In Hebrew the word for ‘jewels’, refers to something very costly, like a pearl or ruby. In Proverbs 3:15, we are told a woman is, ‘more precious than jewels and nothing you desire can compare with her’. As women we are called to exemplify this proverb. As women we should be certain of our identity. Each of us are a daughter of the King, a princess in Gods eyes. No man or thing should determine your worth. God speaks to the hearts of his beloved daughters and says you are precious because I made you and redeemed you. I give you your sense of worth. From the beginning, God created men and women profoundly different and wonderfully different, yet both are made in his image and likeness and equally in need of salvation as a consequence of the Fall and equally offered salvation in Christ.
How can women become a Proverbs 31 woman?
Becoming a Proverbs 31 woman isn’t the lie that has been sold for so long that you need to strive to be excellent at all things homemaking. A Proverbs 31 woman embraces God’s grace and lets the light of God shine through her. It is not so much about doing, but rather about becoming. It is a life-long process of studying the virtues and living a sacramental life.
Proverbs 31:10 says: “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.” The Bible places a huge emphasis on a virtuous woman.
Some Practical tips:
- Love God with your heart – He will make room for your gifts (Proverbs 18:16) and will bless you with extra time when you put Him FIRST.
- Seek out Godly friends – The Bible says in Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” This means we sisters in Christ HELP one another. If your friends aren’t drawing you closer to Christ, you should evaluate and pray about it. Ask God to bring you godly, wholesome women of faith…and HE WILL.
- Be modest in attire and behaviour – as a woman of God you are already set apart. You are called to be pure and holy to the Lord. When we dress inappropriately and behave inappropriately it dishonours God and does not uphold your worth and dignity as a daughter of God. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is worthy to be praised. (Proverbs 31:30).
- Be wise in stewardship – this involves being prudent with our finances, our health, our giving, our savings, etc. We must be faithful to the little God has given to us.
- Read Proverbs 31 in its entirety and pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament, ask yourself what can I learn from this passage of the Bible. There are several Bible studies on Proverbs 31 to help women better understand this passage of the Bible and better prepare them for the vocation of marriage.
St Pope John Paul II spoke of the genius of women, which benefits the family, Church, and culture. The Blessed Virgin Mary is the model of the genius of womanhood and of motherhood (both physical and spiritual). She is Mediatrix of all graces, the Co-Redemptrix, and Queen of the universe. By following the example of Our Lady, we can discover the heart of what it means to be a woman. The Blessed Virgin Mary is the most exalted of all Christians, she is the first Christian. Unfortunately in society today many people focus too much on what women can and do achieve, but oftentimes do not praise women for being uniquely feminine, perhaps because we don’t hold femininity in high regard. Our Lady’s humility, grace, maternal love, faithfulness, tenderness, strength, steadfastness, and sacrifice contribute to her glory. Your womanhood is a God-given gift. The Heart of Mary unceasingly lives her fiat; she trusts Him completely and allows herself to be guided. Each of us are called to trust God wholeheartedly, just like Mary.
Pinnacle of Beauty
St Mother Teresa was the pinnacle of beauty – why? because she loved, she loved everyone she met, from the tiny orphans in Calcutta to the sick and dying. You could see it in her face, all of those wrinkles and her crooked feet bore the marks of a woman who LIVED life to the full and served others. Her beauty was an image of holiness. She didn’t wear five-inch heels or makeup, but her intense joy and love for the Lord radiated to everyone she met.
Proverbs 31 woman:
“She is far more precious than jewels…Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue…Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31)
How can we go from feeling that we are not enough to know in our hearts that we are enough? One of the most difficult things we are called to do as Christians is to love ourselves. It seems like a simple and easy thing to do, but comparison, jealously and envy get in the way. More often instead of being clothed with strength and dignity, we are clothed with frustration, emptiness, and tiredness. Do not let your garments be laying on the floor gathering dust, place them firmly on you, knowing that through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection you are loved and clothed in strength and dignity. Within our families, friends, and communities we can draw strength from those around us in the midst of our weakness. Interestingly, the Proverbs 31 woman is not found in her achievements, but in her reverence for the Lord. She is strength and dignity because she loves and fears the Lord. God looks past her physical beauty and looks into her true inner beauty, the beauty of her precious heart.
