Proverbs 31 Woman continued…
As I’ve mentioned before, here, at the
start of each month I am taking a verse or two… or three… from Proverbs 31 and
working hard that month to implement it into my daily life. Sometimes I find
that the best way to make a habit or lifestyle change is to take little bites
out of the pie, if you will. For this month, I am focusing on Proverbs
31:19-20.
“She sews for the poor, and
generously helps those in need.”
This verse stands out to me this month for
a couple reasons. For one, as winter comes my heart is extra sensitive to the
blessings I have. As we’ve had a couple months of cold weather, I am reminded
of my ability to turn on the heater of my home and grab a blanket. I am also
reminded that not everyone has these blessings. This has always been a tender
part of my soul because I know that I often take these things for granted.
Secondly, I feel that this verse extends
past those who physically have less than us. Generosity comes in many forms.
Not only is it extending a helping hand to those physically in need but also
spiritually or mentally in need. Weather that is praying for someone struggling
or lending a listening ear to a friend, generosity is giving without judgment.
I remember a moment so vividly in my mind that exemplified this.
I was about 5 years old and we were
packing up for a family vacation to Cancun. It was about noon the day before
our early morning flight. A neighbor’s (I say this lightly as they lived a
couple streets over from us) house went up in flames as the husband was outside
and the wife was napping in their room. The wife made it outside okay but
practically no part of their house was saved in the end. My papa drove down to
help and about 30 minutes later came home to talk to my mom. Long story short,
my mom and papa offered this husband and wife our home while we were gone for
10 days so they could be near their house and not need to worry about a hotel
or anything. I remember being so confused because we didn’t even know these people!
Then my mom shared this lesson with me…
At some point in your life you will be in
need. No matter what shape or form that need is in, we all have “that moment”
when we are on the other end of giving. Oppositely, at some point in your life
(and probably more than one point) you will be the one in the position to give
of yourself. She told me to jump at those opportunities because what goes around comes around. This is what they were doing
that day. Giving of themselves because they were the ones able to give.
I saw this situation come full circle
about a year and a half ago as my mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She
was the one in need. I was so blessed to see the many people step in to give of
themselves for her during that time.
Around the time she was first diagnosed I
remember having the conversation with her that I would be here for whatever she
needs and I was uncomfortable asking others for help. She gently told me that
it was okay to ask for help. She had always been the one to help others and now
it was her turn. She reminded me that allowing others to help in a time of need
blesses their lives richly. So, over her 7-month fight, we did just that… asked
for help. I was so blessed and I know some of her amazing friends were so
blessed by this outpouring of love
and grace. It was truly amazing to
see almost 20 years later my mama’s sweet life lesson come full circle.
All this to say, this is the verse my
heart is consuming this month: reaching out and helping others. I have a strong
feeling that at the end of the month I’ll be reporting that I was the one whose
life was most blessed.
I may not be offering my home to anyone
anytime soon, but I can think of a few other ways to start implementing this
habit into my spirit. It’s so refreshing to have these verses as my reminder
that the closer I draw to the heart of God the better I am as a wife, friend,
and human in general. Plus, no doubt at some point this month, God will remind me
that I need Him more than ever, and this goal will be much more attainable as I
dig deeper into His character and His heart.
I serve a mighty God.
