A Wife of Noble Character

I have written and re-written and un-written the following blog.  The Lord has laid it so heavy on my heart to write on this topic, but I keep saying no thanks.  It's too hard to admit these faults out loud.  It's too hard to hold this mirror up in front of my own face!  But when the Lord lays something this heavy on my heart, I really just need to conceed to it and follow step.  About a month ago, I made a decision to commit to becoming a wife and mother of noble character.  This is not my own great idea, it actually comes from a section in Proverbs titled A Wife of Noble Character.  Now before you women close your laptops thinking this is an old, no longer used, sexist view of marriage and life hear me out.  First read these verses:

Proverbs 31:10-31

New International Version (NIV)

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

 ^{10 [a]}A wife of noble character who can find?
   She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
   and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
   all the days of her life.
¹³ She selects wool and flax
   and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
   bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night;
   she provides food for her family
   and portions for her female servants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
   out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
   her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
   and her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
   and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
   and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
   for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
   she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
   where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
   and supplies the merchants with sashes.
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
   she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
   and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
   and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
   her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
   but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done,
   and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

 

So, after reading, reading again, and re-reading shaking my head, I thought "Lord do you not know me.  Don't you know how stubburn and pig-headed I am.  I mean you want me to do what!  I am too independent for all of this.  Maybe you missed out on the last few years of EQUALITY!  This wife of noble character, she didn't have my full time crazy job.  She didn't have PTA and FSA and MOPS and Zumba.  What does she have to do with my life as a wife, mother, boss, choir member, 1/2 marathon runner..etc!?"  Well, as I looked deeper and dug into the verses a little bit more I learned alot from this noble wife and alot about myself.  The three most important points I am commiting to and taking away from this Lord given lesson is:

1. Serving- I need to serve more but I also need to serve my family and those around me with (get this) a HAPPY heart.  Serve with a happy heart.  The woman in these verses never stops long enough to complain about all of the work she is doing for her family and her husband.  She is too busy happily serving and loving them through her works that it never says, after she did all this she shook her finger at her husband to make sure he knew all of her accomplishments. No way!  She served him, she served her children and even her servant without complaining or carrying on.  Goal #1, serve them happily out of love for them and for God.

2. Attitude-What would my family say about my demeanor when I am doing my chores?  Am I walking around deligating barking orders and grumping that I am the only one who seems to be able to get things done around here with a baby on my hip and one hand tyed behind my back! Well of course I am.  My goal is for my husband and children and any other person that walks in my life daily to see a woman who is so full of love for her God and her family that she can't help but love and serve them.  Goal #2, change the attitude!

3. Honor- Honor does not come easily.  It is not something that just gets lavished all over me for no reason. I need to be deserving of it and I have a plan for that.  I need to put God first, honor Him in all I do and seak after His will for my life. I need to put my marriage first (in my earthly relationships) and commit to serving and honoring my husband in all I do.  I need to show God's love to my children throughout their entire day so that they can see His light through me and want that for their own life.  This will honor God and I will be honored and lifted up because of it.

 

So, why didn't I want to write on this topic?  Because it is so hard to be a wife of noble character everyday.  So everyday I am repeating these verses to myself.  Everyday I wake I have to stuff my brain full of all of this information just to make it through the morning without screwing it all up again.  Luckily I am an un-perfect person loved by a PERFECT God!  Amen to that.  God sees me beautiful everyday and lucky for me places reminders throughout the day of the things that I am working on. 

I vow to continue to work on being a noble person in all of my relationships. To work hard in this journey. To love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul and mind.  To follow hard after Him.  To be respectful and loving towards my family. To shine Jesus love throughout my life and my day.  To be a person of noble character that is Beautifully and Wonderfully Made.

You too my friends are beautifully made by a perfect God who is in the business of loving and saving imperfect people.  Please let me know if I can help you on your journey towards Him.  I am here and I will pray for you in this journey.

Until next time, know good friends that you have this warrior on your side.

 

Much Love,

Chrystan