I am a Proverbs 32 woman
The astute amongst you will have observed that there is no Proverbs 32. The book of Proverbs ends with chapter 31, which is an acrostic poem, each verse starting with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It's a mother's wisdom for her son on what to look out for in a wife. But, when looking at these verses, honestly I don't know what flax is, my arms are weedy and I've never bought a field. So I asked God what he sees when he looks at me.
A woman of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
This woman is Articulate and ArtisticShe is Bold and she is Brave
She Can not Cook for toffee.
That’s not to say that she can’t cook toffee. Although she can’t do that
either. She can not cook anything.
But after the fifth sausage casserole you’ve been brought in your hour of need, you might be thankful for the pizza she orders you.
But after the fifth sausage casserole you’ve been brought in your hour of need, you might be thankful for the pizza she orders you.
She Determinedly Deals with Disappointment
Encourages Everyone, not just her peers and those younger than
her, but her elders and those in authority too, because everyone needs to hear a
‘well done’ don’t they?
She is a Fiercely loyal Friend
She is Growing old Gracefully, by which I mean she just gets
better with time. Becoming more and more
emotionally mature, more comfortable in her own skin.
And she’s known too many young people to die, so she knows what a privilege it is to grow old.
And she’s known too many young people to die, so she knows what a privilege it is to grow old.
She is Honest and Hard-working
She is…. Increasingly Inclined to give up on this alphabet poem… because
it’s really tricky. I couldn’t think of
an 'I'
OK here we go, this woman Jokes for Jesus. And believes strongly
that we should laugh more in church, and not just when we’re drunk in the
Spirit, but just when we’re enjoying being here, enjoying God and each other’s
company.
She is Kind and she is Keen
She Laughs out Loud. And loves to
cry too. She does both as often as she
can and sometimes at the same time.
Here's my favourite for 'M'…. This woman struggles to get up in the morning, unless
it’s for a shift at the hospital. She is
neither an early bird or a night owl.
This woman is in fact a… wait for it… Mad for it at Midday Magpie.
This woman is in fact a… wait for it… Mad for it at Midday Magpie.
She can have a quiet and gentle spirit, but can also have a spirit that is Noisy
and kNocks-some walls down, takes some enemies out and battles for the ones she
loves.
She is Observant and Open-hearted
She is a Prophet, a Poet and a Preacher. Watch me now!
Q… well she hates to Queue Quietly.
Queuing for communion in church is the worst.
She’d Rather Rush forward.
Before the meeting leader has finished the invite to come.
Or she’ll Stay Seated until there isn’t a line
Because she is desperate for God. Because there’s nothing orderly or polite about her need for Jesus. She craves His meal. You can hear her hunger pangs for the bread life.
Because she is desperate for God. Because there’s nothing orderly or polite about her need for Jesus. She craves His meal. You can hear her hunger pangs for the bread life.
She Teases out what is Tricky. Thrashes out Theology.
She’s working on being Unafraid and Undivided.
She makes a Variety of Vows, not just 18 years ago to the man she’s going
grey with. But she vows to love God too.
And vows to be committed to her church, to these people, to this city, to this nation.
And vows to be committed to her church, to these people, to this city, to this nation.
And (you’ll be pleased to know there’s just 4 letters to go…)
Although she might be impatient at times, especially for bread and wine, this woman can Wait Well.
If her other half should go into organ failure say. And if he needed to be, I don’t know, stuck on a waiting list with who know how many others, waiting for their lives to be saved.
She could wait well. With dignity. And that beautiful mix of faith, doubt, desperation, peace
Although she might be impatient at times, especially for bread and wine, this woman can Wait Well.
If her other half should go into organ failure say. And if he needed to be, I don’t know, stuck on a waiting list with who know how many others, waiting for their lives to be saved.
She could wait well. With dignity. And that beautiful mix of faith, doubt, desperation, peace
She is (make an x with arms) Expectant and Expressive (that’s right she’s a
cheat too)
She Yearns for Yahweh.
And lastly… well… I realise now I should have said something about zeal.
But what I came up with was…
But what I came up with was…
whilst Zebras in Zoos have black and white
stripes. Ha!
This girl lives in the
grey.
In the mystery, the unknown, in the tension, the Now and not yet, In silence and the How long Oh Lord?
A woman of noble character who can find?
Do you know? That plenty of them can be found in our churches actually,
You don’t have to look very far in here.
Each of them looking slightly different
Each with different gifts and noble attributes from A-Z
But all valuable, and worth far more than rubies
And I am thankful for you women of God
For every single one of you.
Amen.
In the mystery, the unknown, in the tension, the Now and not yet, In silence and the How long Oh Lord?
A woman of noble character who can find?
Do you know? That plenty of them can be found in our churches actually,
You don’t have to look very far in here.
Each of them looking slightly different
Each with different gifts and noble attributes from A-Z
But all valuable, and worth far more than rubies
And I am thankful for you women of God
For every single one of you.
Amen.
