"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.' Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." Proverbs 31:28-31
As talk of gifts circulates the air and we gain clarity of what everyone in the family wants and needs from meaningful toys for the tiny tots to shoes that need to be replaced for teens, it brings into question, “Momma, what do you want this Christmas?”
Have you even been asked what you want this year? Maybe your parents, spouse, or a dear friend has inquired, but there is a high likelihood that nobody has asked what you want. Am I right? And maybe, just maybe, you have a few tangible things on your wishlist that would bring you joy, but I’m guessing it wouldn’t come in a package with a pretty little bow. I venture to say that the gift you really want isn’t something that will likely end up in the recycling bin by July or something you’ll wear on said occasion, which never happens. No, I think you’re the mom who longs for more than superficial things.
Sure, a pretty necklace would be nice or that cozy sweater you saw online as you were browsing for your mother-in-law’s gift would look great with your black leggings, but these gifts, while nice, are merely fleeting. Like a vapor they’re gone, getting quickly replaced by a new item each year or becoming lost in the shuffle of Christmas wrap.
Sweet momma, if you could have anything for Christmas, I’m just guessing it would be a peaceful home where your children get along. A silent night where you get more than five hours of consecutive sleep. An unexpected and heartfelt hug from that ornery teen. Your hubby helping with decorations, prepping, plans, and clean up. In other words, your ultimate gift would be found in cherished moments where a bunch of memories are made with those you love while you feel appreciated, valued, and honored for all that you do.
If your Christmas wishlist consists of something similar, you are not alone. Yet, it leads me to ponder the infamous Proverbs 31 superwoman. You know that woman we all eagerly admire and attain to be? The one who was praised, admired, and doted on by her family. What would she be like during Christmas? Better yet, what would she want for Christmas? Ever thought about that? I’m assuming if she was up at the crack of dawn tending to her fields and gathering crops for her family, she probably craved a decent night’s sleep too!
Other than that, would she have been consumed with the Christmas rush, creating the “picture-perfect” memories for her family? Maybe. But what would have really stolen her heart, and how would she have embraced this time of year? Would she have wanted help or yearned for accolades and praise to give her validation?
While the Proverbs 31 woman is just a figure in the Bible, she is still a woman we highly revere and tend to put on a pedestal, so it’s also safe to say that she would have been just like any other faithful woman. A woman who adored her family, faithfully serving them with diligence, but her human side would have probably craved a little accolades. Otherwise, King Lemuel wouldn’t have written this for his son, showing him how to honor and treat his wife. With that said, what woman doesn’t want to feel like what she is doing is enough and even more feels honored, cherished, praised, and ultimately validated by her precious family?
However, while we may want that recognition, praise, and blissful peace this Christmas, we must realize as much as we want (and need) that from our families, those “gifts” won’t perfectly come from our loved ones, as they will fall short. But, as a daughter of the King, our recognition comes from a good and perfect Father who sees and knows all things! He sees your weary heart trying so hard to make Christmas special and your mind swirling with thoughts on how to create precious memories. The best part is that He is inviting you to come sit at His feet and gain the peace your soul desperately needs. He is extending that sweet gift to you. And what a remarkable gift it is, indeed!
Let's pray:
Father, please help me unwrap the gift of Your precious presence this Christmas and share that gift with my children. Give me the strength to live according to Your will and walk with dignity, poise, and grace, living out the noble traits of a godly woman, setting an example for my family. When I feel worn, depleted, and not enough, please open my heart to receive my validation and praise only from You. You are such a good Father, and I am forever grateful to be Your beloved daughter. Thank You for the greatest gift of all time, Your precious Son, Jesus. I love you! Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Simona Sergi
Related Resource: Instead of Doing More This Summer, Maybe You Need to Do Less
If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.
Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.
Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.
I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Wednesday, 18 December 2024.
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