March 19, 2026

She is bountifully with him for good, not evil – verse 12….

bounty = something given or occurring in generous amounts.

A valuable lesson I learned through a program called MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) was the importance of encouraging my husband as well as encouraging my children to express their gratitude for his hard work. He would return home to find his children eagerly greeting him at the door with hugs, kisses, and heartfelt “thank you for working hard!”. It warmed my heart to witness how much they loved their daddy. They even made it a contest to see who could get to the door first.

How do I express my thoughts about my husband? Am I speaking negatively about him to others? Do I criticize him in front of our children? Words carry weight, and if your children hear you disparaging their father, it can create a divide between him and them due to your thoughtless remarks. Have you thought that when you do this, you are training others to do the same? You become who. you hang around. What example do you want to be?

Whether you’re married or not, do you find yourself speaking negatively about your friends to others? Gossip appears to be a significant issue that I, along with many people I know, have struggled with in the past. And it seems to be rampant within churches moreso, I think, because the mindset seems to be “I thank God I am not like them”. Yikes! Have you done this? Sadly, I have. I can assure you that when someone speaks poorly about another person to you, I guarantee they are also discussing you behind your back.

Those who engage in this unhealthy behavior often display insecurity, attempting to deflect by highlighting others’ differences, mistakes, or annoyances. I am cautious about sharing personal information with individuals who are known for this tendency, as it’s difficult to trust that my words won’t be shared elsewhere. On the other hand, someone who frequently speaks about others’ positive qualities is someone I find trustworthy.

Something my son actually taught all of us was the phrase he heard, “Is what I am about to say helpful or hurtful”? This is something we started realizing how we spoke and what we need to think about. Something else I have seen in the past few years is an acrostic for THINK.

T.H.I.N.K. Before You Speak/Post:

• T – True: Is it based on facts rather than rumors or assumptions?
• H – Helpful: Will it build someone up or offer constructive support?
• I – Inspiring: Does it encourage or motivate others?
• N – Necessary: Does it need to be said, or is it needed right now?
• K – Kind: Is it said with empathy and consideration? 

She works with her hands in delight – verse 13….

I’m not sure about you, but while I don’t work with wool or flax, I truly believe the key concept here is delight. In everything I do, I try to remember to ask myself: Am I approaching it with joy, or am I merely trudging through each day as if it were a tedious chore? I recall a few years back when one of my blessings shared her daily experiences with me. She sounded utterly despondent. She expressed her disdain for having to “adult”, feeling she had nothing meaningful to look forward to, and everything was always someone else’s fault. She mentioned that she was tired of earning money just to cover bills and waking up just to do it all over again.

What does a person lack with such an attitude? They are missing the presence of Jesus in their life. They live for the next temporary happiness. I’m not just referring to securing your salvation; I mean, what instills hope within you? What are you anticipating for the future? What actions are you taking today that will create a lasting impact for eternity? Without hopes, dreams, and goals, my days could easily become mundane. If I didn’t consciously shift my focus away from my circumstances and toward the eternal, it would be simple to lose motivation to accomplish anything.

Important takeaways to apply to our life:

• How can I encourage others rather than tearing them down?

• When is the last time I talked kindly about someone behind their back?

• When is the last time I talked badly about someone behind their back?

• Do I owe someone an apology for how they heard me speak?

• How can I make a difference instead of just going through the motions of each day?

• Who do I live for?

If you want to continue to received this study on Proverbs 31, please subscribe below so you don’t miss it. I would love to see interaction with these as we can encourage one another.

Blessings,
Jennifer