Here’s the classic Mother’s Day verse preached on Mother’s Day as a goal for wives and mothers:
“Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: ‘There are many virtuous and capable
women in the world, but you surpass them all.’” Proverbs 31:28-29
It would be awesome to have your husband say those things about you and your children respect you
that way, wouldn’t it? So, what does it take? You can read about the Proverbs 31 woman starting in
verse 10. There are many opinions about this virtuous woman. Some think she is fictional and
unattainable and some think the passage is many women described instead of one.
When I visit my friends in their homes, I think of all the things they must do to support their husbands,
train their children, minister to others through service and work, and keep house. I think in some ways
all women are Proverbs 31 superheroes. Just like there is no perfect mentor and we are all striving,
waiting for God to complete His work in us, I think we are all still working towards being the Proverbs 31
woman God created us to be.
In verses 10-24, you’ll read that this woman is most precious, trustworthy, enriching, a bringer of good,
busy with her hands, creator, home manager, business woman, energetic, strong, hard worker,
compassionate, generous, not fearful of winter, and fashionable. You can see why some women don’t
like her and are a little intimidated by her. I am not a few of the things on her list. It can be hard for me
not to be resentful, wondering where she gets all that energy. Then I focus in on verses 25-27 and
realize there is much practicality to be learned here. So that’s where we’ll sit and learn from her.
“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” Proverbs 31:25
We don’t accidentally get dressed in the morning. We choose whether to put on strength and dignity
(being worthy of honor or respect). We can approach each day like no matter what we will face when
we open our eyes (a sick kid, slime in the carpet, a broken cell phone), we will “be strong in the Lord and
in His mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10) and that gives us dignity.
Laughing without fear of the future only comes from the truth that the only thing we can be confident in
is that Jesus is coming back. Making time to relax with your family, playing together and savoring these
moments, is a form of laughing without fear of the future. It’s not stealing from the present by giving
time to the future. When you worry, pray then keep trusting God which brings dignity, too.
Take some time to talk with God about your strength and dignity status with Him and about whatever
you’ve been stealing from the present to give to the future.
