Oh, Proverbs 31 woman... You have done it again, you overachiever! This week, according to Proverbs 31:16, "She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden." Well, I can't even begin to do that one. I live in a townhouse with no land that I can plant on, and unless I want to buy a few acres of land in the middle of nowhere, there will be no planting for me in this college town! I didn't spend this week thinking too literally on this one, as it is just not feasible for me to do this. But that doesn't mean there isn't anything to get from my studying.
Two of the main reasons someone plants a garden are to save money by growing their own food, and to have healthy, organic produce that you know is suitable for eating. While I can't plant a garden at this time (though I would love to in the future,) I can do these two things in other ways. When I plan out our weekly menu, I work my hardest to use what I have at home instead of spending $100+ every week at the grocery store. I buy in bulk and freeze. I coupon clip. I pay attention to sale flyers. Even if you are only saving a dollar more than usual, it is still a dollar, and that adds up! I shop at a few different stores, depending on their sales, but Kroger is my go-to market. We have a Kroger Plus Card to save a bit extra, and to apply our savings to gas each month. When you checkout using your Plus Card, at the bottom of your receipt, it tells you how much you saved that trip, as well as for the year. I love looking at that number every week and seeing it climb! Sure, planting a garden would probably save me more, but for now, Plus Cards and coupons are the way to go.
I also try to get healthy food for my family. Eating fatty, greasy food isn't good for your body, so why keep putting it in there!? We eat out once a week, but still try to make the healthiest choices possible when we do. Eating healthy can add up, so the coupons and Plus Cards are a MUST for our family!
No, I am not going to sit here and bore you with all of the ways I save money, and how I shop, and what we eat... I feel that there is an underlying message in this verse. The Proverbs 31 woman is the example of the God-fearing woman. The perfect wife/mother. While she cooks, and cleans, and does everything perfectly, she is also living out a testimony. As Christians, we are called to share the Good News with others. Why should we keep something so wonderful and life-changing to ourselves? I feel that the Proverbs 31 woman ministered in such a way that she not only planted a garden, but she planted a seed... That seed that we are all called to plant in others' hearts. By living out her life in a way that supported her family and, ultimately, glorified God, she shared the gospel with others. She was a living testimony to her family, showing them compassion, love, and tender care every day of her life. But she is also a testimony to all of us that hear her story!
Just look at me, for example. In hearing the Proverbs 31 woman's story, I decided to dig deeper. To explore what it is to be a God-fearing woman. The last few weeks of studying through Proverbs 31:10-31 have been eye-opening to me. I have learned things about myself and about God that I could have never discovered without that little nudge from those twenty-one verses. My hope is that I, too, can plant a seed in the heart of someone else because of my journey in life. The hardest part about sharing the gospel with someone is being open. Sometimes you have to be more transparent than you are comfortable with, but no one is perfect, so why do we as Christians feel the need to act like we are? When we act perfect, it can make us seem better than others, and that can push people away so much more than we ever realize sometimes.
I am not perfect. I fail every single day. I sin. I disappoint God, my family, my friends. But I strive to be my best and to glorify God in all that I do. I will make many mistakes in my life, but I will always have God beside me showing me the way to do it right next time as long as I am listening and communicating with Him. Too often we try to live our lives with only our "heart" as our guide, completely dismissing what God is trying to show us. Every morning, I start my day by praying that God would allow me to glorify Him to the best of my abilities, that He would guide me through my day, and that I may make a positive impact on this world in some way before I lay my head down to rest again that night. One of the hardest parts about planting that seed in others is not only the fact that you don't always know when you do it, but you also don't always see the growth as a result of that seed. I pray that you don't become discouraged because of not seeing the seeds you have planted in others' hearts. Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't there! Sometimes those seeds need some watering from the hearts and testimonies of others. The best you can do is pray that your life would show others how much you love God, and how you desire to glorify Him with all that you are. Strive to be your best in everything, and to fulfill God's will for your life, even though you get lost on occasion.
Next week, I'll be blogging on Proverbs 31:17, "First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started." Push to do your best this week, and to be a testimony to someone else that just might need to see God through you!
Blessings,
Trish
Way to go Trish:)
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