17. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her task.

We got the keys to our first house ever, finally! My in-laws came down on Friday and helped me empty out our storage unit. I am in love with this little house... The decor is slightly outdated for our taste (a little too much of that 70s brown). So re-decorating is all I can think about right now!

Anyways...
Okay so I love this passage. It talks about her strength, not only in character but also physically and mentally. 'Her arms are strong for her task' means that she is knowledgable in all sorts of work; upholstery, seamstressing, manufacturing, real estate, and farming. Honestly, I really feel that this kind of knowledge us highly underrated in its importance, especially in the roles of the modern-day wife and mother. As Americans, we rely on factories and manufacturing plants to supply us with furniture, clothes, and groceries. As a result, our health and quality of life suffers. The demand is high, and the quality of our food, clothes, how are houses are built, and our purpose has dwindled into something more 'superficial.' The Proverbs 31 woman eliminates the need for a middle man because she is in-the-know about gardening, investing, and importing.

Her character is a testament that we as women are supposed to be deeply involved in decisions about our livelihood. I read in a commentary that people tend be mistaken in the character of the lady of Proverbs 31. They think she is a retired, servile, and entirely domesticated woman. Not so! She is the executive decision maker of crucial details of her and her family's lives. She has outstanding abilities, and her family's social position is high...she is the portrait of ideal womanhood.

I love that this woman is a shrewd business woman. I aspire to be her in my little bubble of professionalism. I am an amateur photographer, and have been trying to get my portrait business off the ground. However, business has never been a natural thing for me. As of late, I have been struggling with being firm with my clients in my price, and services. As a result, I feel taken advantage of, and not in a good way. I wrote a fellow photographer friend, who owns his own budding business, and asked him what he has learned from these kind of situations. He told me that of course we need grace to be at hand for some people, however we as Christians, ought to be better business people than the non.
Wow! Seriously? And I was enabling people to walk all over me! I knew it made me feel like a zero, but I wasn't sure if it was actually wrong. Praise God, that we are to be peaceable, but not doormats. I've never considered myself a sucker, easily swayed, or naive...that is, up until recently. It has taken me a while to figure this out for myself, and I am so grateful that He has great expectations of me, even and especially in owning a business.

God's word and encouragement has made me feel empowered, and I can't wait to run with it!
My Savior does what is above and beyond, and He expects the same from me. May I rise to the occasion! Pray for me friends...

In Him,

C.W.