Proverbial Woman - The Virtuous Wife

I would like to take a moment and do something I know I do not do enough.  I would like to lovingly brag on my wife.  I’d like to do so by commenting on the first half of the virtuous wife in Proverbs 31.  I'll save the remaining verses for another time.  I'm sure there are perhaps less literal implications to the things mentioned below, but for the purpose of this I am going to address the things mentioned just as they were literally written and intended.

The Virtuous Wife...

¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
¹¹ The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.

Who can?  I can.  Something that I should not take for granted, is that I don’t need to know what Shanda does on the credit card.  Honestly, I don’t want to know.  I have other things to think about regarding the in and out of finances.  It’s nice to not have to think about what Shanda is doing with the credit card (money in general).  I fully trust that when we pay the balance off each month, whatever that balance—it was necessary for our family.  We honestly do not have a budget for groceries.  Shanda and I rarely ever argue or worry about finances.  I think a huge part of that is because I know I can and do safely trust her.

Now, that isn’t to say budgets are bad, but for us they have not been necessary since we got married.  I have made a budget, but more than anything it was just to monitor what we were doing.  I don’t feel the need to “give” Shanda a budget when she shops.  She makes her own budget, and what is purchased is what is needed.  She does the grocery shopping, buys various things for our home, and various necessities for Micah all on her own—most of the shopping for necessities in general.  I don’t monitor it with worry, wondering, “What is she spending money on?”  I will soon find out as it is not hidden from me, and is plain to see.

Shanda doesn’t look for what is merely cheapest, but what is good in the long term.  Sometimes, you do get what you pay for.  Other times, you definitely do not!  Shanda is always working on this skill, to fine tune it.  I know that Shanda shops with these things in mind, thinking of the long term and little care to brand names.  From buying in bulk when reasonable, or stocking up when things are on sale.  I have no doubt that the money that is coming in is going out on things we need.  I truly do not worry.  I safely trust her, and none of the income that comes in will be void of any gain due to frivolity by her hand.  Because of her, I will have no lack of gain.

¹² She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.

I see this in the way she cares for me when I am not feeling well.  She has made muscle massaging oils just for me, so that she can massage me when I am achy.  I see this in the meals she prepares and the clean house she keeps well organized.  The list goes on and on.  She'll message me throughout my day and tell he how she appreciates me—I admit far more than I return the favor.  I know that Shanda is looking to do me good, and I don't worry about her sneaking behind my back as some people in this world worry about.  Though I know Shanda, as I and all of us do sin—when all the days of my life are accounted, I know that it will be said that she did me good.  Truly as Proverbs 18:22 says, I have found a good thing.

¹³ She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.

¹⁵ She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.

She is not afraid to work with her hands.  Shanda loves to go junking, thrift shop, and Internet shop—looking for good deals to repurpose or resell.  She often finds things we do not even intend to keep, but buys with the full intent to sell.  She’ll buy low and sell high.  Not in any scheme though.  She cleans and repairs things so that they are worth more when sold.  Or, simply will find a good deal where someone is willing to let go of something cheap and resell to someone else who is willing to pay more for that item.

She reaches out to find ways to make our home prosper in many monetary ways by doing it cheaper, and making it with her own hands.  For example, she makes bar soap and laundry soap.  She has purchased clothe diapers for Micah and future children, which are much cheaper than disposables.  It may not be as easy as wrapping up a disposable and throwing it in the garbage, but it's better in all other ways.  She makes many natural remedies, ointments, and cleaning supplies by purchasing various things for recipes she finds or makes up.  Most of the food Micah has eaten has been some kind of food Shanda has made.  It's better for him, and much cheaper than premade food.  Of course there are times when you need to open a jar of baby food on the go, but that is not the norm.  Primarily though, she makes food for Micah.

She makes homemade yogurt that we all love.  She cooks and bakes all sorts of foods, and we have shelves full of canned goodies in mason jars.  She has lunch packed up and ready to go for me to take to work the next day.  In the basement there are a lot of pickles and tomatoes canned—meats, various jams and other veggies too.  She brings in goods from afar—special seeds she ordered on the Internet!—and makes it last a long time.  She works with her hands willingly so that nothing goes to waste on her watch.  There is always something new she is looking to change so that we can live as healthier and better stewards.

¹⁷ She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.

¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
¹⁹ She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.

I an not ashamed to admit that my wife mowed the lawn 90% of the time this summer because I worked long hours while away while she worked in home as a mom.  She even learned to run the weed-whacker this year!  She plants and maintains a garden.  She has a stash of her own heirloom seeds harvested from this years garden to plant next year.  She will help me split wood and haul wood for our wood burning stove.  There are many other things, but suffice it to say that she is not afraid to do things that require strength of arms often considered “man’s work”.

Again, she does not let anything go to waste.  She mends and sews when things fall apart, and she’s constantly maintaining things around the house as she keeps it very clean.   Her motor never stops running, and even seems to run harder when I’m not around so that we can have a chance to relax when we are together.

Of course, she takes care of Micah every day and as previously mentioned, keeps the home very well organized.  I know that she seeks to make home a peaceful place for us, and works hard with her hands so that in many ways that will be more possible.

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All of this said, and I'm quite sure there are things I have not mentioned and fail to remember.  I hope it does not come off as prideful in the worst sense of the word.  And, I hope nobody is intimidated by how awesome my wife is! If you ever have a question about any of the many awesome things I said about her, I'm sure she would be willing to share what she knows with you, by the grace of God!  I speak on the things that work for us personally as God has blessed us uniquely—though they may not be best for everyone, they have been for us—and I speak on what I personally admire about my wife as Proberbs 31 applies to her in our life together.  Truly, truly, when I think of the Proverbial woman I do think of my wife, Shanda.  I love you!