Advice And Admiration

The book of Proverbs is about Biblical wisdom and gives advice about values, moral behavior, and the meaning of life. Most of the content is written by King Solomon about 3000 yrs ago to his children (my son, take heed). However the last chapter starts with advice from a mother to her son, a king, and finishes with the characteristics and admiration of a wife.

This will be the first Mother's Day without my mother. I've shared her words of advice about values and behavior before. However this morning I'm thinking more about the advice she showed me by example. The first is to love the unlovable. Next, not be hypersensitive or easily upset by criticism I hear about myself or those I love. And finally to be ok when acts of kindness, caring, and going the extra mile, go unnoticed. 

The author of Proverbs 31 finishes with the virtues of a wife of noble character. Jewish tradition thinks this chapter was written by Bathsheba to her son, King Solomon. Heaven knows he could have used the advice, having 700 wives and 300 concubines.

Here are some virtues the author writes about a capable and precious wife, vs 17, she is an energetic and hard worker, vs 20, she extends a helping hand and open arms to the needy, vs 25, she laughs without fear of the future, vs 26, she gives instruction with kindness, vs 28, her husband and children praise and bless her.

Last Sunday our family got together. It was fun to have Cody and his wife Tori join us from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Cody is Mike and Suzanne's son.

After lunch the grandkids started a baseball game. Grandpa was fulltime pitcher for awhile. Thanks for the picture Emily.

Friday morning Mark and Stacy's, Amelia, and her fiancé, Tysen, graduated from Dordt University. They get married in two weeks. I enjoyed helping them yesterday morning. Thanks for the picture.

We are coasting to a finish as far as getting crops in. And I'd say by the emptiness of our seed shed most others around here are finishing as well. Next week starts haying and 2nd pass corn spraying.

Happy Mother's Day to these wonderful gals. My wife Jan, daughter Becky, daughter-in-laws Suzanne, Cassia, Stacy, Kristin, and Emily, and one of our granddaughter-in-laws where this picture was taken at her bridal shower last year. She, Ella, and John are expecting in October.  Proverbs 31:30 talks about a woman who fears the Lord. I have to agree with the apostle John when he says, we have no greater joy than to know that our children are walking in the Truth. 3 John 3: 4 paraphrased. 

I will say one doesn't get away with much these days. Last night Jan mentioned that I must have stopped at Caseys today. I did after I had brought Matt soybean seed. She said I had an email requesting a survey. 😕 My advice for husbands today is to praise and bless the family God has given you, (vs 28). And laugh without fear of the future, because He is in charge, (vs 30).