So Many Different Hats
"I've been so busy!" "It has been crazy!" "I just don't have time to do all I need to do!" How often do we say just those things to one another? How often do we feel overwhelmed by our busyness? Recently, I began listening carefully to women and found that the frequency in which they express such frustration is quite staggering. We are weighed down and overwhelmed.
I am reminded of Sam Drucker, a reoccurring character on the 1960's show, Green Acres. This television program depicted the life of a couple, Oliver Wendal Douglas and his wife Lisa, who moved from the big city to a small farm in Hooterville. The story plot often centered around the couple's failure to adapt to small town living and the interesting personalities that surrounded them. One of these, Sam Drucker was the owner of the general store, the town banker (which consisted of a cash box behind the register), and the postmaster. One of his personality quirks was that he thought it necessary to put on his official postal worker hat and stand behind a small regulation post office grille next to the register, when his role switched from storekeeper to that of postmaster.
Like Sam Drucker, we wear many hats-That of wife, mother, employee, caregiver, church member, committee member, friend, For those with children you often find yourself wearing the hat of nurse, coach, teacher, counselor, cheerleader, chauffeur, cleaning lady and fry cook -to name only a few. Often it is required that we change our hats at a head spinning pace. This is one of the biggest reasons we are so overwhelmed!
In Proverbs 31 the king's mother has given him a description of the type of woman for which he should look and take as his wife.
10 [c] A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Whew!! I am worn out just reading it. I don't know about you, but all this cooking and sewing, going to bed late and getting up early leaves me feeling more than just a little overwhelmed. Look at this woman, not only is she an excellent wife and mother but also a manufacturer, importer, manager, realtor, gardener, seamstress and merchant.
God didn't put this passage in scripture for us to feel more overwhelmed, quite the contrary. Certainly we can use this woman as an inspiration, but we need not think that we must be just like her. We can't, but we can learn from her resourcefulness, integrity and hospitality. The author of this proverb paints a picture of a woman who is FOR her husband. She does him good, not evil, all his days. She is also FOR her family. She is aware of their needs and is diligent to support, protect, and encourage them.
The key to this entire passage is housed in verse 30, "a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." You see this passage's message is quite clear-a woman's horizontal relationship with her husband, family and others is based on her vertical relationship with God.
Let me conclude with a question to you. Are you cultivating your vertical relationship with God or have you been so busy that you have failed to take the time to do so?
I am reminded of Sam Drucker, a reoccurring character on the 1960's show, Green Acres. This television program depicted the life of a couple, Oliver Wendal Douglas and his wife Lisa, who moved from the big city to a small farm in Hooterville. The story plot often centered around the couple's failure to adapt to small town living and the interesting personalities that surrounded them. One of these, Sam Drucker was the owner of the general store, the town banker (which consisted of a cash box behind the register), and the postmaster. One of his personality quirks was that he thought it necessary to put on his official postal worker hat and stand behind a small regulation post office grille next to the register, when his role switched from storekeeper to that of postmaster.
Like Sam Drucker, we wear many hats-That of wife, mother, employee, caregiver, church member, committee member, friend, For those with children you often find yourself wearing the hat of nurse, coach, teacher, counselor, cheerleader, chauffeur, cleaning lady and fry cook -to name only a few. Often it is required that we change our hats at a head spinning pace. This is one of the biggest reasons we are so overwhelmed!
In Proverbs 31 the king's mother has given him a description of the type of woman for which he should look and take as his wife.
10 [c] A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Whew!! I am worn out just reading it. I don't know about you, but all this cooking and sewing, going to bed late and getting up early leaves me feeling more than just a little overwhelmed. Look at this woman, not only is she an excellent wife and mother but also a manufacturer, importer, manager, realtor, gardener, seamstress and merchant.
God didn't put this passage in scripture for us to feel more overwhelmed, quite the contrary. Certainly we can use this woman as an inspiration, but we need not think that we must be just like her. We can't, but we can learn from her resourcefulness, integrity and hospitality. The author of this proverb paints a picture of a woman who is FOR her husband. She does him good, not evil, all his days. She is also FOR her family. She is aware of their needs and is diligent to support, protect, and encourage them.
The key to this entire passage is housed in verse 30, "a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." You see this passage's message is quite clear-a woman's horizontal relationship with her husband, family and others is based on her vertical relationship with God.
Let me conclude with a question to you. Are you cultivating your vertical relationship with God or have you been so busy that you have failed to take the time to do so?
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