even more gifts

Not to brag, but I am one lucky momma. If you read this post, you saw all the beautiful house wares my sweet husband got me for Mother's Day. I'm still trying to figure out how to display them all. Oooh...I just love them!

But. There is one gift I love even more. Look at this adorable flower pot Elizabeth gave to me. Her sweet, sweet KidsPlay (aka Mom's Morning Out) teachers helped the students make flower pots for each of their moms for Mother's Day.

Is that not the cutest thing? Each little critter is made up of Elizabeth's fingerprints! So sweet. I will treasure this special gift forever. I guess I'm a sucker for anything hand made, especially if the hands that make it are my girls'.

And then there's the Bible verse. "...her children will rise up and bless her." (Proverbs 31:28) As a mother, I am already so blessed by my children. I can only imagine how blessed I will be to see them grow into Godly women. God willing.

In closing, I want to expand on the verse. It's from a fantastic passage of scripture that describes a Godly wife and mother. A wife of noble character. It's a lovely description of the woman I am hoping the Lord will fashion me into. If you are a wife and/or mother, or if you just hope to be one day, read this passage and meditate on it today. Ask the Lord to mold you into a woman like this one. Look at her. She is virtuous, capable, trustworthy, and resourceful. She has a trade and makes money doing it. She even saves that money and buys a field, and then plants a vineyard! Even though she's busy working and taking care of her family, she makes time to care for those in need. And my favorites, I think: verses 25 and 26. She is clothed with strength and dignity. She has a sense of humor and does not worry about the future. She speaks with wisdom and is kind when giving instructions.

A Wife of Noble Character

(New Living Translation)

¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?

She is more precious than rubies.

¹¹ Her husband can trust her,

and she will greatly enrich his life.

¹² She brings him good, not harm,

all the days of her life.

¹³ She finds wool and flax

and busily spins it.

¹⁴ She is like a merchant’s ship,

bringing her food from afar.

¹⁵ She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household

and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.

¹⁶ She goes to inspect a field and buys it;

with her earnings she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷ She is energetic and strong,

a hard worker.

¹⁸ She makes sure her dealings are profitable;

her lamp burns late into the night.

¹⁹ Her hands are busy spinning thread,

her fingers twisting fiber.

²⁰ She extends a helping hand to the poor

and opens her arms to the needy.

²¹ She has no fear of winter for her household,

for everyone has warm clothes.

²² She makes her own bedspreads.

She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.

²³ Her husband is well known at the city gates,

where he sits with the other civic leaders.

²⁴ She makes belted linen garments

and sashes to sell to the merchants.

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity,

and she laughs without fear of the future.

²⁶ When she speaks, her words are wise,

and she gives instructions with kindness.

²⁷ She carefully watches everything in her household

and suffers nothing from laziness.

²⁸ Her children stand and bless her.

Her husband praises her:

²⁹ “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,

but you surpass them all!”

³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;

but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.

³¹ Reward her for all she has done.

Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

Probers 31:10-31

I can't help but think I have a long way to go, but I know the Lord will complete the work He has begun in me (Phil 1:6).