Sunday, May 13, 2012

Proverbs 31 for Mother's Day

Today in particular we celebrate the kenotic love a mother pours out for her children. It's an interesting thing that Mother's Day is as much celebrated by husbands as it is by the children themselves. Before I was married with children, it was curious to me that men honored their wives not once (on their anniversary) but twice. As with so much, personal experience has elucidatory. Mothers and fathers have different roles. Having been raised by one parent (my mother) I know that no matter how much one tries a mother cannot be a father and vice versa. So today we honor our wives for the things they do we cannot. We honor them for those things small and large that make our houses homes. For the prayers they offer for our families. God grant them many blessed years!



Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.

She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.

She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.

She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.

She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.

She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.

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