First off, I apologize for not having the post up on Monday like usual. I have been fighting a bad sinus infection and have been resting every chance I get. Thankfully, I woke up today feeling semi-normal, so I am finally updating!
This week, I studied on Proverbs 31:13,14, "She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing. She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises." (MSG) Okay, this woman is already seeming like an overachiever, right? Not only does she care for herself, her husband, and her children, but she knits and sews too?! I love to knit, but with everything else going on in my day, there is just not time left for it. I equate these skills to craftiness... Some of us have it, and some of us just don't. I have received a bit of craftiness in my little box of skills, and I try to use it to the best of my ability. So here is what I got from this verse: Maybe you're crafty. Maybe you're not. But are you using the skills that you possess to do good for your household? Some people are "crazy crafters" and can do just about anything. But is that really helpful to your family? Sure, you can make a gazillion candles and wreaths, but is that productive? I think there is a fine line when it comes to craftiness. Doing things that enhance your home and make it more welcoming is wonderful. But sometimes the little crafts that we do can add up to be a big burden. Did I really need to buy over $100 worth of jewelry making items a couple years ago just to make a few things?... No, I didn't. It wasn't a good use of our money or my time. (But thankfully, I sold all of the leftovers at a yardsale for $30, so at least I got something out of it!) Craftiness can be a wonderful thing, but can be a hindrance as well. If you are not managing your money and time well while also using the skills you have been given, then it really isn't worth it to have fifteen different wreaths to hang on your door.
While I'm on the crafty side of the discussion, what about the website that has taken the world by storm in the last few months... Ahhh, Pinterest. Full of amazing ideas to make your home more beautiful, recipes to try, workouts to do, activities to do with your children. It seems like such a wonderful site to help you get even more crafty. How many things have you pinned that you have actually done? I spend a lot of time on Pinterest when my son is napping and I have nothing else to do. Lately, I have been asking myself before I pin something, "Am I really going to try this, or is it just something else pretty to look at?" So, on my Pinterest boards, I made a "Tried It!" board to keep up with the things that I actually do. I was honestly surprised by how much I had done, and because of my goal to be able to review everything in my "Tried It!" board, I haven't been pinning random ideas that will never cross my mind again. While it is a great resource at times, Pinterest can take a lot of your time (and provide you with more ways to waste money) just like any other social media website, so my tip is to be sure to not spend so much time on it that you don't have time to actually do things.
The English Standard Version says she "works with willing hands." (vs13) For those of us who were not given the "crafty" gene, are we willing to do work to help our household? Sometimes I would rather go spend $15 to just buy another pair of pants because the button popped off mine. But, when I have a full sewing kit, and a couple minutes to spare, it makes so much more sense to just mend the broken ones than to waste the money to buy something else. In the Proverbs 31 woman's day, you made your own clothes and linens. There aren't many women that do that now, but we are given the resources to find clothing at a price that fits within our budget, and we can care for the things that we have in a way to make them last as long as they need to, and to repair them if necessary. We just have to be willing to put forth the extra effort to be good stewards of what we have been given.
Okay, but what about how the Proverbs 31 woman "sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises?" Sure, I'd love to sail somewhere exotic and bring back new things for my family to try, but money and time don't allow for that. However, I am sure that her family didn't eat McDonald's and pizza every night of the week. They tried new things, experienced different cultures, and enjoyed it! So, while I can't sail off across the sea and bring back some new food to try, I can vary the things my family eats and experiences. I love to try new recipes and new cooking methods. Walk through your local grocery store and find a fruit or vegetable that you have never even heard of before. Then go home, find a recipe that includes it, and try it! Something one of the best things about providing meals for your family is having the freedom to try new things. The McDonald's menu never changes, but your menu at home can be different every day! I've recently discovered quinoa, and found some recipes that sound amazing that I can't wait to try out on my family. My 10 month old has already tried it a few times and loves it, so I'm sure it's good.
In summary, you may not be able to knit or sew, or pick your own exotic fruits and vegetables, but we have so many resources available to us that allow us to better our households and family without doing those things, so learn to take advantage of them. Make a new meal this week for your family that not only looks delicious, but is healthy as well. Take steps to care better for the things you already have instead of going out and buying new things. Luke 12:48 says, "...Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more." If you have been given much, then God trusts that you will care for it. Show him that you truly deserve and are thankful for everything that He has entrusted you with!
Next Monday, I will be posting on my study for this week, Proverbs 31:15, "She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day." Have a blessed week!
Blessing,
Trish
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