Chapter 7 ~ An Enterprising Spirit ~ Her Provision

Proverbs 31:14 "She is like the merchant's ship; she bringeth her food from afar."

Upon first glance, I didn't like to be compared to a merchant's ship, but once I read Mrs. George's explanation, it was more ~ palatable, I'd say. I'll explain the imagery later.

A Spirit of Adventure
This woman "scours the marketplace for goods that will enhance the quality of life under her roof." She isn't concerned with the effort it takes. She joyfully (there's that word again!) spends her time to gather special goods from around the world to bring both beauty and joy to her household.

The ships:
A merchant ship stopped in every port throughout the Mediterranean Sea, trading its cargo for other goods. It is even mentioned in II Chronicles 9:21 ~ "For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks."

The supplies:
Three years is a long time to wait, but when those ships arrived, I'm sure that people were waiting anxiously in line to gaze upon such treasure. Like Chronicles mentions, Tarshish (modern-day Spain) exported gold, silver, ivory, apes and peacocks. Lebanon exported cedar. Dye came from Tyre. Spices, nuts, balm and grain came from Egypt. Greece delivered oil, wine, honey and pottery. Also included were jewels, woolen goods, and artwork.

The superhighways:
Israel is at the center of every major trade route in the Middle East. Two key routes were (and are still today) the King's Highway and Great Trunk Road. I can just imagine camel caravans bringing back such items to the ancient, inland cities!

The shops:
I think of a farmer's marketplace whenever I read about these shops. They were opened onto a square in a centralized location. When those caravans came into town, I'm sure the people were already in line! Mrs. George writes, "Wherever the camels knelt, a market appeared." Can you imagine the excitement as people flocked to the marketplace?

A Spirit of Mission
Now, this lady is like a merchant ship because she is on a mission to bring her food (or merchandise) from afar. Her motivation is her love for her family. She searches far and wide to bring just the right items back to her home. She believes her loved ones deserve nothing but the best, so she takes time out of her busy schedule and goes the extra mile to provide the best she can to lavish her family with these treasures.
She is also motivated by her creativity. As this artistic lady views each stall, it "...stimulates creativity in her recipes and meals, her weaving and homemaking. Mundane, routine, daily provision became a creative adventure for her!"

I love it that we're talking about SHOPPING! I guess I can use this Scripture to prove to the hubs that God WANTS me to shop! However, this woman is set apart from the rest. She "sets sail and glides on and on... searching... looking for... seeking out... and obtaining what she wants to provide for her family." She must have a sense of satisfaction as she provides:
Healthy, nutritious food for her family.
Savings ~ She knows how to search for bargains.
Culture ~ Not just the exotic goods, but tales she heard and information gathered.
Variety
Quality goods ~ She has a keen eye and high standards!
Beauty ~ She understands the importance beauty has for the home. It satisfies, invigorates and ministers to those who live there.

Yes, but how can I nurture an enterprising spirit? Consider Mrs. George's "How-To's of Beauty":
1. Desire a heart of love.
a. Ask God to reveal and heal any area in your heart that keeps you from loving your role as a wife, mother and home manager.
b. Make home your first priority ~ cherish it!
c. Choose to spend time with women who speak with heartfelt love about their husband, children and home. (Titus 2:3-5)
2. Offer your family your personal expression of beauty.
a. Surround yourself with beauty. Flowers, plants, artwork, etcetera.
b. Make your vision of loveliness a reality. Magazines, gift shops, and home shows can give us great ideas on ways to beautify our homes.
3. Show your family love, even in the practicalities of daily life.
a. Begin with the basics ~ food, clothing, and shelter. "Are you too tired to cook meals and keep the house in order? Or are you energetically providing the basics your family needs?"
Okay, OUCH, my toes!
b. Become a wise shopper ~ focus on saving money. Carefully consider every purchase. (Proverbs 31:16) Learn to differentiate between necessities and wants. Become an expert on purchasing high-quality items.
c. Search for the unusual ~ something that may be what you need, but fun and funky at the same time.
d. Consider bartering ~ Figure out what you need and what you can give in exchange for it. I gave piano lessons to my Pastor's daughter. Her mom is a beautician, so we talked about exchanging haircuts for piano lessons. They would get a free lesson ~ 2 of my family members could receive free haircuts and I'd get a much-needed eyebrow wax!
e. Become the resident artist ~ Consider yourself on assignment to bring beauty into your home. Ask yourself, "What area of creativity could I work on improving and developing?"

A Wise Woman Builds Her House says this: "A woman who truly loves the home will love it, decorate it, clean it and make it a special place for her loved ones. A woman who loves the home will guard her time and continually strive to make it a haven and a place of peace and refuge for her family."

I don't know about you, but this post makes me want to evaluate my home and how it affects my family. I'm motivated to be a wise, creative vessel (I like that word better than ship!) that searches far and near to bring beauty to my home. Pier 1 Imports, here I come! :)