produces a profit, and she uses it to move forward with another business endeavor. She works hard, makes good investments, and reaps the profits. Not every woman is in a place where she works a typical 9-5, but there is something in all of us that wants to be industrious and use our talents.

Physically Capable: “She wraps herself in strength, carries herself with confidence,  and works hard, strengthening her arms for the task at hand.” (Proverbs 31:17, VOICE)I think this scripture encourages physical ability – being able to be healthy and stay up to the task. It’s definitely not talking about shapes and sizes, but rather the importance of being able to keep up with your career and/or your household and family. The bonus of working out is that it makes me a more positive, and likable, person to be around.

Disciplined:  She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.  She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. (Proverbs 31:18-19, KJV) While it shows how diligent she is, it also shows her working the only time she can sometimes, which is late into the night. The distaff was what kept the fibers together. In many ways, so does the woman in a household.

Compassionate: “She reaches out to the poor and extends mercy to those in need.” (Proverbs 31:20, VOICE) I love how this is worded, because it shows she’s not just charitable. It doesn’t say she gives some of their income to the poor and sends clothes and canned goods to the needy. This passage shows it’s much more of a personal connection. I think this is one of the biggest areas I can work on – finding ways to volunteer in the community.

Prepared: “She is not worried about the cold or snow for her family, for she has clothed them all in warm, crimson coats.” (Proverbs 31:21, VOICE) This characteristic means she has the foresight to be ready for anything, which includes the unpredictable weather. Plus scarlet seems warm and cozy, but also seems to convey style too – it doesn’t just say “wool”, for example.

Tidy/Elegant/Neat:“She makes her own bed linens and clothes herself in purple and fine cloth.” (Proverbs 31:22, VOICE)The Proverbs 31 woman may not necessarily be trendy with expensive clothes, but she definitely maintains her style in appearance, and in her home. Being approachable in appearance tends to affect other areas of life and relationships. It also just helps to be orderly and focused when an effort is made in the morning to tidy up myself and the house. (It doesn’t happen every day.)

Supportive/Submissive: “Everyone recognizes her husband in the public square, and no one fails to respect him as he takes his place of leadership in the community.”  (Proverbs 31:23, VOICE)A husband that does well in life usually has a supportive wife at his side. It is hard to be well-respected if your own family doesn’t stand beside you. She doesn’t hold him back, but helps him move forward especially by taking care of things at home. That leads into submission, with the husband as the head of the household, and the wife a strong supporter. Many women get offended at the word “submissive”, but it’s not only a biblical concept, it’s a word used to describe Jesus. It doesn’t mean the wife is a door mat, or is valued any less. She has a different role, but clearly this passage is meant to build her up just as much as her respected husband.

Humble: “She makes linen garments and sells them in the market, and she supplies belts for tradesmen to carry across the sea.” (Proverbs 31:24, VOICE)This woman continues to work hard and also make a profit. And in addition, it’s not beneath her to work, or to be part of the business world, even though her husband is well-respected. She can work, he can work, and it doesn’t mess with the respect given to him. Think about that.

The Big Finish: ²⁵ Clothed in strength and dignity, with nothing to fear, she smiles when she thinks about the future. ²⁶ She conducts her conversations with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is ever her concern. ²⁷ She directs the activities of her household, and never does she indulge in laziness. ²⁸ Her children rise up and bless her.  Her husband, too, joins in the praise, saying: ²⁹ “There are some—indeed many—women who do well in every way, but of all of them only you are truly excellent.” ³⁰ Charm can be deceptive and physical beauty will not last,     but a woman who reveres the Eternal should be praised above all others.
³¹ Celebrate all she has achieved. Let all her accomplishments publicly praise her. (Proverbs 31:25-31, VOICE) The rest is self-explanatory. Many of these things apply to women in any stage or situation – strong, dignified, peaceful, joyful, wise, and hard-working. Her family respects her, too. I see a lot of things I want to work harder towards, but it also makes it a little more relatable. What surprises you about this passage?

“Let no man under value the price of a virtuous woman’s counsel.” (George Chapman)[i]

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[i] Sources used:

·        “A Modern Version of the Proverbs 31 Woman” by midday mornings

·     “What the proverbs 31 woman looks like today” by What You Make It