Horizons magazine is published by Presbyterian Women (PW) the national women’s organization of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Issue link: http://horizons.epubxp.com/i/481579
4 A capable wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. . . . Her children rise up and call her happy; her husband too, and he praises her: "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." —Proverbs 31:10, 28–29 H ave you ever thought of the woman extolled in Proverbs 31 as an Old Testa- ment Martha Stewart? She spins and weaves her own linen, from which she makes fashion- able clothes for herself and her family; she also sells clothing for profit. She uses her expert knowledge of agriculture to buy and tend her own vineyard (they probably have a fam- ily label!). She chases down the best ingredients to lovingly create nutritious meals for her family. She helps those in need. And she keeps a lovely house for her prudently raised children and fine, upstanding spouse. Can't you just hear her husband purr, "My wife—I think I'll keep her"? Am I alone in thinking, "I might as well pack up and go home, 'cause I'll never live up to that model"? You can ask my husband and kids—I haven't spun, woven or sewn any linen. By this standard, my husband, who does most of the grocery shopping, cooking, gardening and cleaning, is a more capable wife than me! The Proverbial Woman If the woman described in Proverbs 31 is the gold stan- dard, I'm aluminum-foil grade. And I'm okay with that. As far as most biblical examples of womanhood go, this gal is approaching I-can-have-it-all status. She's a savvy business owner and entrepreneur; she's an attentive, nur- turing parent and loving, dependable spouse; she's an ace at running her household. Her admirers shower her with praise, which may be the closest thing to a relaxing bath she gets. The writer of Proverbs says a "capable" woman, "more precious than jewels," not only brings home the bacon and fries it up in a pan, but also maintains hearth, home and familial harmony. I find this over- whelming rather than empowering. Maybe I'm being too hard on our Old Testament sister. Get past the over-achiever vibe and it's worth noting that the woman extolled in Proverbs is not described as a cipher, a full-time baby maker or a trophy wife. Her value to the community, her worth as a person, and her identity are not dependent on her husband's status, limited to the number of children she has borne, or defined by an age-defying complexion and a knockout figure. At the start of the passage, she's a woman defined primarily by her relationships and accomplish- ments. But by the end, there's a shift. . . . A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her a share in the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the city gates. —Proverbs 31:30–31 Above all, this woman knows she is God's child. Her strength, dignity, wisdom and kindness (vv. 25 –26) come from that knowledge. Our accomplishments don't make us worth more or less in God's eyes. We're more precious than jewels to God because we are God's children. Wow. That's overwhelming and empowering! Cecilia Amorocho Hickerson is a mother, spouse, church musician, artist and writer living in Louisville, Kentucky. Beloved BY CECILIA AMOROCHO HICKERSON d e v o t i o n Build a Brighter World, Denthe