“She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard. She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night.”
This verse came at such an opportune time, perhaps that is the reason I have had so much trouble writing about it. For several months now, we have been toying with the idea of me returning to work. We felt that if the right opportunity presented itself, we would act on it … by “we”, I mean our family. The right doors did open and I will be returning to the same great school with the same amazing co-workers, parents and students to teach fifth grade. I’ll even be in the same classroom, how’s that for being “right”? Although I am the one returning to work, and it is essentially my job, it will be a change for all of us. I stressed about it, tried to control it, manipulate it, and analyze it. I wrestled with it continuously and allowed it to overcome my thoughts. Consequently, I prayed about it and gave it over to the Lord daily, and not just once a day!
Those questions and seeds of doubt crept into my subconscious and then preyed over my heart like a vulture. Is this the right thing for our family? Who will take care of my boys? How will I adjust? Quite honestly, I am brokenhearted to leave my boys and my role as a stay-at-home mom. Did you read the post by my guest blogger (Melissa Stephens) this week? Did it hit home for you as much as it did for me? My identity is about to shift in a big way, but I do know that God has a plan … and it’s a perfect plan. I can look back and see how He has been preparing me for this change. I am excited about what He has in store for me! It seems puzzling that I can be broken and excited at the same time, but I guess that’s the paradox of knowing that He is my identity and that remains constant.
I feel so incredibly blessed to be returning to a profession that I love, not many people can say that. At a time in this economy when teaching jobs are hard to come by, He gave me the teaching job of my choice. Prior to being a mom, it was this job that consumed a big part of my identity. Now it will return as a large part of who I am, but my sense of identity will not be lost (or found) in it.
What about verses 16-18? I’m not going to dissect meaning this time, it just feels more appropriate to generalize. So, generally speaking …. it doesn’t matter if you stay home, work from home or work away from home. Maybe you have children, maybe you don’t. Maybe your children have left the nest. Maybe you are single or a single mom. Whoever you are, God has a plan and His wish for you to aspire to be the type of woman described in Proverbs 31 is real. According to verses 16-18, she is wise, energetic and hard-working. She is strong and resilient. She has a plan. She sets goals in alignment with the Lord’s will for her life. She takes actionable steps to achieve those goals, consulting with Him every step of the way. She operates in the best interest of her family. She opens her heart to changing direction and takes joy in using her talents to bring glory to His kingdom. After all, that is our purpose here on this Earth.
XO, Amber
