Once long ago, I cross-stitched Proverbs 31. A beautiful passage of scripture describing a woman of virtue. I worked nightly for weeks on that wedding gift. I recall as I crosstitched each verse, that in my mind I was saying yes, yes, no, yes, no, no, no as I stitched these beautiful verses.
I realized I was not quite measuring up to God’s ideal woman. I was trying hard, but in some areas, there was work yet to do. That cross-stitching event took me many hours to complete. Each night as I stitched I became more and more aware of some areas that definitely needed fine tuning. That was twenty-five years ago.
I began to read it again, for this writing. I dug a bit deeper this time. I have made progress in some of those “no” places but still could do better in some others. As I was preparing for this writing my eyes fell on verse 26.
Proverbs 31:26 She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.(NASB)
It seems that more women are working outside their homes. That is where our chance, or maybe we should call it our “opportunity” is, to witness God’s love with our words. The ideal woman in God’s word possibly worked a bit outside her home because verse twenty-four says:
Proverbs 31:24 She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies belts to the tradesmen. (NASB)
So, this woman not only takes care of her home and family but she is caring for the needy and sewing for profit to help with the expenses of running her home and caring for her family and business.
Her influence goes before her in the market place. Her husband is well-known in the gates of the city among the elders of the land. She obviously makes sure that there will be no doubt that she cares for them. Her love for them is widely known throughout the land where she resides. Her family is a testament to her care and love for them.
~Thought For Today~
It is certainly important to care for those we love. But, after working outside my home for forty-eight years I can truly say that the most important characteristic of a godly woman is the delivery of her words. Words of kindness leave a memory of a person in our minds more than any other thing. We all have experienced words of honey and we have also all experienced words of bitterness, anger, gossip, jealousy, and the list goes on.
The Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of Jewish Scripture) says, “she regulates her mouth with love.” Sometimes that is so difficult to do, but so necessary. The people we work with or come in contact with will not remember anything of the good that we do. It will be the words that we say and how we said them that stay with them, for years.
The teaching of kindness is on her tongue. Wisdom is in her words. She remains godly, in even the most difficult situations. Her witness will stay long after her. She treats people with respect and honor.
I am going to dwell on Proverbs 31 for a few days. There is much to absorb, learn and some corrections I need to make. As we go out about our day let us “regulate” our mouths with love, wisdom and kindness.
~Prayer For Today~
Hello Father! We strive daily to be godly women. You see us on our good days and on our bad. We fail in many ways. We pray that our mouths deliver wisdom, love and kindness. We desire that all can see, the reflection of You in us. The enemy revels in the moments when we fail at this. Forgive us of our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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