Lazy W Marie – Page 170

Proverbs 31: Learning and Seeking

October 9, 2012

For the next skinny little slice of Proverbs 31, verses 8 & 9,

I am rebooting my entry from October 9th of last year.

********************

The next two verses are rich enough in their own right, but they also are accompanied by a long list of references in the Schofield text. In my opinion this stuff needs very little expounding, though each of us, depending on our stations and functions in this world, may learn to apply the directives uniquely. First, the lines from Proverbs:

“Open thy mouth for the dumb in the course of all
such as are appointed to destruction.

Open thy mouth, judge righteously,
and plead the cause of the poor and needy.”

********************

These references follow:

“I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.”

~Job 29:15,16

“And Johnathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him,

Let not the king sin against his servant, against David, because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good.”

~I Samuel 19:4

“Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.”

~Leviticus 19:15

“And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.”

~Deuteronomy 1:16

“Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.”
~Job 29:12

“Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.”
~Isaiah 1:17

“He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the Lord.”
~Jeremiah 22:16

********************

In what ways are you exposed to the poor and needy? The widowed, the orphaned, the lonely? How do you personally cross paths with those who cannot speak up for themselves or who are appointed to destruction? Granted, these lines might be directed to an actual ruler, a king, but then again it could be advice or instruction for the church too. Which means it’s for us.

Also, how are we doing in the judging righteously department? Not so awesomely most times, I suspect. We are all naturally shaped with unique filters, feelings, preferences, grudges, politics, indoctrination, just all kinds of multi-faceted, self-protective words that really mean, “personal opinion.” And personal opinion has a way of affecting how we treat others. Personal opinion also has a way of being wrong. Ever been called to jury duty and felt, whether you expressed it or not, a strong bias, despite the evidence? Ever catch yourself being cold to someone you don’t know based on another person’s opinion of him? I have. And worse.

These events are common and natural human behavior, but if we read these words in the Bible then we hear a call to do better. To strive for a life past what is natural and easy. Stretch, not stagnate.

I am reminded that every story has more than one side, very often more than two. And I have been wrong a ~~thousand~~ million times in my life, siding with the wrong person, standing on a moral I later discovered to be flawed or at least incomplete. This is scary; it impresses on me the gravity of the job of judges who decide the fates of people daily.

These two little verses have excavated out of my heart more guilt and greater challenge than I expected. I have a lot of work to do, but I believe that it can be turned around. I believe that love and mercy are powerful, and I am hoping for second chances. Checkout the above reference in Isaiah; the words learn and seek are loud to my eyes.

Learn to do well.

Seek judgment.

These are active verbs, words that immediately acknowledge a position of lacking and then command work and hopefully progress. Ignorance and error can be overcome, so do it. (I am bossing myself around, not you guys.) I am flat out thrilled by this idea, this encouragement.

That’s all for tonight. Handsome and I have bellies full of homemade chicken pot pie, and we need to cuddle. Then we had better go outside and check on that llama. He is so spicy you guys!

xoxoxo

Proverbs 31: She Might Have Been a Llama Momma

October 7, 2012

I mean, really, it’s totally possible that the fabled lady of Proverbs 31 would have kept, in addition to so many other creatures, a llama. This charming and idiosyncratic animal is highly practical, a characteristic she would have prized. It is hard wired to protect its neighboring animals; it doesn’t eat that much (compared to pigs, cows, or horses); and it is hardy in tough conditions. Also, besides being practical, llamas are incredibly joyful. And this coming week we are going to discover just how much the Proverbs 31 woman prizes both practicality and joy-making!

For this application alone,

really just to support my 31-day foray into Proverbs,

today Handsome and I adopted a llama.

My husband is extremely supportive

of all of my crazy projects.

Our new addition arrived this afternoon via trailer delivery from our wonderful friends and mentors Dean and Maribeth. He was laying down comfortably and munching what I can only assume was manna straight from heaven. I climbed up on the back on the trailer to peek at him, and when we made fleeting eye contact he looked away firmly with that snooty, Roman nose thrust into the frosty air.

Anyway, he is now strolling his regal self around the middle field, temporarily segregated from the horses and buffalo. He is unaware that, being the newest guy on the block, he is lowest on the totem pole. He and our biggest horse, Chanta, are jockeying for position Numero Uno over the wire fence.

If the Proverbs 31 lady did in fact keep a llama, I predict she would trim his hooves on her own, brush that matted and mysterious fur daily to a gleaming sheen, and also make sure he is so well socialized that only intruders are spat upon.

Time will tell if I meet the llama criteria for Proverbs 31. Until then, I just plain love him. I love his arrogant expression. I love his bright white face markings. I love his perfectly straight back and fluffy tail. I love the way he runs downhill and then charges into the pine tree. I love the way he frightens my mare and challenges our alpha. I love that he doesn’t yet understand how much time we will spend together. So, so much time you guys. Tomorrow I will finish my reading goals aloud in his field so he grows accustomed to my voice. Maybe.

We haven’t named this guy yet. he is only a few months shy of three years old, and he is kind of full of himself. Do you have any ideas? Over at this blog’s Facebook page, some fabulously entertaining people are already cooking up ideas. Join the fun!

Tomorrow I expect we will be back on track for Proverbs 31, and as we go along I will share more about our llama and his fuzzy companions. Have a lovely evening, have a spectacular beginning to your new work week, and thanks so much for reading!

“You enter into a certain amount of madness

when you marry a person with pets.”

~Nora Ephron

xoxoxoxo

Continuing Proverbs 31: Waiting for Renewal, Trusting in Love

October 6, 2012

In a few short days our family will pass the one year anniversary of a terrible and significant loss. My little sister’s husband, from whom she was then recently separated, took his own life. He left behind three beautiful children and a large, loving, extended family.

In the midst then of attempting the first Proverbs 31 study, I suspended it and wrote this on October 16th of last year:

Breathing Deeply
Eight days ago the lives of some of my most beloved people changed forever. Our family was thrust into grief and shock, worse than any I have ever before witnessed firsthand. All week long we have responded to each other the way I hope all families everywhere can manage to do. I feel as profoundly grateful for my parents, my siblings, and my husband as I feel sad for the incredible loss being suffered.
Having just now opened my

In the wake of Tim’s suicide, as I hope you can only imagine, everything that remains has changed forever. His children continue to grow and mature without him. They are very young and in such pain. His parents continue to live their lives, but they grieve constantly. And my little sister has almost fully self destructed.

Exactly one day before this awful, gut wrenching anniversary, my family will be binding together hoping for some good news for my sister, our petite, flaxen haired social butterfly girl, now all grown up and hurting worse than we can imagine. We’ll be hoping that her year of extreme mourning is coming to a close and that she can bury some of the debris of this destruction and become a mother and a happy person again.

I still believe this… That LOVE IS POWERFUL. Not because WE are powerful who give it but because it comes first from LOVE Himself. As flawed and ugly as we sometimes are, we are also drenched in mercy and forgiveness, grace and blessings beyond what we deserve. The more we share it and pour it back out to others, the better it flows back to us.

Those of you who read the Lazy W and consider me a friend, I am asking for your prayers this coming week. Beyond just thinking positively and making the most of life’s heartache, this is a serious need, and I would be so grateful if you would share some of your love and faith with my little sister, her children, and our parents. I firmly believe that prayer can change things, that LOVE is the most powerful force on earth and beyond it. And I would be so happy for some relief to rain down on our family.

Thank you ahead of time, because I know so many of you by name who will already be praying before you comment or email me or anything!

We’ll pick back up on Proverbs 31 tomorrow.

XOXOXOXO

Since Proverbs 31 starts off as advice given from a mother to her son, presumably Bathsheba to King Solomon, a man who would hold great influence in the world, I thought it would be fun to collect bits of advice some of my guy friends have received from their own sweet mommas. You will quickly see that not everyone took this assignment too seriously. But that’s okay; I appreciate every single submission greatly. Enjoy…

Brian: “When you’re eighteen, you’re outta here!” Ha!! Thanks, Brian.

Fairo: “Be good. And if you can’t be good, be safe.” I just love this. I can totally hear my Grandma Dunaway saying it to my Uncle Chris and me as suntanned, barefoot kids. And she might be laughing as we run outside to play in the wasp-filled barn and hide in the trees from angry cows. Thanks Fairo!

Brad: “Don’t kill your sister, because one day that might make you sad.” He claims this advice was often given during a regularly scheduled beat down session between him and his sister. That is a direct quote, folks. Thanks Brad!

Brandy: “Go to church and always put God first.” This is my husband’s foremost memory of advice from his Mom, but I can assure you she has taught him thousands of wonderful things, from money management to overall stewardship of your blessings, hard work, and charity. What’s beautiful is that the foundation of putting God first kind of covers it all. Oh, and she also taught him all about hot rods and street racing… Ahem…

Pete: “Don’t leave fingerprints on the coffee table.” Okay. Pete’s lovely wife Tracy submitted this on his behalf, and I just want to say that teaching good habits for a clean home might be a skill more future wives would appreciate. Very cool.

Greg: “Please don’t put that milk in your ear. It only goes in your mouth.” This is my nephew. He is flat out adorable. And two years old. Also, when his Mom and I chat on the phone he likes to yell constantly in the background, “Love you Rie!! Love you Rie!! Love you Rie!!” This is what my siblings called when when they were small and adorable, a long long long time ago (well, Gen still does), and I think it’s so funny that he picked it up naturally. Okay, watch that milk, Greg!! xoxo I love you too!!

Bruce: “Kill them with kindness.” This is advice given for dealing with jealousy or anger. I think it’s brilliant. Simple, age-old, and applicable to just about any relationship. Thanks to Bruce’s wife Serena for submitting this!

Doug: “If you want to see how a man will treat a woman, watch how he treats his mother.” Also, “Never hit a woman.” Have you guys ever heard this before, that a man will treat his wife the way he treats his mother? What are your thoughts?

Zane: “Don’t do anything you would be ashamed of or embarrassed to tell your future wife.” Ha!! This young man’s mom is my gorgeous, smart, and thoroughly lovable cousin Jen. I have spent a lot of energy in life pretending we were twin sisters, that’s how much I want to be like her. She’s giving you good advice, there, Zane!

Jon said that his sweet Mom gave him mostly practical advice: “Chew with your mouth closed, brush your teeth every night, and don’t eat your boogers.” I cannot help but wonder about the relationship between these three bits of wisdom… Thanks Jon!

********************

And now, for a touch of the timeless, a few little scraps of wisdom from people we don’t know:

“When you teach your son, you teach your son’s son.” ~The Talmud

“I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.” ~Abraham Lincoln

“Giving your son a skill is better than giving him one thousand pieces of gold.” ~Chinese Proverb

“Let France have good mothers, and she will have good sons.” ~Napoleon Bonaparte

That last one slays me. How beautiful! To me, this speaks directly to the notion that nourishing our hearts first will inevitably result in an outpouring of health, love, and growth, in all areas of life. We need good sons! So ladies, be good mothers.

********************

Thanks for reading, everyone! I hope you have time to share your mother-son advice or thoughts on any of these here. Have a wonderful Friday, and if you’re in Oklahoma bundle up. We’re getting excited for the first truly blustery weekend of the season.

xoxoxoxo

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
« Mar
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30