Lower Acres - Proverbs 31 woman

Friday, February 1, 2008

Proverbs 31 woman - Day 12

"She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive."

PHEW.

Now, I know that back when this was written, this woman had servants. So, she not only kept her children occupied and PRODUCTIVE, but the household staff also.

After writing today's entry over at my other blog about small son and his school day yesterday......I have SO much respect for this woman. Well, I always have, but this verse really brought out her.....mettle, her.......organizational skills......and I bet they didn't call them that back then. It's just what she did!!

I glanced at what my old study said and here it is: (today's comments to follow)........

****27. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Looketh well – watches ways, doings (don't know what the blank's all about. Computer glitch?)
Household – family
Eateth – take in
Bread – sorrow, tears. Use figuratively, because it forms so great a part of life
Idleness – laziness, sluggishness

Our paraphrase: She watches the goings on of her family, and does not take into her life laziness, because it would form a big part of her life.

This woman was always so busy concentrating on the things of others, here, her family, that she literally does not have time to be lazy. I feel like the second part of this verse means that she purposely did not participate in things that would bring laziness, because she knew this would encompass her life, if she even began to “take it in”.

I wonder if we are getting ourselves into more and more trouble as the “convenience” items in our life come along? I try to picture the great women who helped settle this country. As I read about their daily walk, I see there was absolutely NO time for what we consider leisure. Oh, there were times when these women would gather for a wedding, and as I’ve pointed out in other articles, they were seen doing many domestic things together, and included “fun” stuff before, during, or after the work.

But nowhere do I see them filling their lives with completely selfish pursuits. These women did not leave the home on a daily basis (unless it was to work in the fields) in order to feel “fulfilled”, while others raised their children, cleaned their homes and took care of other domestic chores. The workout gym of the 1800’s was the garden and just daily life.

Yes, I believe I should be healthy and as beautiful as possible for my husband, but in the previous verses alone, I am taught how to be beautiful. There are many advantages of living in today’s society. Transportation, medicine and many other things. God gave me a brain and I believe I am to use it.

I believe the key to all this is exactly what we see in all of Proverbs 31. It is also the key to living a successful Christian life. When Jesus was asked which of the commandments was more important, he replied in Matthew 22:37-39, “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38. This is the first and great commandment. 39. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

That key is dying to self. Thinking of others. Doing for others, and letting God take care of you. Matthew 6:27-34 teaches us that. If I would just live by that principal, everything else will take care of itself.****

Well, THAT certainly sums it up well.

My mother always had this silly little saying "Take care of the corners and the middles will take care of themselves".

Meaning if I was careful to sweep the corners of the kitchen, the middle would automatically and by default be kept clean, since I was sweeping INTO the center.

I think this principal is at work here.

She was so busy taking care of instructing all her household, she had not time for depression or that sense of lack of fulfillment.

Oh, that many today would heed these wise words of old.

Including myself.

So much else could be said........but........I rest my case.

Denise aka The Domestic Angel