Where is that P31? How Does She Do It All?

Proverbs 31:10-31 has always been among my favorite verses.  I so appreciate that God took space in His amazing Word to give us a glimpse of what a godly woman looks like. While the Scriptures are clear that outer beauty should not be our focus, He doesn‘t ignore beauty in these verses.

Verse 22, “She makes coverings for her bed, she is clothed in fine linen and purple.“

God knows that we women enjoy beauty and He reminds us, ever so gently through His Word, that what is really beautiful is what is in our heart.

I don’t have expensive things. In fact, everything I own was either a flea market find, a hand-me-down or some broken down deal that I fixed up, painted or re-purposed. It doesn’t say HOW this woman got her fine linens and purple. I assume she didn’t nag her husband for them or go into debt.

That’s the trick, isn’t it? Finding a way to make a lovely home and clothe the family well without breaking the bank or ignoring other responsibilities.

For me, it works to set aside an afternoon every week (Friday is my day) to do those extra things that make my home peaceful and relaxing.

I have a spot in the kitchen where I set all of the torn book pages, broken toys, etc. In that same spot, I keep a little notebook where I write down things that can be fixed simply, like touching up paint or changing a light bulb (you know the kind…you need a ladder and a special bulb and it somehow becomes overwhelming). I know I will get to the pile/list on Friday so I don’t let it bother me the rest of the week.

Sometimes there’s a bigger project. Maybe the bathroom needs painting or the summer clothes need to be stored for the winter. I will look at my calendar and find two days together that I can carve out for bigger projects. I put them on the calendar and they are set in stone.

I won’t accept any invitations during that time. I won’t get a project finished if I have to stop at 4:00 and go take a shower because of something I have to do that night. Also, knowing it is ahead on the calendar gives me time to casually pick up the materials I will need while I am out running other errands already.

I have taught the children to either help me or play quietly without interrupting. Usually they are all hanging around and we are chatting and playing word games or singing songs together while I work. Often they will help. Last weekend I was spray painting and several of them offered to spray paint too. With their help I could go on to parts of the project that only Mom can do.

I often think of the Proverbs 31 woman when I am doing work with the kids that makes our home beautiful or more organized. Setting aside time to make “bed linens” or “fine garments” instead of hoping time will magically become available helps me find joy in the process. I don’t feel stressed about things that haven’t gotten done when I know they will get done next Friday or two weekends from now.

Planning a time to take care of yourself and your home means that you will be able to focus on what is really important the rest of the week: God, family, friends and neighbors.

About Lisa and her family:

Lisa lives in the Texas Hill Country with her husband of 25 years and their 9 children.  They homeschool their kids and 2 of them have graduated.  Lisa says don’t let the diploma fool you, they are just as much work at age 21 as they were at age 5.