Proverbs 31: 26 - 27

    

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; 

and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, 

and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Verse 26 seems to me to warn about 'idle talk'.  But to leave the analysis there would be to leave out far too much meaning.  Gossip is an obvious target.  If a subject or bit of information is bothersome enough to pass along to friends and acquaintances, it also needs to be brought up in our prayers.  In even more intimate communications, wisdom and kindness in our words are even more important.

Who better than our husbands, children, families and ourselves with whom to share our well - considered, kind words? No couple, no family is 100% happy 100% of the time, not this side of heaven anyway.  Words spoken in the heat of anger cannot be retracted.  Feelings take time to heal.  Wouldn't it be better to think before we speak?  There's a lot of wisdom in the theory of 'counting to 10' before you open your mouth.  While your active mind is counting, you subconscious mind-librarian is searching furiously for the right words to say.

I'm going to have to watch my own-self talk after being soundly convicted by verse 27.  Part of me wants to cry when I think of the hours (ok-days) I've wasted playing games online and spending time on pursuits of little eternal worth.  A little entertainment is enjoyable and arguably necessary ... but it is not life.

Traditionally, a married woman would be judged on the state of her household, at least in terms of organization and cleanliness.  This is not to say that individual women can or even should be responsible for each little chore that needs to be done to keep a home running smoothly.  For the first 10-12 years of my marriage, I was the one that went out, worked and brought home a paycheck.  It might not have been ideal, it might not have always been what I wanted, but that was the way it was...and it wasn't all bad, either.

In a case like that, or if there is a single-parent family, some of the household management chores of necessity fall on the other members of family.  And it is a good thing if children take on duties as well.  This will teach them order, time management and give them a sense of 'ownership' of their living area.  This process is part of "looking well to the ways of the household".

The best thing I've got going for me in this (and any) area is the love of God.  He loves all women, regardless of whether or not our pictures are ever pinned to the "Top 10 Proverbs 31 Women Ever" board.  But if our goal is to move in that direction, He is there to help us every step of the way.  We just have to ask.

Passing on Family Tradition

10 Fun, Inexpensive Activities for Families

SPIRITUAL
1.  attend a worship service
2.  attend a church potluck

FAMILY
1.  movie night at home
2.  board games

EDUCATIONAL
1.  keep a family journal
2.  family garden

SPORTS
1.  walking/hikes
2.  playing with and/or training the family pets

ARTS
1.  make family Christmas cards.
2.  attending fireworks

I thought I'd limit myself to ten things, so many other options also came to mind.  If we worked at it for a while, we could probably come up with a list of thousands of things families could do together that did not require 'an arm and a leg'.

And, of course, the concept of 'inexpensive' will vary from family to family.  On one end of the scale, frugality in family activities might entail vacationing at Disneyland instead of a tour of Europe.  Others may be stretching things simply using gas to drive to a location where the family can hike or have a picnic.  Most families fall somewhere in between.

The point is that family activities are more about spending time together rather than spending money.

What are some of the activities your family enjoys?

Proverbs 31: 24 - 25

Proverbs 31:  24-25
24 - She maketh fine linen, and selleth it;  she delivereth girdles unto the merchants.
25 - Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in the time to come.

First of all, I'm glad to be back on this series of Proverbs 31, after taking April off for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  Regardless if you are re-visiting, here for the first time, or hanging around after the show as it were, welcome!  I'm glad you are here!
OK.  Here we go.
A Proverbs 31 woman is able to make beautiful things with her hands (or nowadays her keyboard as well - for the tech-savvy amongst us).  It is an honorable profession to be able to create things with our abilities and knowledge and to receive just compensation for our efforts.  Sometimes the money must go for the support of the family; sometimes items may be donated to charitable organizations for fundraising, or as gifts for family and friends.  Each person in our society has an innate need to be able to contribute and receive in our society and economy.  The rewards may be concrete or intangible; the fact that it is there is often, but not always, more important than what form it takes.
As P31 women receive value for their creations (even if it seems to come only from God), so must they put forth their best effort, moment by moment.  Everyone has good days and bad days, but when you exercise a muscle, it becomes stronger.  When you practice strength of character and honor, your ability to exhibit and use these qualities also increases.  At this point, some will say, "But I can't do as much or as well (or as whatever) as so-and-so can.  We're not running against each other.  As long as we put forth the best effort we can at the moment it is required, that is 'enough'.  
Even if we are starting from 'ground zero', the important thing is to start.  I used to work with adults who had mental retardation and developmental disabilities.  Some of them may take years to learn the skill of pulling a comb through their hair one time.  Most of us do this many times a day without much thought.  But the moment they do this, even one time, means as much to God as Moses parting the Red Sea.  It doesn't matter what level we are on when we start our journey, we just need to put one foot in front of the other until we get there.
Many years ago, I started going to a gym before working in the International Department of a bank in downtown Salt Lake City.  There were Stairmasters and that was my 'weapon of choice'.  The first day, I aimed for 5 minutes of exercise.  I know, laughable, right?  And I was winded and sweating at the end.  But I did those 5 minutes every day that week.  The next week I did 10 minutes.  Towards the end of the week, it would seem to be too easy almost, and part of me wanted to bump up my time, but I held to my plan.  After many weeks, I was up to 45 minutes a day.  If the gym was busy on a given morning, maybe I could only do 30 minutes due to a time limit.  But I did my best each day.
When you have strength and honor as your clothing (or an essential part of your daily routine), you can have the satisfaction that only comes from giving your best.  You don't have to worry what each day will bring, because you have laid the groundwork and prepared for eventualities.  Sometimes bad things do happen to good people, the unexpected storm of life takes us by surprise.  Depending on the situation, we may even need a period of time to grieve.  But the skills we have developed, the honor with which we conduct ourselves, will have become second nature by that time, and when the right time to proceed appears, we will be packed and ready to go.

Zoo

I used to be a docent at the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City.  I worked mostly in the petting zoo area, taking care of the animals there and explaining exhibits to zoo visitors.

Our first duty in the mornings was to feed the animals in the petting area, which involved everything from cutting up fruit to dispensing monkey chow to fetching frozen mice from the animal commissary for the variety of snakes we had on display.

We had a baby Burmese python named "Monty" (I know, we groaned too) who was kept there due to his father trying to eat him.  When I arrived, you could hold Monty coiled up in one hand.  By the time I left, you had to wrap Monty around one arm, in back of you at your waist and around the other arm, because he had grown from about a foot to six feet long!

The beehive also fascinated young and old alike. There was a plastic case that lead to a tube that went out of the building.  Bees were busily building a hive and producing honey and I was oh, so glad they were behind that plastic!

One Sunday, early in the morning, before the zoo opened, I took my little stroll through the area and when I came to the pen at the end of the animal building, saw some sort of cow critter (the precise species name eludes me because this was more than 30 years ago), who was obviously male stalking around the area.  There were also a number of goats who were doing their level best to stay on the opposite side of the pen.

Well, they don't call it wildlife for nothing.

Peace, out, y'all.  Thanks for joining me (and all of us crazy bloggers) on my (our) A to Z journey this April!

Young Frankenstein

Two of my favorite moments from Young Frankenstein:

1.  Igor saying "Blucher" to the horses to frighten them, and which even now I cannot say without neighing.

2.  Blucher's statement, "Your fiancee is here, I suggest you put on a tie."

What is/are your favorite YF movie moment(s)?

Xenophobia

I am a Christian.

I am an American.

I am a Caucasian.

Those three statements alone are enough for most people to (at least start to) form an opinion on who I am and what I am like.  Taken to an irrational end, it becomes xenophobia, a fear or hatred of someone or something different from oneself.

Race, nationality and religion are but three of the categories into which people try to pigeonhole one another in order to create an "us" and "them" atmosphere.

I remember a festival in Salt Lake City called "Living Traditions".  My mother and brother were part of a Swiss Chorus that performed each year.  After that performance, for 2.5 days we enjoyed the music, dance, crafts and foods of groups from all over the world, many of which we experienced at no other time of year.  That's what made it so great.

But like most things, differences can be used for evil ends as well.  I know this will bring some negative comments but I've got to say it.  The religion professed by the 9-11 terrorists was Islam.  I say 'professed by' because it is my belief that these men used the claim of being Islamic to garner support from people who are xenophobic about things that are not Islamic.  Does this mean that all Muslims are terrorists.  No!

I know a number of people (some in my own family) do not agree with a mosque being built near 'ground zero' in NYC;  I do not understand their objection.  Islam did not commit that horrible event; a group of terrorists claiming to be Muslims were responsible.  Can we in good faith and with justice punish a whole group for the actions of a few?

Yes, I am Christian; I also have friends with a wide array of beliefs.

Yes, I am an American; I also have friends all over the world.

Yes, I am white; I also do not pick my friends and associates by the color of their skin.