I have to admit that I struggled greatly with being involved with this 10 day blog event.
First off, I am not a writer.
I am a very poor communicator.
Ha ha. Sentence structure and things like spelling and punctuation are SO very over-rated!
I have a lot to say about things like sewing, laundry, raising a large family, orphans, adoption, homeschooling, being a wife. All which developed from the lengthy list of what I have done wrong in those areas.
In fact, I can communicate very passionately about a few of those subjects.
But when it comes to God's word I get very flustered and my thoughts jumble up. Yes, even more than they usually do.
If you ever met me in real life you would know how much I ramble. You would also have been caught in one of the 'Tina never got to the point or answered the actual question' conversations.
A simple question on your part like " How is the weather?" would commit you (unknowingly) to ten minutes of odd obscure rambling that had absolutely nothing to do with the weather!
To top it all off I am sort of a Proverbs 31 woman rebel.
Did I just hear a few gasps?
It is not because I do not agree or desire to have the character traits this woman has.
I do.
Maybe a more accurate statement is that I rebel against the 'look' of this particular woman. You know ,the stereo type image of the Proverbs 31 woman that pops into our minds.
For years I felt that to be the best wife/mother/christian I could be, I would need to 'look' like her.
I would strive.
I would try.
I would fail.
How dare she (really meaning God) put me in a small box, a box so small I can not even move about in and to top it off, create me with my own unique quirks, oddities, talents,etc...but say sorry Tina here is the mold. You need to be her.
No!
I am me!!
So I rebel.
I thought how unfair is it that here is this woman, this standard so seemingly lofty and hard to obtain in my own life.
Then it clicked.
Even without Proverbs 31:10-31 being included in the Bible everything she demonstrates, the character qualities she possesses can be found and also modeled in other areas of the Bible.
And to top it all off, this is the real zinger, If you get to the core, to the bottom line of who/what exactly this Proverbs 31 woman was about you will find it has little to do with whether she sews, or buys fields, or makes terrific meals for the whole city.
No.
Look real close.
It is about this:
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
John 15: 13-14
and this
" I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it will produce many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it,while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."
John 12:24-25I think that her whole life was a purposeful choice to die to herself and serve others and most of all Love God with a confidence and depth that not many do.
That I want to do.
So whether my sewing machine breaks down, my dinner burns, I over sleep, or my kids wear un-matching hand-me-downs, I can live my life with a purpose, with a choice. A choice to serve, to love, to die to myself. Most of all I can cling on to a very powerful, strong, compassionate, understanding, patient God.
The God who made this quirky, odd, rebel named Tina
Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy
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Here are the other twelve blogs joining in on this 10 Days of Proverbs 31 adventure.
Enjoy!!
Contributing to famHeily income/2 better than 1
The Fear of the Lord/ Satisfied by Love
Using time wisely/BlessedBeyondMeasure
Taking care of needy/ Shadow Wonder
Using money wisely/Jennifer Sikora
Keeping an eye on home/Just a Glimpse
She can laugh at the days ahead/faith filled food for moms
Clothed in strength and dignity/One thing I’ve Learned
Taking care of others/ 2 savvy gals
Bringing Variety to Family/ Karen Dawkins
Extending your Hand to the Poor/ Women’s Fellowship House
Organization/Teaching what is Good
