Eulogy of a Virtuous Woman

[MissBrattified]

I don't completely agree with the author's interpretation of the "virtuous woman." We don't get an idea of a plain, "frumpy" woman who lacks finery from Proverbs 31. Nor do we get the picture of a woman who avoids business decisions or doesn't have her own monetary resources. Furthermore, she is so savvy when it comes to business that she makes decisions independent of her husband, and he trusts her to only bring favor to their family name.

Also, I don't know why the author seems to think the virtuous woman isn't beautiful! There IS great validity in the idea that inner beauty will outshine natural beauty, and of course natural beauty fades, leaving only the inward to be seen, over time. However, a passage written about a woman possessing inward beauty doesn't point to a woman who wasn't pretty outwardly, necessarily. The way the comments are written, it makes outward beauty almost seem like a vice, and plainness a virtue.

I DO see a woman who puts God first, tends to her family's needs diligently, is handy with financial matters, and also sees carefully to her own health & appearance.

[Trouvere]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

This is probably why I was not offended in the least even though I didn't agree with the final interpretations he gave. It is the world view he grew up with.

You are one smart cookie.

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

This is probably why I was not offended in the least even though I didn't agree with the final interpretations he gave. It is the world view he grew up with.

Exactly, and the audience he was addressing.

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by DAII

I think the command to love our wives as Christ has loved the Church ... is an awesome and daunting task ... that if obeyed ... husbands would meet their spouses " other needs".

The most challenging command for a father and husband in my opinon.

IT TAKES SERIOUS WORK, COMMITMENT, SELFLESSNESS ... but if we rely on Him as our obedience ... all things are possible.

Good stuff!

"Wild At Heart" kind of man!

[dizzyde]

Stuff like this is wonderful... to the woman who has been lucky enough to live the "traditional" Christian life. For all others there is an unintended (I hope) guilt trip pushed and a level of depression that goes along with reading it.

As though we have somehow failed, because that is not the way that life has turned out. I realize that we can't always consider/shield every single person that a thought or article or even sermon might touch, but I do think the message that something like this sends to a large portion of women who don't have a lot of control over their situation, is slightly cruel.

Personally, I am pretty tough at this point, it takes a whole lot more than something like this to make me feel like a failure or that I am not "virtuous", but I know a lot of women that would be hurt by it.

[MissBrattified]

I feel that the virtuous woman passage in Proverbs 31 is an ideal, and rarely do you find a "real" person who will live up to everything listed. It's something to personally aspire to, but definitely not something over which you hold another woman's feet to the fire.