Today’s scripture: Proverbs 31:18-24 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Steve Adams):
What a blessing it is to know a virtuous woman! I’m fortunate to have known more than a few in my lifetime, and they truly are “more precious than jewels.” One of the most wonderful gems I ever knew was my Grandmother Smith, who, along with my grandfather, would welcome my brother and me for the entire summer at their 150-acre farm in east central Illinois.
My Papaw (grandfather) got up each morning at about 4:30 to milk the Holstein cows. Nana (my grandmother) would get up about the same time so she could have a bountiful breakfast ready for Papaw when he got back from milking the cows. Breakfast was the first of three full meals she would normally prepare each day. By noon, my grandfather would have worked up a mighty hunger, so the noon meal (dinner) was full-course. Supper, the evening meal, was a bit smaller, but still substantial. As my grandfather used to say, “You want something more to eat? It’s a long time ’til breakfast!” To see Nana cooking up one of her great meals in her pink kitchen was something to behold. We loved to hang around and talk to her when she was cooking — she always made it fun.
Nana’s house was a testimony to her virtuosity. As a youngster I didn’t realize why it was so pleasant, and how much work it required to make it that way. Virtually everything was clean and well-organized — the wood glistened, the kitchen sparkled, the windows were clear and shiny. And yet the atmosphere wasn’t one of cold sterility — instead it was warm and loving. And when circumstances dictated that the house be less than perfect, it didn’t bother Nana. She had a humility that made the atmosphere lighthearted when things got dirty or cluttered, saying something like, “Oh my stars, look at the living room now!”
The virtuous woman perceived that her merchandise was good, or profitable. Although this is apparently talking about the physical items she made, it strikes me that this is also talking about something much deeper – the “merchandise” of her soul. She was confident her talents, abilities, character, integrity, personality, morals — her essence — was of special value, which meant that her presence could profit any situation. “She opens her mouth with wisdom,” and the income of wisdom is better than silver, and its revenue outshines gold. I can see the virtuous woman having confidence to give advice to others, because she realized she had something valuable to give.
Like my grandmother, I believe she also had deep humility. As Proverbs 29:23 says, “A person’s pride will bring humiliation, but one who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.” The virtuous woman gave to the poor and needy, a demonstration of her inward humbleness.
Thought for the day: What special virtuous woman have you been blessed to know? I hope you are able to take a few moments during the busy-ness of the day to thank God for her, and for what her example means to you.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.