Proverbs 31 In A New Light

I've had a sudden urge to start reading through the stuff that was swirling in my head a year ago. What was God speaking to me?  Where were my thoughts?   Blogs are a lot like a digital diary, a way to look back and see the special markers of your life.  Only unlike my old diary, I'm okay with my brother reading this one.  So, here's where my thoughts were a year ago.

If you have single friends, PASS THIS ON!!!  If you have friends with teenage kids, PASS THIS ON!!!  Then go dig into Proverbs 31 for yourself.
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Proverbs 31 has been one of my favorite passages for the past 12 years.  Since the day I walked down the aisle I have been panning for gold, attempting to figure out how to do this "marriage and home" thing.  I think I've read every book there is on the subject, done every Bible study on HER, and attempted to bake my own bread, start my own business, basically emulate her in every way.  Exhausting, but a rewarding endeavor....one I will continue, I'm sure, until I'm old, wrinkly, and smell like moth balls.

But here's the thing, Proverbs 31 wasn't written for me.  Read it again, Lemuel's mother was telling him what to look for in a woman.  A SINGLE woman.  I should have started reading this passage 20 years ago! How much better prepared for marriage would I have been if someone had pointed this out to me at 17 and said "see this passage?  This is who God wants you to be someday.  This is who the boys should be looking for someday."  So, for my single girls and guys out there, here is a little rant for you.....

For the Ladies:
You want the right man to come along? BE THE RIGHT WOMAN.  Here it is, laid out for you, here is the Bible telling you what kind of woman he wants you to be.  Imagine how much easier married life could be for you down the road if you are already praying about, and working on, being HER.

For the Men:

READ PROVERBS 31!  Look for THIS woman.  Not the hot girl that looks good in jeans, but the woman you know will be a compassionate wife, a hard worker, a good mother to your children.  Pray for this woman to come along in your life.  Stop looking only at the outside, "charm is deceptive and beauty is FLEETING".  One day that hot girl in jeans will be old, wrinkly, and smell like moth balls - but will you STILL love her because she's also a Proverbs 31 woman?  Or will the "love" be gone because you were only looking at what was FLEETING.

Married People:
Encourage your single friends and those you mentor to dig into this passage!   As a married woman, I have very seldom even thought of sharing this passage with my girls, because it has always been for ME, not them.  But this is so untrue.  I can't wait to get to this passage in our "What's Your Story?" Bible study.  I have a feeling I will be spending more than one week on HER.

What do you think about this different view of Proverbs 31?  Have any of you read any good books on Proverbs 31 for singles?  I would love to know and pass it on!

For further reading:
I love Her....And I Hate Her
The Wife Life