Scripture:
It is hard to find an excellent wife. She is worth more than rubies. Her husband trusts her completely. With her, he has everything he needs. She does him good and not harm for as long as she lives.
She looks for wool and linen. She likes to work with her hands. She is like a trader’s ship. She goes far to get food. She gets up while it is still dark. She prepares food for her family. She also feeds her servant girls. She looks at a field and buys it. With money she has earned, she plants a vineyard. She does her work with energy. Her arms are strong. She makes sure that what she makes is good. She works by her lamp late into the night. She makes thread with her hands and weaves her own cloth. She welcomes the poor. She helps the needy. She does not worry about her family when it snows. They all have fine clothes to keep them warm. She makes coverings for her bed. Her clothes are made of linen and other expensive material. Her husband is recognized at the city meetings. He makes decisions as one of the leaders of the land. She makes linen clothes and sells them. She provides belts to the merchants. She is strong and is respected by the people. She looks forward to the future with joy. She speaks wise words. And she teaches others to be kind. She watches over her family. And she is always busy.
Her children bless her. Her husband also praises her. He says, “There are many excellent wives, but you are better than all of them.” Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you. But a woman who respects the Lord should be praised. Give her the reward she has earned. She should be openly praised for what she has done.
(Proverbs 31:10-28, International Children's Bible)
This week, we have taken time in Reading & Math sessions to create special gifts for Mother's Day. While the children painted tiles today, I asked them to listen to what the Bible says about their moms.
"How can my mom be in the Bible? She's not even famous!" one second-grader impishly asked.
Yet as we talked through the attributes of the wife/ mother in Proverbs 31, all the children eagerly identified the characteristics reflected in their mothers (and fathers too!.) They see mom choosing and buying clothes for them, getting up early to go to work and get the kids to school on time, working late into the night and always busy. Mom who sews and knits scarves for them, who helps the needy, and who speaks with wisdom.
The children's everyday comments are a sign of how much joy Mom brings to their lives. "I can't wait to get home today, because my mom said she's making my favorite dish!" "Sometimes my mom leaves me notes and drawings in my lunch box," one of the music students said when he found a note tucked in his folder.
Emerging FIELD moms come from a wide range of backgrounds and are in different life stages, but all the moms love and give for their families sacrificially. Many are also women of faith, firmly rooted and seeking God's will for their families.
Sometimes mothers can feel overwhelmed by motherhood. One mom laughingly said some time ago, "I'm always the first to get up in the morning and the last to go to sleep! I'm tired!" Take heart, moms; it's not in vain. Your children see your hard work, and they bless you for it. They see the Proverbs 31 woman in you. You are worth more than rubies!
It is hard to find an excellent wife. She is worth more than rubies. Her husband trusts her completely. With her, he has everything he needs. She does him good and not harm for as long as she lives.
She looks for wool and linen. She likes to work with her hands. She is like a trader’s ship. She goes far to get food. She gets up while it is still dark. She prepares food for her family. She also feeds her servant girls. She looks at a field and buys it. With money she has earned, she plants a vineyard. She does her work with energy. Her arms are strong. She makes sure that what she makes is good. She works by her lamp late into the night. She makes thread with her hands and weaves her own cloth. She welcomes the poor. She helps the needy. She does not worry about her family when it snows. They all have fine clothes to keep them warm. She makes coverings for her bed. Her clothes are made of linen and other expensive material. Her husband is recognized at the city meetings. He makes decisions as one of the leaders of the land. She makes linen clothes and sells them. She provides belts to the merchants. She is strong and is respected by the people. She looks forward to the future with joy. She speaks wise words. And she teaches others to be kind. She watches over her family. And she is always busy.
Her children bless her. Her husband also praises her. He says, “There are many excellent wives, but you are better than all of them.” Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you. But a woman who respects the Lord should be praised. Give her the reward she has earned. She should be openly praised for what she has done.
(Proverbs 31:10-28, International Children's Bible)
This week, we have taken time in Reading & Math sessions to create special gifts for Mother's Day. While the children painted tiles today, I asked them to listen to what the Bible says about their moms.
"How can my mom be in the Bible? She's not even famous!" one second-grader impishly asked.
Yet as we talked through the attributes of the wife/ mother in Proverbs 31, all the children eagerly identified the characteristics reflected in their mothers (and fathers too!.) They see mom choosing and buying clothes for them, getting up early to go to work and get the kids to school on time, working late into the night and always busy. Mom who sews and knits scarves for them, who helps the needy, and who speaks with wisdom.
The children's everyday comments are a sign of how much joy Mom brings to their lives. "I can't wait to get home today, because my mom said she's making my favorite dish!" "Sometimes my mom leaves me notes and drawings in my lunch box," one of the music students said when he found a note tucked in his folder.
Emerging FIELD moms come from a wide range of backgrounds and are in different life stages, but all the moms love and give for their families sacrificially. Many are also women of faith, firmly rooted and seeking God's will for their families.
Sometimes mothers can feel overwhelmed by motherhood. One mom laughingly said some time ago, "I'm always the first to get up in the morning and the last to go to sleep! I'm tired!" Take heart, moms; it's not in vain. Your children see your hard work, and they bless you for it. They see the Proverbs 31 woman in you. You are worth more than rubies!