She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
I chose to discuss this passage of Proverbs because I have never read it before. I am Catholic and am quite familiar with various Bible passages, so I was surprised to not recognize this one. In the portion of this chapter in Proverbs, I chose these specific lines to reflect on because they highlighted various aspects of the woman. The first sentence discusses her inner strengths of wisdom and kindness. The second sentence says how she takes care of her household and is not lazy. The third sentence talks about the way her children and husband respect her. Then the fourth sentence says how she is not praised for her charm or beauty, but her ability to be God-fearing. This passage paints the woman in an interesting light. Yes, she is associated with keeping her household running and the fact that she is not known for her looks or charm, which is degrading; however, many admirable qualities of hers are embraced as a virtuous woman who radiates intelligence, selflessness, and respect for the Lord.
I did not choose to write about the Genesis passage because I am already quite familiar with it. Every year, I attend the Easter Vigil service at my parish and the seven day creation story is read. Also, I’ve learned about the story of Adam and Eve all throughout my life.
