Today I woke up to the smell of coffee, my favorite donuts, the sweet giggles of my not-so-littles, and a phone full of well-wishes and smiles! It was a fantastic way to start the day, and I am still smiling from the reminder of how good our God is! There have been so many women throughout my life that have made a beautiful impact on me in regards to motherhood and all it entails. I love and adore each of these women, and I’m so thankful that God has blessed me with the opportunity to know them, learn from them, and love them. While each of these women are different, I believe they would fall under the same category: A “Proverbs 31 Woman.” Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” I believe the Proverbs 31 Woman reflects the beauty and workmanship of our Creator in a remarkable way that reveals just how precious God sees each person, and what a life lived in service to Him can result in. From Proverbs 31:10, “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels,” to Matthew 6:26, “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” - we get a vivid depiction of the depth of care the Lord has for His children.
When I read about the Proverbs 31 Woman, I can’t help but think of my mom. The funny thing is, she would vehemently deny that she accurately depicts this woman. My mom has been my dad’s biggest cheerleader, encouraging him to do his best, try new things, and become who God created him to be. She is an amazing cook; her home is beautiful – she revels in the domestic activities from raising chickens to hanging her laundry on the line to dry. She is resilient and resourceful, teaching us kids from a young age that “it’s not what you have but what you do with what you have that matters.” She knows each of her children’s strengths and weaknesses, celebrates our differences and accomplishments, and loves us fiercely. She is quick to remind us that God makes no mistakes, and that each of us is special because we are our own unique reflection of the face of God. She is one of the hardest workers I know, the first one awake and the last one to bed. She is kind and compassionate and is able to empathize with all types of people, from young to old. She can often be found lending a listening ear to a friend and has this calm presence that makes you feel like everything may not be okay at the moment but will eventually be. She is a master at making an “ouchie” feel better - she must have a special ingredient in each bandaid, ointment, and kiss…cuz tears are quickly wiped away once Nonna has come to save the day! She is adored by her family, and I am proud to be called her daughter.
Happy Mother’s Day Mom. Your influence on my life has taught me to trust Jesus in all things, to see the beauty in all of God’s creation, and to love deeply and completely.
Read: 2 Timothy 1:5 & Proverbs 31:10-31
Consider: When I look at the faith of Timothy’s mom and grandma, I can’t help but look at my husband and see the influence his mom has had on him. You know Seth’s tender heart, quick wit, and generous spirit? He learned those from his mom. He got all the good parts of her, and I believe it is because he got to experience real faith within his home. I am forever grateful to my husband’s parents for pouring into their son, for teaching him to love and serve Jesus – he is the best husband and dad because of it. This leads me to think of how am I reflecting a “Proverbs 31 Woman” to my children? You already know I am a horrible cook, am less-than-glory when it comes to being morning glory – mornings are for the birds – and I’m not a bird! I am also not always patient, crave quiet time, and fear the sewing machine as much, if not more so, than the gym! I have a looooong way to go when it comes to becoming a Proverbs 31 Woman, but I do aspire to be a unique reflection of one, to be a woman who strives to be more like Christ. I think it is important to remember that a Proverbs 31 Woman isn’t made overnight (prolly cuz she isn’t sleeping…just kidding!) but she is made through hard work, intention, and is willing to take those painful baby steps towards becoming who God created her to be – I say painful, because this often involves self-sacrifice. Whether you are a single, married, have children or not, you can still become this type of remarkable woman. You can do this by focusing on Christ, understanding your strengths and weaknesses, and using both to bring honor and glory to our God. Philippians 2:13, “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” It is never too late to become who God desires you to be. Never. Let’s lace up those Keds, or slip into our running heels, and be the light that we were called to be! Philippians 1:6, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
To Do: How can you avoid placing society’s expectations of motherhood over God’s expectations? How do you plan to encourage other women to become their own reflection of the Proverbs 31 Woman?
