A DOOT Party?
I have a confession. I loathe the Proverbs 31 Woman. Really, in years past I would read through these 31 verses and feel like I went two rounds with a professional boxer.
I was convinced there was not a woman alive who could measure up to the woman on these pages. After all, this woman was up before dawn organizing the house, the kids, and servants -she had servants! She ran a business; dabbled in real estate, packed lunches, dressed like a movie star, brought home the bacon, fried it up in the pan, and never let her husband forget he’s a man. Then she stayed up half the night knitting. For crying out loud!
I really believed she was unattainable. I was sure God didn’t “really” want me to be exactly like her. It was impossible. She would never happen to me.
Guess what? God snickered. When God gets to laughing you can bet someone’s gettin’ some learning! Yep, it was lesson time.
Several years ago I signed up to lead a Bible study. This was the very first time I led my own group. Imagine the look on my face when the Women’s Ministry Leader handed me a study of the Proverbs 31 woman? However, I liked the Proverbs gal, even though she was still a bit lofty. But, could I actually be her? I wasn’t convinced.
Fast-forward five or six years, I am still leading Bible study. Once again this fall, our group is working through the study of the Proverbs 31 woman. This is my THIRD study of this lady. The irony is I picked this study. —Lord, I am getting the message.
Seated around the kitchen table this morning with twelve other women, we discussed Mrs. Proverbs. I realized as we talked, that I genuinely love her. She IS a woman to emulate, someone you can model your home after.
Our verse study today was:
Proverbs 31:27
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
In our study, Living Life On Purpose, by Lysa Terkeurst, Lysa describes the woman of this verse like this: The Proverbs 31 woman is a disciplined and industrious keeper of the home who creates a warm and loving environment for her family and friends.
With this thought in mind the women around the table began to share stories about how this is relavant and real in their homes. Each one had a unique gift for creating a loving environment. These are some of my favorites:
Candace’s family will have an impromptu slumber party in the family room. She blows up the air mattress and the whole family camps out on the floor. Minus the campfire mind you. They read books, have popcorn fights, and stay up all night or until 10 o’clock when the girls, age six and eight, pass out. It’s a ton of fun.
My friend Beth’s specialty is spontaneity. Unplanned trips for ice cream after school or hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and brightly colored sprinkles, tickle her kids. These seemingly small surprises will be life-long treasures stored in their hearts.
Around the table we went. Finally it was my friend Karen’s turn. She looked up and said to all of us, “We have a DOOT party at our house.”
I hesitated, “Karen, ahem, what is DOOT party.
“Dad’s Out Of Town Party.” We all burst out laughing. Karen and her teen-age girls rent movies, eat pizza, and hang out.
As I looked around the table at the smiles and the love on the faces of these wives and mothers. I saw the Proverbs 31 woman. She isn’t perfect or unattainable. The Proverbs 31 Woman is you and I.
Lord, I love you so much. You leave nothing to chance. You have provided women with exactly what we need, The Owners Manual. Your Holy Word changes us into amazing women, not perfect, but perfected. In Jesus name, Amen.
I am a Proverbs 31 Woman.
Thank you for joining me here today. I know you are busy. I am humbled you took time to spend a minute with me.
Thanks for such a fun, and encouraging post my friend.
Wow… wonderful encouraging thoughts! I helped lead a women’s group on the proverbs 31 woman and was amazed at all of the beautiful lessons God had to teach through her example.
I hope it is okay… that I nominated you all for an award. You are all just so encouraging in the word and I am so grateful for this ministry here at Laced with Grace. :0)
JOYfully in Him,
Kelli
I remember when I first heard about her–I was a newly married woman. I was shocked to see all that was expected of her–now I am not though I am not there yet. 🙂
Great story Lynn.
Oh Lynn, I can SO relate. I even wrote a parody on the Prov 31 woman. And hee, hee, God is soooo funny. I googled Prov 31 and came to Lysa’s ministry. I gagged – there is actually a ministry totally devoted to this woman??!! And THEN, I went to a Prov 31 conference (She Speaks) and found out….Maybe I do want to be a Prov 31 girl after all. One morning when I got up at 5:30, made breakfast, had a quiet time, folded laundry, tidied up the house, I suddenly realized I was becoming that Prov 31 woman! I could hardly believe it!
This morning I posted about our spiritual mountain climb. I believe that’s what striving to be the Proverbs 31 woman is– a mountain climbing journey. I fall and stumble but keep getting up and climbing again.
Thanks for this post. I love the Proverbs 31 woman although sometimes I’m convince she’s a combination of several women. Can one woman be so perfect?lol
I remember reading Proverbs 31 after I was married and a “newby” Christian. Like you I thought it was ridiculous to think that any woman could even begin to attain to such heights. I told my husband at the time that I wanted something akin to, ‘She tried to be a Proverbs 31 woman”.
But like you I have come to admire this woman of God, because that is just what she is.
Thanks for a great post!
Hugs!
I loved it!!!
DOOT party.. one to remember…
I once felt overwhelmed by the proverbs 31 woman..and a Bible Study with girls on the proverbs 31 woman proved to me that I too, was her…I needed to see myself in her and see what I needed to work on. She no longer overwhelms me, she inspires me…
thank you for a wonderful post! I LOVED it!
lori
I love that! I get “tired” just reading about her “abilities” but still I strive!
What a blessing this post was to me!
😆 – years ago, I didn’t like the Proverbs 31 woman either. I felt like a total failure. Then I read a book by Nancy Kennedy – that helped me to understand the “Proverbs 31 Woman”…You are right – in His eyes were are these women, perfected through the blood of the lamb.
Thank you so much for sharing, my sweet friend.
Be blessed today and always.