My wife and oldest daughter are beginning a Bible study of the Proverbs 31 woman. On the eve of our 13th anniversary, I realized I haven’t thought of Shannon as a Proverbs 31 woman. But that was because I never had to.
Verse 11 and 12 says she is trustworthy and constant in her love. I have trusted Shannon with all the things of my heart for thirteen years and I have never questioned or doubted her love for me or our children.
Verse 13 through 29 tells us this woman is among other things; industrious, thrifty, not idle, willing to do hard work, compassionate, prepared for the future, wise, kind, and not satisfied with the status quo. I can tell you the life of a railroader is hard for his family. I can also say I am the sole income for our family. But that doesn’t paint the full picture. You see, while I pay the mortgage on our house – Shannon makes it a home. While I get aggravated when we spend money – she always manages to get what we need and leave something in the bank. When I am away from home – our daughters are still home-schooled each day. As I came home and want to rest or play with our children – she makes time to talk to her husband above the daily noises of a busy, chaotic household and still does the chores that my arrival interrupted. She does without time for herself to make time for her family.
Verse 28 to the end says she is blessed by her family and a woman of God. But I hope by now you see that she is not as blessed as we are. I am to be the spiritual leader of my home, but the means by which I am able to do that is Shannon’s love of the Lord. Our lives are centered around our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but I find our daily reminder of that in my wife, the mother of my children. Is it any wonder King Lemuel’s mother said in verse 10, this kind of woman is rare? Yet, I never gave the Proverbs 31 woman much thought because that is exactly the woman I married.
Anyone can make marriage vows when they are filled with “or”: For richer or poorer, for better or worse, sickness or health. It takes a special woman to keep those vows long after every “or” has been replaced with “and”. And I’m telling you, if you’re married long enough, there won’t be an “or” anywhere in sight. But the “ands” are where God shows you why He gave you each other. God did not simply give me a partner, friend or wife. As always, He provided what was missing to make me whole; He gave me “one flesh.”
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