A Woman of Great Love

Hello there my bloggy friends...its been a while. I have missed writing so much, but there has been a lot going on. Have you ever been in a place where you feel like you are being crushed from all sides by the weight of trials? Sometimes it seems as if there is no easing up of the pressures.

The past few weeks have presented numerous challenges for my husband and I. At the risk of sounding like I'm re-writing the Book of Lamentations, I'll just fill you in briefly.

The smaller stuff, like the car needing repairs, the air-conditioning breaking down in the midst of some seriously hot weather, internet service that's unpredictable and an old computer that's temperamental...these all together make for some pretty frustrating and worrisome times, but added to the other, more serious things... well it all adds up to the kind of burdens that have you wrinkling your brow, tension headaches and stiff neck and shoulders from stress.

My mother in law has been declining (cancer) and now requires round the clock care. It is a heavy burden the family carries now and there has even been talk of putting her into a hospice...a final step that is weighing heavily on hearts. We are praying and we would appreciate your prayer as well for guidance, for healing. Where there is God, there is always hope.

Even in the midst of all of this, the Lord speaks and the Word encourages and strengthens. 

This week we have begun our study of the Proverbs 31 woman. A fascinating woman, a woman of strength and one thing is very clear to me. The greatest attribute of this woman is her LOVE for others. What propels a woman out of bed before dawn? What causes her to watch over the affairs of her household? If it is duty alone, then what joy is there in her service to her family?

Jesus explains very clearly what love is in John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends" This is what, in my humble opinion, the Proverbs 31 woman exemplifies. She does what she does because of her love and compassion, she lays down her life in service...joyful service...to those who are in her care. A tall order, especially on days when we feel burdened, tired, stressed or wrapped up in our SELF (more on that later on), but not an impossible one. As Courtney points out in her video on Monday, if we keep focused on God, keep our eyes on Him, He will give us the strength to do what He wants us to do. She quotes Hebrews 12:2-3 where we are told to fix our eyes on Jesus, to consider all that He endured so that we will not grow weary and lose heart.

How easy it is to grow weary and lose heart! I hold these words especially dear at this time, in this season of life. What an awesome encouragement from Courtney this week. I encourage you, if you haven't already, to look at her video here 

As we go through our mundane tasks, the repetitive and often menial duties we have as homemakers, wives and mothers, let us not lose sight of the reasons we are here, in this place, doing them. Let us strive to do them with love, for love of our loved ones and of God. Then we can be sure that we are one step (or many steps) closer to being like the Proverbs 31 woman.