Confidence

Some days you just want to stay in your pajamas all day long. Maybe you're not feeling well. Or maybe you're in something more seductive and your husband has the day off.  But most days, you must get up and face the world. What do you wear? The excellent wife clothes herself with strength and honor. She is ready to face the day. She knows where her strength comes from. Her strength comes from the Lord. She is confident as she faces the day because she knows that her Lord has plans for her today. The world may taunt her and try and sow fear in her heart, but her heart belongs to the Lord.

Only The Best

I was just pricing fine linen fabric. It is not cheap. In fact, I was blown away with how expensive it was. The excellent wife deals with fine linen. She uses the best materials. She sells what she makes. She sells high quality items that are in demand with the merchants.

Whatever you make, is it crap? Or do you give it your best and try to make something worthwhile? Do you cut corners because you don't care or do you carefully do everything it requires?

Do your best. Give of your best. Take time to care about what you do. You're worth it.

Behind Every Great Man

The discussion of the excellent wife turns to her husband. He is a leader in their community. He is well-known and respected. In part, this can be because of his excellent wife. There is no murmuring about his family or the shenanigans at home. There is no scandal brewing in his marriage. He can lead in the community because his household is in order. Behind every great man is a great woman. Are you that woman?

She's So Fine

The excellent wife is no slob. She cares about how her home looks. She cares about how she looks. She makes sure that she has nice things for her home - she makes cover lets for the bed - so that her home is comfortable for her family and for guests. She wears fine clothing. She doesn't want to reflect badly on herself or her family. She's not vain or trying to impress people. She is warm and wants to welcome people. She wants her family to feel loved and well taken care of. How about you?

Not Afraid

Winter is over and I, for one, am glad. Of course, it seems that everywhere I drive, I am still reminded of the recent winter. There is still sand at the edge of the roads left over from when it snowed. At this point, it seems like it would take Noahic rains to wash it all off the roads. I don't think that is in the forecast.

But when it snowed, we had nothing to worry about. The roof over our heads, though old, was not in danger of failing. We never lost heat. The wood stove made the house feel like it was summertime. The kids all had warm clothes to wear and plenty of hot chocolate to drink.

The excellent wife is somewhat of a realist. She realizes the blessings she has and the protection she has. She may even be pragmatic and has planned to make sure that she and her family are ready. This I know. It may be almost summer, but I'm ready. Let it snow.

Extending Her Hand

The excellent wife loves others. She extends hers hand to shake their hand. She extends her hand to pull them up out of the pit. She extends her hand to embrace them. She extends he hand in peace. She extends her hand to show them she is not a threat. She extends her hand in love. To whom can you extend you hand today?

What She Needs

What can't she do? Really, it's seeming like the excellent wife is a super woman! She spins her own yarn or thread. That's something that seems so far from my reality. I can't do that. But then again, I don't need to. When I consider this verse with a little more humility, I think of how when she had a need, she doesn't immediately ask "who can help me?" She instead asks "what can I do?" It's so easy to buy clothes at your favorite store. Want a new dress? Take a quick trip to the mall and you're sure to find plenty to choose from. Don't like it anymore? Donate it, throw it out, or just leave it in the back of your closet. But what if it wasn't so easy? If you had to sew your own dress, you might have made something that you might have liked even better and would have lasted longer. If you had poured your heart into making it, you may have treasured it more and been more satisfied. That's the secret of the excellent wife. She pours her heart into what she does and is satisfied with it.