proverbs31-woman.com

My Great Uncle Fred was a lovely man who was very proud of his family, particularly his wife, his daughter, his nieces, his grand nieces and any other relative who was female. He would constantly tell us when we were children that little girls grow up to be mothers and that’s the most important role in the world.

I could tell by the way he talked that he had loved his mother very much and also his dear departed wife. He held them in high esteem and was one of the most wonderful gentlemen I’ve ever known.

As I grew up, got married and had my own family he would always make sure he rang on birthdays to say hello and give us birthday wishes over the phone. And as my own daughters grew up he took delight in getting to know them too – his great, grand nieces. He always had wonderful stories to tell and was a keen gardener as well. I learnt a lot from my great uncle, not the least being how a man should treat his wife.

One day long ago I received a letter from him. He was always interested in my activities – I’ve always been someone doing something and rarely get bored. Anyway, I had to laugh when I read the opening line of the letter. It was addressed to “Dear Mrs Perpetual Motion”.

That was many years ago, the letter has turned yellow now and I’ve kept it as a keepsake of my adorable uncle. I never did get to talk to him about my faith and my belief but if he were alive today I do believe that the Proverbs 31 Woman is one he would have been very interested in and I can’t help thinking that perhaps my great aunt may have been a P31 woman. He was definitely a man very proud of his wife and showed the confidence in her that we read about in verse 11 and he always praised her as in verse 28. It is good to have examples like that in our childhood as it helps shape our values and belief in ourselves.

Twelve years have passed since I received that letter and I’m still in perpetual motion but I do try spending some quiet time regularly so I can read, write, think and just relax. It is important that we’re not ‘on the go’ all the time and should allow time to read God’s Word, to hear Him speak to us and most of all, for us to hear. A time for rest and reflection allows us to get refreshed and regain our strength to continue on with our daily activities as wives, mothers, and business women. These quiet times should not be mistaken for the ‘bread of idleness’. KMT

My daughter recently had minor surgery and is home convalescing. She’s still able to do things, use the computer, walk around, and drive too, but is on medication which can make her drowsy, so needs to stay indoors when she’s taken the medication and give in to it.

She wanted to go feed her horse and I was worried about her doing that. I could see she was tired and her teary response to me only proved that not all was right with her but she didn’t want to give in to it. I offered to take her there myself and wait with her whilst he ate his food and she took him back out to his paddock but she was worried because it would take an hour out of my day.

Just like my daughter to be worried about the effect on others, not the least of which was her mum. My response to her was that I’d rather spend an hour taking her to where she needed to be, than spend hours at a hospital with her because something happened whilst she was out on the road. She ended up relenting and went to have a sleep. We planned to go later in the day once she had rested.  I made a mental note of what I could do to prepare for that time out and catch up with my work later.

Our children, even when they are adults, need to know that we still have time for them. We can’t live their lives for them and nor should we be in their pockets – they are adults and need to lead their own lives. But they do need to know we are there for them still, to guide, encourage, and sometimes give a push when they need it. Just as in 31:26 the Proverbs 31 Woman speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue, so must we remain vigilant in this way for our sons and daughters as they become adults and continue to lead and guide them so that they can do the same for new generations that rise.