How can I ever compare to the Proverbs 31 woman…..

     Today my number was called. It was my turn to be a lector. When I saw my name some time ago I went to read the passage. As soon as I saw the reference I wanted to bury my face in my hands. Really, God? Proverbs 31?! You have GOT to be kidding me. You want ME to read the passage about the Biblical, hypothetical superwoman. Oh boy, have you got this wrong…right? What can I say that compares to this woman; what I can illustrate to our Church about the “perfect wife.” Seriously, there are entire ministries, book series, t-shirts about this woman. No way, not me. Pick someone else. Period.
    But we don’t do that in our house. For better or worse, when we are called, we do it. Kicking and screaming in protest, we do it. So, I dived in. Even up until the night before, I was bargaining…surely there must be some mistake. Maybe they will email me and say it’s not Sunday. But they didn’t. What can I say that can compare to this noble woman. How can my words do anything but darken her?            
     But…then I realized. It’s not me. It’s God. I am me. I am dirty, broken, and will never be the perfect wife. But, I don’t have to be. God and my Adam love me in all my brokenness, for my brokenness. They love me for who I am and for who they see me as. It’s not about me darkening the Proverbs 31 woman but about God lighting me to be able to speak his word—and knowing that HE is the one that moves hearts. I am just the vessel. All I have to do is say yes.
     Our UCCSB condenses down Proverbs 31 for church reading (and I am ok with that—no one honestly wants to be in mass for 2 hours). So, even if I am not the Proverbs 31 superwoman, I can learn from the words.
      First, these are the words from a mother to her son. Ok, you got me. I am listening. With a son on the way, I am listening on how to guide a son.

 Proverbs 31:9 

"Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.” 

Yep. Here it is again. The command to care for the underserved in our communities. It’s so hard to stay away from politics…but I will. For now. 

Proverbs 31:10, 20, 30 

"Who can find a worthy wife…(she does a lot of good, hard work for a few verses)…she reaches her hands out to the poor and extends her arms to the needy. ….the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” 

       Ok, so maybe we do have something in common, this superwoman and I. We both love God. And, all that work is good and well…but the most important thing is our relationship with God. So, when I fail and fall, and I do—I still love the Lord. And, in that, I find my rewards.

 Not because me….because I will never be that woman…but because God.