The 31st

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Can someone please tell me where August went? All I know is that I woke up this morning & it was gone! Tomorrow will be September & the next day will be October. At least that's how it feels.

Fall is knocking at my front door, wondering where my autumn wreath is. Changes are coming, as they do every fall. Very soon, we'll get out the sweaters & boots, Starbucks will add my beloved Pumpkin Spice back to their menu, and the 90 degree weather will turn cooler.

And there are other changes. For some of you, fall means you dropped your baby off at Kindergarten & then went home to try to figure out who you are now. And some left their baby in the college registration line, trying to remind yourself that this is what you raised them to do. Some of you are just starting out with a brand new baby at home, trying to get off the emotional roller coaster & wondering if you're the only one who ever found themselves stuck on it. Some of you just got married & you feel like your life has finally started. Or maybe your marriage has ended & you feel like your life has, too.

Changes. They're happening to us all. I was thinking about all this this morning as I read through Proverbs 31. Many of you probably read it too, if you like to read the chapter in Proverbs that corresponds with the day of the month. This comes at a perfect time in light of all the changes that the end of August brings. This chapter is such a great, concise job description for the Christian woman. Or maybe the better term would be "life description".

If it's been awhile since you've read it, read it here:

Proverbs 31

¹The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

²What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

³Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

⁴It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

⁵Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

⁶Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

⁷Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

⁸Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

⁹Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

¹⁰Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

¹¹The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

¹²She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

¹³She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

¹⁴She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

¹⁵She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

¹⁶She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

¹⁷She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

¹⁸She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

¹⁹She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

²⁰She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

²¹She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

²²She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

²³Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

²⁴She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

²⁵Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

²⁶She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

²⁷She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

²⁸Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

²⁹Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

³⁰Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

As I read over it again, I let it remind me of what I'm here for. And when I'm trying my best to juggle the schedule of 6 different people & running a taxi service for everyone all around town, I need to focus on "looking well to the ways of {my} household", even when it seems impossible.

And when I cross paths with a difficult person, I need to "open {my} mouth with wisdom" instead of giving them a piece of my mind.

And when I wake up to the alarm clock out of a deep sleep & still feel exhausted from the day before, I need to think of this woman who "riseth also while it is yet night", so I can get breakfast out & lunches packed for all of them. Although I don't have any servant girls to feed. Hmmmm. That would be handy.

And when I pass by a mirror and see that my make-up's worn off & my hair needs to be zzushzed (you know what I mean, don't you?), I'll remind myself that beauty is vain anyway.

No matter what phase of life you're in at the moment, or if you've gotten so busy you've lost focus, this passage can help you get back on track.

And if Christ is not a part of your life, I guarantee you've been missing Him, even if you never realized it before. If this is you, please contact me. I'd love to help you find Him.

And for any Christian woman reading this, encourage yourself with this life description & know that you're here for a purpose.

Now go get ready for fall!