Have you ever thought about the long process that is required in order to make your clothes? For those of us who like to occasionally sew clothing by hand, we might be tempted to think how impressive we are just because we’ve gone to the fabric store, chosen some material and a pattern, cut out pattern pieces, and then sewed a garment together. Not so for the woman in Proverbs 31.
Proverbs 31:13
She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
Wool and flax were “the” materials from which all clothes were made in the Middle East and Egypt, up until the time of the Exile. Therefore, during the time period in which this woman would have lived, having these items at her disposal was necessary in order to provide clothing and other essential items for her family.
What if you had to raise your own sheep, sheer them, wash the wool, dye it, spin and weave it, and finally you’d have it ready to cut out pieces for your garment, to sew together? And flax – think about this process: after the plants have reached maturity, they are pulled up by the roots and then dried. The stems are soaked in water for several weeks so that the outer bark decays, and then the inner fibers are combed, spun into thread, and then woven. Now the actual piecing together of a garment can be accomplished.
Even though the Proverbs 31 had maidens to help with household tasks (vs. 15), her hands know what it means to work. She did not run to the fabric store when she decided to tackle a sewing project. She didn’t shop online to take advantage of the remarkable sale of the week. If her family was to be properly clothed, she must plan ahead and work diligently so that in the months to come, she would have the necessary cloth from which to sew their clothing.
Not only did her hands know what it meant to work, but her work was done willingly. Like all of us, surely there were some tasks that she enjoyed more than others, but still, her work was done not out of compulsion or with complaint, but she willingly did her work because she loved her family.
In spite of all the conveniences we have today, how many of us, even if we don’t grumble and complain audibly, sometimes display a less than cheerful disposition when the time comes to do those jobs we find dull or distasteful? Sure, we might love to get in the kitchen and make a delicious meal, but when it comes to other menial tasks, such as mopping the floor, folding and ironing clothes, or scrubbing the toilet, Ms. Grumpy has arrived. We let it be known, in no uncertain terms, that we hate this or that part of homemaking. “I hate doing __________, but I hope you know I’m doing this for you because I love you.” Sound familiar? Is that kind of attitude really saying “I’m doing this because I love you?”
Remember the old saying (I don’t really like this saying) – “if Mamma’s not happy…” – you know the rest. Well, the opposite can be true as well. When Mom is cheerful, it certainly can be contagious for the rest of the family. Remember the Seven Dwarfs who whistled while they worked?
A healthy dose of cheerfulness can go a long way in setting a positive atmosphere in your household.
We have the opportunity to teach our children, by our example, that work is not a miserable requirement that must be taken care of before we can have any fun, but rather, it can be very rewarding to set our hands to the task at hand, regardless of what it is, and feel a sense of accomplishment when we are through.
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might…” Ecclesiastes 9:10
Amen Joy. Spoken softly and lovingly. Amen. Love you. Debbie
You always have such great words of wisdom! Love your post, as always!! Although I have only been married for 13 years, and I am slowly improving, I still have so much to learn! That is why I truly feel blessed to have stumbled upon this study. Thanks for working willingly! I need to improve upon this too! especially when doing the laundry!
This is wonderful, thank you! It is sometimes hard to have a willing attitude when it comes to doing actual work ha! But I know when I resolve to have a good attitude, my work gets done quicker and it always turns out better than if I had had a bad attitude about it. Thanks for your thoughts!