Amazons from Proverbs 31!

I love the word "Amazon." I want to be an Amazon, a powerful woman who doesn't take any crap, makes things happen, and kicks some booty! I decided I better look the word up, in case I'm romanticizing the term: "a member of a race of female warriors of Greek mythology." Love it! The second definition has a slightly worse connotation, "a tall, strong, often masculine, woman," but I still am pleased with "strong." So how can I be an Amazon?

I looked up Proverbs 31, the go-to passage definining godly womanhood. Verse 17 says, "She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks." And then in verse 25 and 26, "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue." Those are not fluff words, baby; she's an Amazon, in my book. The most important verses, however, are 29 and 30: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."

 A true Amazon is one who FEARS the Lord. One who realizes her human strength pales in comparison to the strength she derives by honoring and serving God. Over the years, however, many of my Christian women friends complain about this biblical example-feeling like failures in the face of such accomplishments as verses 13-21: "She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet."

 I admit, that list of accomplishments daunts the most Super Mom or Female Powerhouse among us. However, I want to point out a few things: first of all, she HAS servant girls! So obviously, they help her do that list of monumental tasks. Do you have servant girls? I certainly don't, and I can't understand why my husband hasn't seen fit to get me one or two on the 20-some birthdays I've had since we've been married! Secondly, do you see anywhere in this verse where she has to run this kid to soccer, that one to dance, bake cookies for scouts, help the kids feed their 4-H hogs, or manage a classroom of unruly little people? NO! So there you go. Also, she may make scarlet (or red to you less sophisticated gals) clothes for her family, but she hasn't had to battle the throngs on Black Friday, to wrestle the deals out of other snatching hands, right? I've been known to get up at 4:00 am to get there, so that counts for "gets up while it's still dark," as does my ice fishing excursions to bring home some fresh trout to keep the hubby thinking I still like him and wasn't lying during dating days about enjoying frozen fishing. So she doesn't let her lamp go out at night?


Haven't you sat up with puking children or waited in ambush for your teen to get home so you can smell her/his breath and give them a piece of your mind? Or skip sleeping altogether to finish a late night project for work? So she buys a field-you bought a house or two or even negotiated a car loan sometime in your life. She is charitable...so are you. She plants a vineyard. Again, she has SERVANTS to do this with her. You may have planted a garden or had house plants-piece of cake! My point here is that you don't need to be intimidated by the Proverbs 31 woman-in fact, she would be completely intimidated by you, you computer savvy, shopping cart wielding, credit card using, teenager managing, van driving Amazon, you!