Close Enough to Perfect for Me
“Many women are capable, but you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised. Give her the reward of her labor, and let her works praise her at the city gates.”
Proverbs 31:29-31 HCSB
I have often described the Proverbs 31 woman as the biblical Barbie Doll. Why? Just as it is impossible for a young girl to achieve the perfect form of a Barbie doll, it is also impossible for any woman to reach the perfection of the Proverbs 31 woman. No, perfection can’t be attained this side of Glory. Still, in Proverbs 31:30, King Lemuel’s mother tells him that a Godly woman who fears the Lord is close enough to perfect for her.
My Mama, Roosa Lou Moon Huff, will be the first to tell you that she is not perfect. But homemade biscuits and pear preserves for breakfast, macaroni and tomato soup for dinner, and fresh vegetables from the garden for supper were just about perfect meals. My Mama never had much money. However, she raised nine children who always felt like they were rich. This could only be done with love from an almost perfect heart.
Because of my Mama’s love and prayer, all of her children grew up to love Jesus. She also taught Sunday School for years and years. Hundreds of children learned about Jesus. Mama had a perfect love for Him. She also loved the little ones He adored.
So, Mama, all of your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, your daughters-in-laws and sons-in-laws, your sisters and nieces and nephews, all of the children you taught in Sunday School and the G.A.s, that you hauled around in that green and white van, are going to rise up and call you blessed. Many women are capable, but you surpass them all. We love you, Mama. Thank you for always being a Godly woman who fears the Lord. You are close enough to perfect for us.
Douglas Huff
From Down Where the Pavement Ends
Email-douglas@pavementendsministry@gmail.com
“Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over 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 daughters have done well, But you excel them all.” Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.”
Proverbs 31:25-31 NKJV
a great reminder even if some didn’t have an ideal mother – she didn’t have an ideal child . God is good
What a beauty tribute to a beautiful mother. You saw the sacrifices she made and you felt her love. God continues to bless you for blessing your mother (and others I am sure). A mother who painted a picture like this in the lives of her now adult children as you have done or a mother living today sacrificing and loving her young children can now see herself here. You first took me back to over 40 years ago when I was a part of a Mother’s Day celebration in the church where I spoke on these very Scriptures. I still have tucked away what I wrote. And secondly, you took me back to almost 10 years ago when I worked in an all male prison teaching pre-release classes and at the end of my two years there, I was given a huge thank you card from many of the prisoners I taught with the Scripture Proverbs 31:25 written on it. God is good and He sees. Thank you for sharing.