an invitation to join the club

March 29th 2010

My friend commented on my “Speaking Beautifully” note yesterday, he asked:
“What is your imagination about this Proverbs 31 woman?”
What a question, I thought!

I heard about this woman for the very first time when I was still in college. And from that moment on, I’ve been in love with her!!! She was like my superhero, a woman I really admired and wanted to be.

However, as I learnt about her characters - her activities, I always thought that she was just a fairy tale goddess, someone I wouldn’t ever be! No matter how hard I tried, I wouldn’t be like her.
Hello?? For this spoiled – not attractive girl, not to mention all non girly attitudes I have, being a perfect woman like her was just impossible!! It was just a dream.. yeah?!

Let me explain why? Proverbs 31 woman is:
1. Priceless
Verse 10: A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
2. Faithful
Verse 11: Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
3. Good
Verse 12: She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
4. Diligent
Verse 13: She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
5. Enterprising
Verse 14: She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
6. Disciplined
Verse 15: She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.
7. Thrifty
Verse 16: She considers field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
8. Energetic
Verse 17: She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
9. Industrious
Verse 18: She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
10. Persistent
Verse 19: In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
11. Kind
Verse 20: She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
12. Farsighted
Verse 21: When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
13. Elegant
Verse 22: She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
14. Helpful
Verse 23: Her husband is respected at the gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
15. Creative
Verse 24: She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
16. Confident
Verse 25: She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
17. Wise
Verse 26: She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
18. Prudent
Verse 27: She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
19. Loving
Verse 28: Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.
20. Excellent
Verse 29: Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.
21. Reverent
Verse 30: Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
22. Virtuous
Verse 31: Give her reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate
SHE IS A RARE TREASURE
(taken from "Discovering the Treasure of a Godly Woman, by Elizabeth George)

But, girls, the more I spent time to learn about her, the more God opened my mind that she is real! Yeah, she maybe rare, but she is real!
My thought about her was slightly changed; Proverbs 31 woman can be any woman in this real world.
- She spends her time and money wisely. She uses her talents God has entrusted her, and multiplies them. Talk about get up early and stay up late, yeah, and what she does during that time!!
- She puts her family first. We can tell from how her husband and children think about her, and how they are taken care really really well.
- She may not be outwardly beautiful, but she surely knows how to take care of her body and appearance magnificently. She does exercise, for sure and she eats properly. She knows how to please her family with her look. She dresses in an appropriate way. Her inner beauty and lovely smile brings her irresistible charisma inside out.
- She always strives for the best, and never give up! She is not satisfied with just average results, because she knows her capacity really well.. she knows what she can do.
- She blesses others with her life and all she has.
- She loves and meditates on His words. That’s where she gains her strength!
- And most importantly, she loves God with all her heart, her soul and her mind. She fears the Lord.

So, yeah.. she is someone out there…someone’s real!

And now, girls, I am willing to take a step forward. Rather than thinking about who is this kind of woman whom I know, I want to bring her into my life. I want to be her.
And I invite you all to join the club.
(but, Erlyn, we are singles. I know! Thank God for the privilege, for the time He gave. It's an invitation for all women. We all do have family, whether we're married or single!)

Matthew 19:26 "With man (our own power) this (being this woman) is impossible, but with God all things are possible...." with Him, it is possible to be the woman we desire to be, and hey..., He put the desire in our heart!!
... being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6