by tascha
My son, hear the instruction of thy father,
and forsake not the law of thy mother:
For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head,
and chains about thy neck.
Proverbs 1:8, 9
cute?
When I read these verses this morning, I was struck by them from a different angle than I have been in the past.
Normally, I think:
these are for me as a child–I should not forsake the spiritual upbringing my parents gave me. I think of children in general, even my own children, and how they need to learn to listen and obey-and I must teach them this.
oh MY!
But this morning, I noticed the words the law of thy mother
-not that children should listen and obey but what they should listen to and obey.
As the “mother” here, what is my law?
Law means regulations, standards, rules, guidelines, doctrine.
And my law as mother should line up with God’s Word in principles and doctrine.
My law should be the same as Jesus command in Matthew 22:36-40: Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
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Many of my 31 days will probably come from the Proverb for the day because I decided that this month I wanted to get back into the habit of reading a Proverb-a-day. But we also have special services this month in our church… and the Lord often speaks to me through situations that arise with my children!
by tascha
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Proverbs 31:13
The main emphasis of this verse is the this lady works WILLINGLY with her hands.
This thought encompasses many of the following verses and is the heart issue of them.
Though we will look at her specific tasks, the BIG issue is that she is willing to do what needs to be done during the different seasons of her family’s life.
Seeking wool and flax implies that she either gathers the raw materials to create fabric, or she acquired the fabrics needed to make clothing for her household. Linen comes from flax and was used for various undergarments, inner tunics, and lamp wicks. Flax seeds can also be ground and used in breads or can be eaten whole and are very nutritional [another topic]. Wool was used more for outer tunics which could also be used as a blanket on a cool night.
In thinking of these uses of flax and wool {and there are more!} we can see different responsibilities that this implies.
As a wife and mother it is my responsibility to
…clothe my family.
Whether I buy fabric and sew or purchase ready-made items, finding durable, modest, attractive clothing for my husband, myself, and our children is within my realm of duty. [This is not to say that my husband and said children have no say in their clothing!] Being frugal and finding deals, thrift shopping, and handing clothing down [or accepting second-hand clothing] all fit into this category.
…feed my family healthy foods.
[I am not legally qualified to speak of nutrition or recommend certain foods over others, but there are many resources online for studying it, and I have friends whose study I trust when they recommend certain plants for consumption.] You must rely on your own research for this.
Personally, I do try to have fresh fruits and veggies available for snacks, but more often find that frozen or canned are more in my price range, and simple cooking methods can elevate even canned peaches to a scrumptious dessert [with no added sugar!].
I use flax seed in my bread, and there are many other grains/seeds that can be added to flour to make bread more wholesome. Again, your own study must guide you in that.
…cover my family when it is cold and provide a light source when necessary.
Do we have enough blankets for the colder days? Is there an adequate light source to finish tasks or read a good book when the sun has gone to bed early?
[There are many other areas that could be discussed, but many of those are brought out in the next few verses and will be left to their own post.]
While it is truly {thankfully} not necessary that I herd sheep and grow/harvest flax to accomplish these tasks, it IS necessary that my heart is right in order that these tasks bring glory to God and cause my husband’s heart to safely trust in me.
Seeking his counsel and knowing his preference in any of these areas {I like his input on my own clothing as well as my children’s. To know what he likes and to try to accomplish that is doing GOOD to him.} is just another way of loving him.
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Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
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I’m also on Instagram!
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by tascha
She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
This verse is probably the hardest for me. I know you can train your body to awake at a certain time, but some people are naturally early risers. And I am not one of them!
As usual, this verse means more than what it says. Yes, it does mean to rise early and prepare for the rising of your family-both physically and spiritually. But this is as much a heart issue as it is a area of domesticity.
Domestically, I do need to be sure my children have a healthy breakfast [or healthy snack for break at school as my eldest does not always feel like eating as soon as she wakes up]. I need to be sure there is something readily available for my husband to eat if he chooses. [Yes, my husband gets up alone, earlier than I do. But he’s OK with that. We’ve tried the getting up together, but there is very little I am good for before 630.]
I sometimes make a pan of cinnamon rolls and refrigerate them so a few seconds in the microwave and he has his favorite! Or I make a batch of cheesy sausage biscuits. Or I just make sure his favorite cereal is stocked in the pantry. And don’t forget to keep the coffee can FULL!
And then there are her maidens [servants]. Wow. I wish I had servants some days.
But then I was reading here and there in preparation for this verse and another lady {I’m sorry that I have no idea who she is} was also lamenting the lack of servants. And God prompted her, which in turn spoke to me through her writing.
I have many servants. And some I do not utilize to their full potential. My servants include but are not limited to: washing machine, dryer, slow cooker, computer, etc. When I do get up, giving a portion to my maidens could include: put a load of clothing in the washer, put food for supper in the slow cooker or at least know what and when I will cook for supper. Then sit down to my morning Bible reading-with my online Bible and devotion studies. Then, when more people are awake, I can be a little noisier and empty the dishwasher.
Of course, as I type this, my sink is full of dirty dishes and my dishwasher is full of dirty dishes, because I forgot to turn it on last night. And my washing machine is empty, though the dryer is full of dry clothing! I have yet to really contemplate supper and it is fully 9:00 AM! But, my husband and daughter got out the door with good lunches and snacks for the day. And I was up to hug and kiss them both before they left.
Domestically, this verse will look different in every household. And today, I am behind-not an unusual occurrence, but one I do try to change daily.
Spiritually, this verse is even harder to apply. Is my attitude one of a servant upon my first waking moment? Is my spirit as that of Christ?
which was also in Christ Jesus:
who, being in the form of God,
thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
but made himself of no reputation,
and took upon him the form of a servant,
and was made in the likeness of men:
and being found in fashion as a man,
and became obedient unto death…
If Christ, who IS GOD, can have a servant’s heart towards me[!], then who am I {His creation!} to balk as such an idea of being a servant to my family?
Do I rise [not specifically with it being dark outside] and make sure my family has ‘morning fuel’? Is my attitude one of being my family’s servant? {not slave-I must train my children to be obedient and respectful as well as to do their own chores and to have their own servant’s heart}
Do I use my ‘servants’ to the best of my ability and to their full potential [household gadgets]?
~~~ As a side note: much of my daily preparation is done the night before, because I know that rising before a certain time is more than likely not going to happen. ever. So, after my children are in bed and before I go to bed, I try to be sure my sink is empty [obviously there are days that doesn’t happen] and the dishwasher is running; and I make sure there is something in the refrigerator ready for hubby and daughter’s lunch boxes the next day. And before SHE goes to bed, my daughter’s responsibility is to pick her clothing -from socks to shirt and all underneath- for the next morning, and we’re working on her making sure her homework is back in her bag after I have signed it.~~~
Let us remember today to ask the Lord for His servant’s heart to be alive and working in us. And if we have trouble with the ‘rising early’ then may we be more pro-active and get ready for the day before we go to bed! [maybe another post another day]
