1. She does her husband good and his heart safely trusts her.
This phrase is so loaded. I would do well to dwell on this phrase alone all day. I’m going to leave it at the challenge to ponder what you think it means to “do your husband good”. Other clues from Proverbs speak of being a “crown” to him contrasted with being “rottenness in his bones”. He is also “known in the city gates” (well-known and respected) and that advantage seems to be at least partially attributed to his wife’s character.
2. She feeds her family well.
This is more than quantity, I believe, and requires a considerate amount of studying, preparing and planning for meal time.
3. She is a strong and vigorous worker.
A virtuous woman in God’s economy is not a woman too delicate to get her hands dirty.
4. She helps those in need.
One important element of being a keeper at home is being available for the very basic Christian command-helping others. The Christian community was and is expected to have reaching arms, always ready to help those around them, especially those of the household of faith. The home should be the center of this tangible, outflowing of love. Such an important responsibility has been diminished and replaced by the activities we have deemed important, leaving little time for this lifeline of ministry.
5. She dresses well and with dignity.
A virtuous woman doesn’t need a lot of money to dress nicely and keep herself tidy and attractive. All it takes is a little time and fore-thought. I think it’s important for us to be careful to avoid gaudy fads while still maintaining a stylish appearance. Sometimes that’s a fine line.
God’s ideal woman has a tall order to fill. I want to study, ponder and practice to become that woman. It’s a life-long process; we are all in different places. But by God’s grace, let’s keep looking to the Author and Finisher of our faith and believe that He will enable us to become “a rare jewel” in our homes, to our husbands and children, and in our communities!
20 comments
Thank you for such an encouraging and practical post! I loved this part:
“A virtuous woman in God’s economy is not a woman too delicate to get her hands dirty.”
Certainly, there’s a time and place for quiet rest, contemplation, and domestic arts. But I love the passages in Scripture which show wives working alongside their husbands to fulfill God’s plan for their families! 🙂 The virtuous wife “does not eat the bread of idleness” (Proverbs 31:27) and is clearly a strong worker (Proverbs 31:17.)
Blessings,
Luci
What a great list to work on!
“She feeds her family well.
This is more than quantity, I believe. . .”
LOL! I got a real kick out of this.
When I got married I adopted Proverbs 31:10-12 as my “motto” (for want of a better word). Forget about the rest of the chapter, if we are able to stick to these few verses we will do well as a wife and a mother. I study them often!
Striving here as well!
Great reminder…and by the way, I like the new look at the top of the blog (just don’t take the picture down of the hands holding the tree) 😉
Thanks for the feedback, Charity. I did change the font again since your comment–the picture was pixelated and I went with a different font for fun. I have a hard time making up my mind about these things 😉
Oh wow! This font looks great! I have a hard time making up my mind on that sort of thing too. Even though I’m not through the first trimester yet, my husband dreads the third because I always decide that each room in the house needs changing around and then I change my mind like crazy on where I want everything to go! 🙂
Kelly,
I really like your blog. I glean lots of good “stuff” from it. It is one of my favorite places to visit. 🙂 Thank you for holding fast to your convictions from the Lord.
Can I ask you a personal question? I am pretty new to blogging and trying to get my blog going and products on my blog . How do you make your headers? I really like them and I like other people’s as well, It seems your header matches your blog very well.
Here is my blog:
http://goodnessandgraceblog.blogspot.com/
I would love to make up a better header, but have no idea how to do that or to personalize it. Just didn’t know if you used a website or something.
I feel like these ladies that have these amazing blogs – Miss Jasmine Baucham, you, LAF, Jenny Chancey, Raising Homemakers, etc. must be very creative and talented women (which of course they are 🙂 because they know how to make these GREAT headers 🙂 – I know I could do it too if I just had the right tools or the right place to go. At this point though, I am completely unaware how to start or do it.
Well, thank you, Kelly. I greatly appreciate it.
Hope you have a wonderful day and many congratulations on being pregnant.
Unfortunately, we stopped with 2 – we are so so sad about this . . . the Lord has taught us His ways and we see now. So, we are hoping to adopt as He provides.
Sending love
Kristi Gullett
I love Jasmine Baucham too, and Chancey’s excellent writing in “Passionate”.
I’m reading “Biblical Womanhood In The Home” from Nancy Leigh DeMoss and then I pop over here and you are posting on the same thing. 🙂
It’s kind of fun to watch your header change while I surf around your site. I’m glad you added a description of your ministry. It’s good for new readers who aren’t familiar with your content. The first time I visited your site it was the description in your header that prompted me to do more looking around… now I visit often.
Thank you Linda…sometimes the most obvious things skip right over me. I woke up in the night with a slap-in-the-forehead moment…”Why don’t I have a tagline???!!”
I read these other former articles and they are so true and worth reading. Thank you for all of these great pieces and information. We all have so much to learn. I thank God for his mercy everyday.
I am wondering about this?
“I think it’s important for us to be careful to avoid gaudy fads while still maintaining a stylish appearance.”
What constitutes a gaudy fad? Why are we to avoid gaudy fads? And how is one to ever know when the line is crossed to gaudy?
I suppose everyone’s “gaudy” is different. I’m taking my cue to even include that bit of consideration from Paul’s letter about women’s attire. He warns the women to be careful about focusing on their outward apparel. I’ve heard commentaries say that Paul was speaking in a time where, just like now, fashion was often taken to extreme. That the “plaiting of hair” he mentions involved intricate, gold-studded dos that were meant to draw attention and show-off.
Paul warned women to basically “avoid fashions that draw attention to fashion” and instead be modest in our apparel, modesty including a rejection of ostentatious dress. Like I said, I think it’s a fine line easily crossed.
Just my 2 cents.
Thank you for the light you shed on #4. I’ve not thought about that aspect of being home. It reminds me, yet again, that God is doing 1000 things in every 1 thing.
Ohhhh, I had not thought of it in that manner-I was thinking more along the lines of tattoos, ear piercing, and so forth. Yes, I suppose not deliberately looking flamboyant with the intention to divert and draw attention; well put.
Great post! I will add that I’m not sure that God is very pleased with a Christian woman’s attempt to be “stylish.” What for? To blend in with the world? To pamper our vanity? For years I tried to convince myself that it was to “reflect well on my husband” but deep down I knew better. I was glad for the attention I got.
Certainly, most New Testament passages that deal with women’s dress speak about simplicity and modesty. I believe the goal is to not draw attention to yourself, but to the Savior.
I don’t think we have to wear a sack, or go Amish. If something is simple, discreet, and in style… fine. But to pursue style just to make ourselves noticed and admired…. welll. If we have to dress ourselves up with jewelry, accessories, and eye-catching apparel, who are we really trying to please?
Sorry, new area that the Spirit is revealing in my life. I’m a little excited! You are right– it is a fine line.
Your blog is awesome!
Kim
God showed me to be my own friend.This allows me to focus on what makes me happy instead of dressing to impress.I wear comfortable clothes and I like to look classy.I think God respects that.
I’d like to add I appreciate artful designs of jewelery and I relish in its beauty.I love deep thinkers and creativity in their art.I see Gods beauty in artists.lets remember not to judge but compliment fashion and heard the stories behind art If it makes me happy I wear it.I also carry a warm spirit with me and share gods kindness to others.Attitude and fashion are not Godly…..the I’m better than you is not what God wants us ladies to portray…god bless You and all peope and especially people who are hurting tonite….whether its mental or physical..this world is hard…
Every virtuous woman supports her man s dreams, passions and aspirations. She s not the type that is only absorbed to her plans in life but rather throws in her support behind her man.