The Proverbs 31 Mother

By: Edward Cortez with wife Catherine Cortez

 

This month we are celebrating Mother’s Day. I have always said that mothers ought to be celebrated every day and not just once a year. They are the unsung heroes of our times – always overworked but underappreciated. So, in this article allow me to describe what an excellent mother is based on Proverbs 31. We will do an acrostic on the word M-O-T-H-E-R.

A Proverbs 31 mother is a M-ultitasker. Proverbs 31:17-18 says, “She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night.” I can’t say this enough of my wife, Cathy. She is awesome at multitasking! She can do 3-4 things all at the same time like cooking, doing the laundry, and preparing songs for the church all at once. Efficient mothers are excellent at multitasking.

A Proverbs 31 mother is O-rganized. Proverbs 31:25-37 lavishes praise on this mother, “When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.” Mothers have to contend with many activities and work in the home and even while many of them have full-time jobs outside the home. But their organizational skills always show up. They are oftentimes the ones planning, organizing, initiating family activities, vacations, dinners.

A Proverbs 31 mother excels in T-ime Management. Proverbs 31:15 says this about her, “She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.” A multitasker and organized mother must have a good grip on time management. She plans her day well and that’s why she’s able to accomplish so much during the day. Mothers are productive who understands that time is gold. A Proverbs 31 mother is H-ands on. Proverbs 31:19-21 talks about this amazing mother, “Her hands are busy spinning thread, her finger twisting fiber. She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy. She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes.” She has great foresight and ensures the needs of her family are well taken care of. She also has a very compassionate heart toward the needy.

A Proverbs 31 mother is E-ntrepreneurial. Proverbs 31:16, 24 ascribes this to the excellent mother, “She goes to inspect a field and buys it: with her earnings she plants a vineyard…she makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.” A Proverbs 31 mother is resourceful, creative, innovative, and enterprising. A Proverbs 31 mother is R-espectful of her husband. Proverbs 31:11-12 states, “Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.” Great mothers have healthy respect for their husbands. Respect is what the husband desires the most. But in order for respect to be earned, the husband must truly, sincerely, and unconditionally love his wife.

A Proverbs 31 mother is a godly woman. Proverbs 31:30 observes, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.”