March 23, 2026

She extends her hand to the poor and to the needy – verse 20….

When I think of applying this verse to my life, I realize it is much easier to give money than to take an active part in helping. I am not saying that it is wrong to give money but if. you are so invested in something or someone, I would think there would be some activity with that. When I talk to many people about relationships, I remind them that love is a verb. You can say all the right things but if there is no action involved, something that takes effort on your part, it would be easy to question whether the person really means what they say.

For many years, I have felt a deep compassion for the homeless. It was around 20 years ago when my son and I visited a place known as “Tent City.” There, we had the opportunity to uplift those experiencing homelessness by listening to their stories and providing them with food. A few years later, we joined a group of friends who were participating in a Bible study, and we would head downtown to sing in an area where people gathered to listen or join in. We brought along paper lunch bags filled with food and drinks to distribute. Shortly after, I became involved with a homeless ministry where I helped with various activities, including parenting classes in the evenings, morning devotionals, and afternoon workout sessions. I didn’t undertake all of these initiatives at once; instead, I dedicated different seasons of my life to each of them.

There are countless ways to lend a helping hand right in your own community. Perhaps you know a family that is homeschooling their child, and you could provide them with textbooks you no longer use. Or maybe you’re aware of someone facing a health challenge, and you can offer to prepare a meal or spend some time doing a puzzle together. You might also assist someone who cannot drive by taking them to their doctor’s appointment.

I remember a time when I was quite ill, and we needed to move sooner than planned due to my surgery being scheduled earlier. Our church community and friends came together to help us pack everything up, load the truck, and transport it all to the garage of our new home. Witnessing everyone work together was truly incredible and humbling, especially since I was unable to contribute much myself. They managed to complete it all in just one day.

On another occasion, after I had surgery and was unable to walk, an entire classroom of students surprised me by coming over to rake our yard. I was amazed by their kindness. Our neighbor’s son noticed my situation and informed his teacher, who then decided to take the class out of school for the afternoon to help. They raked, collected leaves, and took everything away. That day remains a cherished memory for me.

She is not afraid of the snow as her household is clothed with scarlet; She makes coverings for herself of linen and purple – verse 21 & 22….

It’s easy to see why the Proverbs 31 passage paints a picture of a Super Woman! As for me, sewing is as mysterious as rocket science. In junior high Home Economics, I’m fairly certain my teacher did the heavy lifting—my sewing skills were nonexistent. When my first daughter came along, I had dreams of crafting her a cute outfit, but my mom ended up being the real seamstress. This talent? Not in my sewing toolbox! Maybe one day, I’ll conquer it, but for now, that sewing machine table has found its true calling as our trusty coffee station!

I believe this is all about ensuring your kiddos are decked out in proper attire. When they’re little, are you wrapping them up like warm burritos before they dive into the snow? I recall many adventures of suiting up my children in snow gear, like a scene straight out of A Christmas Story where the kid ends up not being able to put his arms down because his mom wrapped him up tight. And just like that, no sooner were they bundled up than they wanted to waddle back inside!

She wears fine linen and purple. Well, purple is my favorite color but I don’t think that is what this means here. The color purple represents royalty. Jesus was dressed in a purple robe down the Via Dolorosa as a form of mocking Him, topped off with a crown of thorns.

I recall a nugget of wisdom from MOPS—something about sprucing up before your hubby walks through the door. You know, possibly a quick wardrobe change and a brush-up on hair and teeth. You might wonder, “Why put in the effort when you’ve been wrangling kids all day?” Well, turns out, it wasn’t just for him. It made me feel great, too! I never spilled the beans to him, and I’m pretty sure he never noticed, but hey, it was my little secret to feeling confident.

Do we really need to snag the latest, trendiest threads? Absolutely not! Once upon a mall trip, one of my blessings confidently declared she’d be the belle of the popularity ball if only I’d snag her these specific jeans. Curious, I waltzed into the store to investigate the hype—only to find jeans priced higher than I’d ever seen. In the triple digits! Say what?? With the sales clerk watching, I grabbed a pair and exclaimed, “No way! These should cost less with all these holes—seriously, it’s like Swiss cheese!” Remember, if your friends are only into you for your wardrobe, they’re not really your friends afterall.

Ah, thrifting—my ultimate treasure hunt! You can get some amazing finds for a fraction of the price! Like that time I took two of my daughters on a Goodwill trip. We were hunting for hidden gems when I spotted the cutest top on a mannequin. Naturally, I checked the size and voilà, it was a match! So, off it came. My girls gave me a look and one blurted out, “Are you seriously buying what you donated?” Well, no wonder I couldn’t find that adorable top in my closet—it was déjà vu! We all burst into laughter, and yes, I bought it again. And, in the spirit of thrifting, I’ve since donated it once more. Renew, Reuse, Recycle!

Important Take Aways to Apply to our Lives….

• Where have you seen someone help another in need?

• Where would you want to lend a hand?

• What do you recall of helping a child into a difficult outfit?

• Do you have suggestions of good places to buy things where our dollar can go far?

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Blessings,
Jennifer