Contemplate - A Woman of Value

What makes a woman meaningful and valuable in our culture?  A poem might go like this:

A good woman, where can she be found?

   She's worth her weight in gold.

Her husband thinks she is a good lover,

   and does a good job with the kids.

She has the most fashionable clothes

   and always a fresh mani-pedi.

She's active in the PTO

   and supports the admirable work of Planned Parenthood.

She makes sure her kids understand what is politically correct,

   and tries to be their best friend.

She takes care of the checkbook

   and makes the minimum payments on the credit cards.

She's busy with book club, driving the kids to activities

   and gets take-out on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

She balances her career with home life

   and occasionally has time to help with homework.

Her children are happy if she's there when they get up for school

   and her husband is happy when the house is picked up.

A woman who moisturizes her skin, gets to the health club

   and looks 10 years younger than her age is valued.

She's all things to all people.

Is that the standard we are striving for?  Perhaps we should instead look to God's standard for women:

A wife of noble character who can find?

   She is worth far more than rubies.

Her husband has full confidence in her

   and lacks nothing of value.

She brings him good, not harm,

   all the days of her life.

She is clothed with strength and dignity;

   she can laugh at the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom,

   and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her household

   and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children arise and call her blessed;

   her husband also, and he praises her:

“Many women do noble things,

   but you surpass them all.”

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Honor her for all that her hands have done,

   and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Proverbs 31: 10-12; 25-31

When this life is over, I pray I might be judged mercifully by God's standards.

cindy

Is There Anything Left To Do?

I'm worried.  Our very existence as bloggers might be at risk.  There is nothing new to do.  I'm having a great time learning all kinds of new things.  It's so easy to find instructions on how to do about anything I can imagine.  Scary, huh?

About two weeks ago I was trying to think of something different with spring colors to celebrate spring.  I imagined a cool wreath, with pastel or white yarn wrapped around it with some kind of little flowers on the bottom right.  I was so surprised when I looked at some other blogs and Pinterest, because the wreath I imagined was popping up.  Subliminal?  Maybe.  Freaky?  You bet.

Source: aprettylifeinthesuburbs.com via Miranda on Pinterest

Source: sewcraftalicious.wordpress.com via Melissa on Pinterest

In fact, there were some gorgeous examples with twists I could never imagine:

Source: steamykitchen.com via Sugar Scientist on Pinterest

Now I'm not going to suggest that I created or thought up the idea of a yarn wrapped wreath with felt flowers.  But it's funny that when you think of "what to make this season" you happen to think of the same thing everyone else thinks.  It's like when you rack your brain to give your baby an interesting (but not too weird or original) name.  You think you have picked the name that isn't on everyone's top ten lists or is trendy.  You're pretty sure you've done a great job too, until your child gets to preschool or kindergarten and there are three other kids sitting there with your child's interesting name.

I love the fact there is so much information and rampant creativity on the web.  We can do things, make things, improve on things so much faster and better than women did years ago with a couple of magazines and craft patterns.  Sometimes though, I just wish I could make it first :)

cindy

Super Woman (Almost!)

Today I was almost Super Woman.  It's amazing considering that the day began poorly with a repeat trip to the doctor.  Right now, as the day ends, I have written my blog (you're reading it), read to my daughter, made my son's bed and almost made two school jumpers.  I didn't want to "almost" be Super Woman.  I wanted to BE Super Woman.  All night as I worked on those jumpers I kept thinking about how I would write this and how proud I would be.  After all, I successfully argued a motion in court, reviewed some ordinances, made it home for dinner with the family, worked with the kids (see above) and cut and (almost) sewed two school jumpers.  All of this while fighting off a very nasty chest cold. Tah daaa!!

Even though I didn't make it (when I saw that bias tape, I buckled), I'm going to bed pleased with myself.  I'm not sure if I can "do it all," but some days I get close enough to be satisfied.  And that's just fine with me :)

cindy

A Woman of Value

What makes a woman meaningful and valuable in our culture?  A poem might go like this:
A good woman, where can she be found?
   She's worth her weight in gold.
Her husband thinks she is a good lover,
   and does a good job with the kids.
She has the most fashionable clothes
   and always a fresh mani-pedi.
She's active in the PTO
   and supports the admirable work of Planned Parenthood.
She makes sure her kids understand what is politically correct,
   and tries to be their best friend.
She takes care of the checkbook
   and makes the minimum payments on the credit cards.
She's busy with book club, driving the kids to activities
   and gets take-out on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
She balances her career with home life
   and occasionally has time to help with homework.
Her children are happy if she's there when they get up for school
   and her husband is happy when the house is picked up.
A woman who moisturizes her skin, gets to the health club
   and looks 10 years younger than her age is valued.
She's all things to all people.

Is that the standard we are striving for?  Perhaps we should instead look to God's standard for women:

A wife of noble character who can find?
   She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
   and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
   all the days of her life.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
   she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
   and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
   and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
   her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
   but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
   and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Proverbs 31: 10-12; 25-31

When this life is over, I pray I might be judged kindly by God's standards.

cindy