Mother's Day Follow-up

Proverbs 31 Woman

As a young wife and mom, I disliked it when a pastor preached on the importance of women striving to meet the standards of Proverbs 31:

• bring good not harm ALL the days of your life
• work with eager hands
• bring food from afar
• get up while it is still night!
• buy real estate and plant a vineyard
• work vigorously, trade profitably, and stay up late into the night working
• clothe your family, look good yourself, and make your home beautiful
• and, oh yes, help the poor and needy

Whew. Get the drift? This is quite a list of seemingly unattainable characteristics. Most women I know are stretched to the max with all sorts of responsibilities for family, friends, home, work, church, and community.

It's impossible to do all this and still have time and energy to commune with God. That's why I didn't like sermons on this chapter.

One day, a very wise woman told me this wasn't a "to do" list for a woman. Rather, it was a standard of characteristics meant to cover a lifetime. You can't do it all at the same time, but perhaps some of these beautiful qualities can be developed throughout the years.

What a relief I felt. There is a time for everything--IN GOD'S TIME! For reassurance on this, read Ecclesiastes.

Message to over-scheduled women: ask God to reveal his plan for your life. At this time, what does he want you to emphasize? Stop beating  yourselves up over not being able to do it all, and do it all perfectly.

Message to preaching pastors: be sensitive when extolling the virtues of the Proverbs 31 woman.


(Sidebar: this passage is advice from a mother to her son on choosing a wife. What mother doesn't want the best for her child. Do ya think her standards might be a little unrealistic? Just an opinion.)