Happy Mother’s Day! I am so thankful for you, and your example of a virtuous woman who said “yes” to God, even when the task was huge, and you must have felt overwhelmed at times by the details.
Thank you, and bless you, Mother, your example helps me to walk in obedience when God calls me to difficult tasks.
I know that Proverbs is one of the books of Wisdom and not typically categorized as a book of prophecy…but I’m inclined to believe that Proverbs 31:10-31 is one of several exceptions to this classification of Holy Scripture. I see you ALL OVER in this passage. For today’s celebration, I have compiled paralell Scriptures from Proverbs and the New Testament accounts of you and your words.
You know how much I like numbers, especially how I love connections with numbers, dates, etc. So, naturally I find it curious, in a goosebumps kind of way that Luke is the 3rd book of the New Testament, and your beautiful words of wisdom (The Magnificat) are recorded in the first chapter of Luke. So, I held the passage in Proverbs 31 alongside of Luke (3rd book) chapter 1. While I’ve also gleaned from other passages that either mention you, or record other words of yours, I just thought it was fun to have 3 and 1 show up in both places, and to put them side by side for a thought provoking parallel. Another interesting thing to note is that I have just recently picked up an obscure little book by Thomas A’Kempis, called “The Imitation of Mary”. While the parallels of these two chapters have been rattling around in my brain for months now, this new little book gives me extra incentive to try to be like that Proverbs 31 woman. I want to be like you.
10 A good wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you. Luke 1:26-28
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
“Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Luke 1:38
13 She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant,
she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and tasks for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
I love the thought of your hands tending a vineyard! The fruit of your womb called Himself the Vine.
17 She girds her loins with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hand to the poor,
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
“They have no wine.” John 2:3 (said to the One who identified Himself as the Vine)
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes herself coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger. Luke 2:7
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
when he sits among the elders of the land.
“Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary?” Matthew 13:55
24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers girdles to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. – Luke 2:19
and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever. Luke 1:50-55
“Do whatever He tells you” John 2:5
27 She looks well to the ways of her household,
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; Luke 1:48b
29 “Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
“Behold, your Mother”. John 19:27
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands
Luke 1:42 …blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
and let her works praise her in the gates.
All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus. Acts 1:14
I love you , Momma.
New Things 