She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Proverbs 31:22
Let us be encouraged today! To decorate our homes and adorn our bedrooms and wear the clothing that makes us FEEL [and look] beautiful! This is the way of the virtuous woman!
Coverings of tapestry are said to be either [or both] beautiful and ornate bedcovers OR carpets for visitors to rest on when visiting her home Both are encouraging! We can [and indeed, NEED] to take the time to make our bedrooms a place of beauty and rest. and teach and allow our children to do the same.
We need to have a space prepared for being a gracious hostess. This is NOT to say that we must have an immaculate living room or spotless kitchen at all hours of the day. That would require living in a vacuum, and is not what the Lord wants from His children.
We also have the freedom [but how often do we embrace it?] to DRESS BEAUTIFULLY. each day. Obviously, I will not be pulling out my Sunday best to wear when scrubbing the kitchen floor. But, [and I am totally pointing my whole hand of fingers at myself!] why can I not wear something pretty, or at the very least, attractive instead of frumpy, every day? Even the unsaved understand the correlation between how we are dressed and our productivity.
I have several aprons. They aid wonderfully in keeping my clothing from being terribly soiled during the day. when I remember to wear them. If you don't have an apron, hold on! I have a simple tutorial for that that you can make even if you do not have a sewing machine or know how to sew one stitch my hand.
I think that we can all see the heart issue coming here. Do we see the testimony that shows when we NEVER have anyone come visit? when we never INVITE. This is something that has been weighing on my own heart recently. I have come to realize that, truly, most other women DO NOT CARE if they come into my home and have to step over some toys. or see a little dust. We live here. Even another family is not going to mind too much. Most people just want to know that someone cares about them and their precious people. My caring heart can be evident when I invite others over-especially other moms with small children!
What am I telling my husband when I regularly meet him in the worst clothing I own when he comes home each evening? He should be right there under my Lord. and yet, instead of reaching for that clothing that is just under my church best, I reach for the bottom of the barrel. My heart of love can SHINE out in my wardrobe selection.
As a side note: I do have a few pieces of clothing that I keep for the really nasty, dirty stuff [and some of them are actually nice tops that have been stained a little too much through forgetting my apron or carrying a baby around] but I try to be sure I KEEP them for the dirty jobs. Otherwise, I have tried to do a purging of those frumpy, ugly "feeling" things [they make me feel ugly] and when I do purchase something new [usually second hand] I ask myself first-do I really need it? and then: do I REALLY like it more than what is already in my wardrobe? and if I do like it better than something nice I already have, it gets bumped to everyday-nice WITH AN APRON! The point being, I try to always have nice clothing [that I know my husband likes!] that I CAN pull out every day.
Lord, help me keep a beautiful heart that wants to shine out! and bless my family and those I invite to share my home.
~ ~ ~
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Proverbs 31:10
This is a great reminder, dear! It is so easy to slip into just something comfy instead of being intentional about looking nice. I need to do a better job of this. :)
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