Sunday Afternoon Tea

A wife of noble character who can find?
       She is worth far more than rubies.

 Her husband has full confidence in her
       and lacks nothing of value. 

 She brings him good, not harm,
       all the days of her life.

 She selects wool and flax
       and works with eager hands. 

 She is like the merchant ships,
       bringing her food from afar.

 She gets up while it is still dark;
       she provides food for her family
       and portions for her servant girls. 

 She considers a field and buys it;
       out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

 She sets about her work vigorously;
       her arms are strong for her tasks. 

 She sees that her trading is profitable,
       and her lamp does not go out at night.

 In her hand she holds the distaff
       and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 

 She opens her arms to the poor
       and extends her hands to the needy.

 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
       for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 

 She makes coverings for her bed;
       she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
       where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 

 She makes linen garments and sells them,
       and supplies the merchants with sashes.

 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
       she can laugh at the days to come.

 she speaks with wisdom,
       and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 

 She watches over the affairs of her household
       and does not eat the bread of idleness.

 Her children arise and call her blessed;
       her husband also, and he praises her:

 "Many women do noble things,
       but you surpass them all." 

 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
       but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

 Give her the reward she has earned,
       and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

I'm doing something a little different today... linking to Bernideen's Tea Time Blog as we are celebrating the Proverbs 31 woman on this Mother's Day.  I adore the 31st chapter of the book of Proverbs from the beginning to the end.  With the exception of certain Psalms, it is my most well read section of the Bible. 

I e-mailed Bernideen that I wasn't certain what specifically to write about.  There have been dozens of books written on this area of scripture so it has been well documented, discussed, debated, and held to the heart.  So much to think of and ponder and follow as wisdom.

However, as so often happens during the week, events in my own life helped to focus my thoughts on what this scripture means to me.  I remembered what Edith has said in her books, that the home needs someone who is giving it a lot of thought, whose heart belongs to hearth and home and the people who live there.

I came to realize this week that I have been spending a great deal of time taking care of people and pets and gardens.  As much as my husband cares for the garden, it was not he who battled a cold wind to put bankies on garden and deck plants last night.  He is not the one who checks Victoria's kibble and water dishes twice a day.

He does not text Christopher, asking when he will be home for the night (does he need leftovers to warm up) or to let him know he is being prayed for before the class.  My husband did not help Christopher set four alarm clocks to make certain he was up for his final in time, drive him there and later pick him up... all because it was Mom who realized the importance of the moment.

He does not remind Stephanie to rest even though she has four children and is trying to get settled in a new home.  It is Mom who thinks of her throughout the day and prays for her strength (as the baby is due soon), prays for each grandchild as well as a son-in-law's commute.

It is Mom who thinks ahead to Holidays and birthdays, how to budget for them, what can be done to make the house festive, what food must be prepared as well as new desserts to attempt, and gifts (on a budget) which would bring joy to the recipient.

My husband does not keep back a few dollars from our limited budget to peruse the thrift shop for Beauty or to stop by the nursery for another herb plant or flower when we have "just a little" more to spend. 

He does not think about the cold and windy weather outside, deciding sausage and buckwheat pancakes would be a special treat when loved ones arrive home.  He does not peruse through numerous favorite cookbooks to find recipes for orzo salad or black beans or dill from the herb garden or a near infinite variety of ways to cook healthy on a budget.

He looks at the big picture... the budget and the lawn and the maintenance and all that.  But the little day to day nuances (for the most part) are more feminine.  It matters not if we have children at home or if we live alone.  Women knows that "God is in the details".

"She looks well to the ways of her household"...