The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
Proverbs 14:1 NIV
“Building a house” does not refer to how clean the floor or sink might be. There is no need to stock the fridge, fold the laundry, or unload the dishwasher before one is considered a wise woman. A clean home is pleasant, but a loving one is even better.
Loving herself well and her family well is the skill the wise woman uses to build her house. Considering God’s command to “Love your neighbor as yourself ” (Mark 12:31 NIV) helps you focus on that which is important in your home and let go of the unimportant. It’s not having the prettiest clothes or the cleanest carpet. It’s not having children with perfect report cards. And it’s not even about home-cooked meals.
What does a home built with love look like? It looks like connection, acceptance, forgiveness, and honest conversations. The wise woman builds her home with a balance of healthy boundaries and kindness. She builds with hugs and smiles and laughter. She constructs a home for herself and those she loves with creativity and courage and cuddling.
Loving well is not easy, and mistakes will happen. Sometimes the walls may need patching or the floors recarpeted. No problem. God is the best of home renovators and takes great pleasure in moving right in! After all, God is love.
God, let love reign here. Amen.
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Related Readings:
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Today’s reading was adapted from Daily Wisdom for Women: 2018 Devotional Collection with permission from Barbour Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reading was written by Emily Biggers.