Preparing Our Hearts

Humble pie is a dish best served with a side of sugar whenever possible.  One of the hardest things for me to admit on my journey to this process is that, frankly, I need to eat some humble pie.  So go get some chocolate and cuddle up with this post - because I can't pass my homemade oreo truffles to you over the internet (hint - dunk in dark chocolate).

Contrary to popular belief, I am not Super Mom.  I am not Wonder Woman.  Oh, I'm good at playing that role to the outside world, believe me - but the reality is that I am not perfect.  Not even close.  I am a woman that God created to be the helper and love of my husband's life.  I am the woman God gifted with 2 beautiful, amazing sons who make me laugh until I cry.  My world is full of blessings.  My cup, quite literally, runneth over.

But not today.

Today, I am bringing to the front the Bible Verse that brings me humility.  Proverbs 31:10-31. 

¹⁰ The truly capable woman -- who can find her? She is far beyond the price of pearls.

¹¹ Her husband's heart has confidence in her, from her he will derive no little profit.

¹² Advantage and not hurt she brings him all the days of her life.

¹³ She selects wool and flax, she does her work with eager hands.

¹⁴ She is like those merchant vessels, bringing her food from far away.

¹⁵ She gets up while it is still dark giving her household their food, giving orders to her serving girls.

¹⁶ She sets her mind on a field, then she buys it; with what her hands have earned she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷ She puts her back into her work and shows how strong her arms can be.

¹⁸ She knows that her affairs are going well; her lamp does not go out at night.

¹⁹ She sets her hands to the distaff, her fingers grasp the spindle.

²⁰ She holds out her hands to the poor, she opens her arms to the needy.

²¹ Snow may come, she has no fears for her household, with all her servants warmly clothed.

²² She makes her own quilts, she is dressed in fine linen and purple.

²³ Her husband is respected at the city gates, taking his seat among the elders of the land.

²⁴ She weaves materials and sells them, she supplies the merchant with sashes.

²⁵ She is clothed in strength and dignity, she can laugh at the day to come.

²⁶ When she opens her mouth, she does so wisely; on her tongue is kindly instruction.

²⁷ She keeps good watch on the conduct of her household, no bread of idleness for her.

²⁸ Her children stand up and proclaim her blessed, her husband, too, sings her praises:

²⁹ 'Many women have done admirable things, but you surpass them all!'

³⁰ Charm is deceitful, and beauty empty; the woman who fears Yahweh is the one to praise.

³¹ Give her a share in what her hands have worked for, and let her tell her praises at the city gates.
(courtesy of Catholic Online)

Glad you grabbed the chocolate?

Me too.

I am not the Proverbs 31 Woman.  I wish I were.  That said, I am the wife my husband chose 10 years ago - and I must be doing okay - because he's still here...

But that's not enough for me.  I want more.  I want to BE this woman, a modern Proverbs 31 Woman. 

While we are working on the Cleaning Our Homes and Hearts Lenten Journey we are going to be finding ways to emulate this lady of immense stature, the Super Mom of the Old Testament.  We will be giving our husbands more confidence in us by taking better care of what they work so hard to provide.  We will be getting better at managing our homes.  We will learn tips and tricks for utilizing not only what we have, but how to create something from nothing with our hands.  We will be preparing to work the soil we have, be it in the ground or in pots preparing for spring and the gifts that come with it.  We will be performing corporal works of mercy with what we already have. We will be clothing ourselves with strength, dignity, and modesty as we sort through our closets shedding the past.  And while our children may not rise up and call us blessed as we teach them to care for their spaces while we are showing them the way by better caring for our own, the day will come when watching them managing their own homes well will be our own little secret private reward.

We must open our hearts to the journey.  We must embrace where we are with humility so we can move forward through Lent growing in love and our faith together.

Originally this journey was meant for me.  I am sharing it with all of you.  I will be honest and open with you about my triumphs and my failures.  I pray that you will find the strength to be just as honest and open with me.

When spring comes and brings neighbors dropping by to your door, you will no longer cower in fear praying they don't have a decent enough reason to need to come in.  You will be able to open the door and embrace them - secure in your home and secure in your Faith. 

This journey will not be easy for me.  I didn't write this to make it simple.  I wrote it to make me work hard, to push myself beyond where I am. 

I recently told a dear friend I didn't want to put up crosses and crucifixes in my home because I didn't want Jesus to see what it looked like.  I'm right there with you.  This is my journey as well.  Jesus sees this mess, and the mess inside my heart, whether I open it to the world or not.  It is time for us to prepare.  To be humble enough to know we need to make the changes, and that in order to make them, we need God as part of the picture.

Join me.