does it REALLY say that?

So, I had a thought today. (it does happen every once in a while :o) I thought…man I just love a clean bathroom! Then I thought, NO, I love a clean house. For me, there is nothin better than a home that looks and smells clean. I know some of you are laughing to yourselves right now either cause you know me or because that is the last thing on your mind. Now, I don’t doubt that it’s part of my make up to enjoy such awful tasks, but the thought came “cleanliness is next to Godliness,” and I started wondering what that was all about anyway. I am not inferring at all that because I love a clean house that I’m any more Godly than the next person. It just got me thinking. I don’t really know where the statement comes from, but could there be some truth to it? I decided I wanted to find out.
I knew it reminded me of somebody. Who? Oh yeah, the proverbs 31 woman! I began to ask the question, “so what IS it with that proverbs 31 woman anyway? Was she real, or just a figment of a man’s wishful imagination?” so I decided to study her. I studied the passage. Went so far as to take a class that highlighted the breakdown of it. And…well hold on ladies…. I DO conclude that there is something to be said about our little phrase up there. Not that cleanliness is next to Godliness, but the idea of doing all unto our Lord is. So if you want to stop reading right here, I will not be offended. How can I be? I don’t even know WHO is reading this, if anyone at all. But I’m gonna get down and dirty here so I’m just warnin you.
The passage starts off asking the question, “a wife of noble character who can find?” she is worth far more than rubies.” Wow…hurts a bit, yet quite a compliment if you can become that woman. I do believe that some where along the way, this woman did exist. Maybe not in the form of a single character, but she is represented in millions of women. And obviously God found her important enough to divinely inspire someone to write about her in the WORD OF GOD.
So then it begins. The list! So I’m going to highlight and summarize for you to give you an opportunity to wrap your mind around this.

She has value
She brings her husband good, not harm
Works eagerly with her hands
Prepares food
Gets up early (while it is still dark, to be exact) to provide for her family
She makes business decisions and with her earnings does more business
She works vigorously
Her arms are strong
She’s aware and alert always, even at night
She does many projects around the house
She helps the poor and needy
When tough times come, she is prepared
She adorns herself and her bed
She makes things and sells them for profit
Her husband is respected because of her
She is strong and dignified
She is joyful
She speaks with wisdom
She instructs faithfully
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness
Her children call her blessed
AND Her husband praises her

So after that, you might be in the depths of depression. WELL DON’T BE! These things are as attainable as you want them to be. God gives each of us the ability to be better by His strength. But we must ask, believe, and receive! We need to stop being lazy, stop complaining, learn alittle gratitude, and absolutely bathe ourselves in the Word of God daily if we are to have a fighting chance. I know we are up against a culture that says glamour and worth come from what the world wants you to be, but it obviously is not. If you believe God is who he says he is, then you have to believe his Word. It will not lead us astray.
I hope you are encouraged and challenged and I hope you are comforted knowing you are not along in striving to be all God wants you to be. You are precious, important, valued, and you are adored! You are all so dear to me and I am with you on this journey.
I love you all!