As I sit here the wind outside is blowing. First one way and then another. The leaves can’t seem to find a solid place to land. It has been like this for a few days now. One moment our lawn is filled with leaves from the neighbor’s trees and when I look out again our lawn is surprisingly clear.
Such is my life at times.
Times when it seems like everything around me is blowing and changing and I just want to find a solid place to land.
It can start from the moment that I wake – so many things I think there is to do. And although I am up much earlier than I should need to be, I find myself blowing around until the door closes behind us.
And I am missing the opportunities to see and hear the sounds and beauty around me. I am so busy flying from one spot to another, looking for that solid place to land that I miss what is right in front of me.
The thump, thump of little feet running down the hallway.
A messy-haired bright-eyed boy who wants nothing more than to say good morning to his mama and have some juice.
A young boy who has questions about the world because he is trying to find his place in it.
When my focus is on myself and all that I think needs to be done in a day, I stop focusing on what God has placed as gifts right in front of me in my family.
Smiles and laughter, hugs and love, encouragement and respect.
These are the things that I need to be intentional about every day with my family. These are the things that I want them to remember about me.
Proverbs 14:1 “The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.”
Not that I got yet another load of laundry done, or vacuumed the floors again. While an important part of my families daily life – it isn’t what they should remember about me.
It shouldn’t be my main focus!
Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
So as the winds blow outside I know that I do not have to be moved. I can secure my foundation on Christ. Focus on His will for me as a wife and mother. And start to become a Proverbs 31 Woman.
Proverbs 31:2 “Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her.”
Proverbs 31:10-12 “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.”
In what area do you struggle in becoming a Proverbs 31 Woman?
By: Kristin at The Smith Family Journey
Leave a Comment
Theresa says
Love this….right on time.
Joy says
Love love love incourage and so many of the writers.
Well said, great post.
RosyRose says
Excellent post!! Thanks for the reminder to look right around us for our gifts!
Kristin says
Thanks! It shouldn’t be hard to do should it?? I tend to notice the “gifts” others get or have and can’t see all the blessings right in my own home! This process has been a reminder to me to focus on God and not the world!! Have a great day!
Brittnie (A Joy Renewed) says
Great reminders for this busy holiday season. I do not have kids yet but even still I struggle with focusing on all the wrong things – chores, home needs, outside commitments that overshadow my husband, etc. You are so right – while these things are important they are NOT what I should or want to be remembered for at the end of my life. Thank you for bringing back the focus. Blessings!
Kristin says
Brittnie – it IS hard to keep the right focus isn’t it!! I struggle with it every day in some way or another! Must be my Type A, control freak personality! 🙂 But God is patient with me as I learn how to see all things as gifts! Have a wonderful day!
Christy says
Great post Kristin!
Kristin says
Thanks Christy!!
Jennifer says
It’s easy to just go with our busy schedules and lose balance in our priorities. I love the words of Proverbs 14:1, “The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.” Sometimes I wonder how that applies to me, as a single woman in her twenties, who lives at home for financial reasons. I want to make building my house, whatever that looks like, in this season a priority! Great post Kristin!
Kristin says
Jennifer – sometimes I think it is just about our attitude…where ever we live or whatever season we are in. When I have a negative attitude and perspective it can affect me at work, home, in the relationships with my extended family….that is my “folly” for sure!!
Kasey Krawiec says
Well said! My initial thought to your question was what DON’T I struggle with in becoming like the woman described in Proverbs 31 🙂 However, I appreciate the thoughts you gave for us to ponder and the encouragement!
Kristin says
Kasey – I can relate more than you know!! I recently was reading a book called “Becomming the Woman of your Husbands Dreams”…..and when I did that I was really being intentional about my actions towards my husband and my kids. When I am feeding “good” stuff into my heart and mind…good stuff comes out. When I stop, stop learning, reading the Bible whatever….my true, selfish nature comes out. This was evident just yesterday and so reading this post again for myself was much needed food for my empty soul!
Sarah says
I am right there with you. Even if I don’t have “things” to keep me busy, but mind keeps me swirling around and missing out on so many things. Thank you, Kristin, for sharing!
Jenn says
This is just what I needed this morning… LAst night my mind was really on, what am I doing to make my husband feel like he comes first. Before the things I selfishly want.
The verses were really am encouragement…
Thanks:)
Beth WIlliams says
I just love Proverbs 31. Your post was right on target.
Loved the comment you made: “I think it is just about our attitude…where ever we live or whatever season we are in.” When I have a negative attitude and perspective it can affect me at work, home, in the relationships with family….that is my “folly” for sure!!
I’m working on my attitude & formulating a gratitude attitude! Would love to be a Proverbs 31 woman who is blessed by her husband, is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.”
That is my ultimate goal in life. To please God first then hubby!
Kristin says
Beautiful Beth!! That should be our goal and our focus! It is hard though and we don’t do it perfectly…and if you are anything like me I am my worst critic! 🙂 Trying to be willing to give AND accept grace when needed and growing from the journey!
Risé Brown says
Being a Proverbs 31 woman was a struggle for me at one time, when my kids were really little. Having had a mother who tore her house down, I have always strived to be a wise woman who builds her house – who builds up her husband and her kids.
I used to be a clean freak and I really had to work hard to learn to let some things go and put my husband and or kids first. It was not easy at all. I was never taught how to sew and still wish I could learn. I work hard at having a happy and calm home for everyone which can be a challenge with tweens and teens! But when my kids are content to hang out at home, it makes me think that I’m doing a not-so-bad job at making a happy home where kids feel accepted, loved, cherished … things I never got growing up. I even had to learn what love was and it took work to really effectively and wholeheartedly love (in action) my husband and kids.
Being a Proverbs 31 woman is a challenge, but it is possible and achievable, even if it takes a lifetime to perfect. 🙂
Risé Brown says
I forgot to say too that the only way I can effectively work at being a Proverbs 31 woman is putting God first – loving Him foremost. When I do that, loving everyone else falls into place perfectly and it helps to properly put things into perspective of their importance.
Kristin says
Rise – this is SO true. God HAS to be first…such wisdom!! I do much better in all areas of my life when I am focused on Him and His plan for my life! 🙂
Laurie Wallin says
The clothes… laundry, mending, keeping up with it. I think it’s been maybe a handful of times since I had kids that I’ve done (and put away) all the laundry for the week. I know it sounds lame, but seriously, how did that woman do it??
Kristin says
Laurie – you are not alone!! We moved to a new state/house this past June and I have this cabinet/shelf space in my laundry room and the clean clothes just keep getting washed and folded and stacked and re-used! Each of the kids have a dresser and none are in use! 🙂
Fawn says
The rising while it is still dark gets me every time. I need my sleep! 🙂
Julia says
I want to be this woman. Not just when I’m reading about her, not just when it’s pre-dawn and I’m alone with God. All the time. My struggle is remembering her when I’m in the thick of it. When all the things that can go wrong in a day happen in the span of five minutes. That’s when I want to be her most, but can’t seem to remember her at all. That’s where I struggle. How do you remember to be her in the moment when the hardest thing is to remember to be her?