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