The year is 2012 and I live in Southern California at the beach with my husband and dog. John's sons are adult men who live on their own in Texas and do not have wives yet. They are in their late 30's and I hope they find their perfect wife!
I recently joined a Proverbs 31 woman study and as the days go on I am just astonished at how literal these young moms are taking this passage and how much guilt they are laying on themselves for not accomplishing all that they think that THEY have to do.
Some thoughts... today's married woman works outside the home or inside the home.. today's married woman has turned into a single mom and they have to be the dad in the family as well as the mom. Today's married woman may be married to another woman! Yes, I said it and it's a part of life that you can't ignore.
Proverbs 31 definitely speaks about her husband and I feel in my heart and understanding of the Bible that this is a man and woman relationship, not a woman and woman relationship. The Proverbs 31 woman has step children and she's a product of divorce herself.
She has hang ups and issues and seeks God's guidance and goes to her husband with her issues but she also seeks the guidance of her girlfriends. She has a "girls night out" on the town and her husband can take care of himself at home and handle the children while she enjoys herself.
She owns a business and makes more money than her husband. She works outside of the home and he is the stay-at-home dad. She and he share the chores of the home because like me she may not physically be able to do the chores in the home.
She doesn't wear too much make up and think that she has to look like a model. She's comfortable in shorts, pants or a dress and maybe she wears shorts to church!
He may wake up before her in the morning and allow her to "sleep in" while he gets the coffee going and makes the breakfast.
He cooks with her and sometimes for her and for the children. She leaves him to do the home finances because she may have a spending problem and it's better for him to manage the money and she works from a budget. They meal plan together because he has some thoughts about what he would like to eat and has input.
She cooks healthy food for her family and she may coupon but she is not a food hoarder. She only buys what the family needs and will use and not go bad. She doesn't make her kids fat by feeding them junk food and lots of candy because the candy and soda were on sale and she had coupons for it. She and he help with the homework and don't assume that the child can do it by themself.
They do not spank their children. They do not bring any harm to each other verbally or physically. She has part in the decision making in decorating the home but he and the children can make those decisions too and they together can make the home a home.
She may have a job as a consultant and make money for herself for the things she wants to do. Her children may have jobs and they give the money that they make into the keeping of the home.
I think by now you're starting to get the point here. It's 2012 and there's no way that she's treating him like a "master."
Now it's your turn to comment... thanks!
