"She does her work with energy, and her arms are strong. She knows what she makes is good...She is strong and respected by the people; She looks forward to the future with joy...She speaks wise words and teaches others to be kind...She watches over her family and never wastes her time." Proverbs 31:17-18,25,26-28 CEV
"By looking at (older women), the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives." Titus 2:4-5 The Message
Moms are wow. Actually, all women are WOW! For all women are mothers in so many different ways...caring for others, feeding them, lending a hand, comforting the sick, encouraging the lonely. Women work energetically at so many little and often thankless tasks that are never-ending: cooking, cleaning, laundry, planning special occasions, helping out a friend, and the list goes on and on. We certainly need strong arms, strong hearts and strong minds to do all of these tasks with a smile. On many days, it would be much easier to stay mad, cranky or bitter about the never-ending to-do list, and the often forgotten appreciation from others.
The woman so highly spoken of in Proverbs 31:10-31 is certainly a role model for me. Those are high standards to live up to...but with God everything is possible. I pray that I will know what I make and do is good in God's eyes; I pray that I will always look forward to the future with joy; I pray that my words will always be wise and teach kindness; I pray that I will not waste my time on things that will not bear fruit. I pray that God will watch over and protect my family as I try to do the same. This is my prayer for all of you blessed women too!
On this Mother's Day, I want to give thanks to God for the many "mothers" in my life, who have served as role models and Proverbs 31 women for me. They have each taught me different lessons and encouraged me on my journey. For my mother,Paulette, who gives more than she has, cared for me when I could not care for myself, and passed on the first seed of faith; for my mother-in-law Anne, a role model of faith and good cooking, whose priceless gift was raising a good son; for Dorothy, Maureen and Lynn, precious mentors in faith and prayer group friends, for Linda and Shirley, adopted mothers who cared for my children and household as their own; for Vicky, Cheryl, Janice, Monica, Kristen and the many other women friends who have brought laughter, trust, and fun to my life; for co-workers Donna, Danielle, Karen, Isabel, Mary, Gen, Brenda, Lee, and Maureen who have been a lifeline and a support group at work, and for all the women clients who have shared their stories and lives with me, and taught me much about life in the process. I give thanks to the Lord for all of you and look forward to the journey with you as my companions.
More Healing Word of God: Isaiah 66:7-13; 1Peter 3:4
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