On the Hunt

Proverbs 31:14



"She is like the merchant ships,

She brings her food from afar." NKJV



"She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places

and brings back exotic surprises." The Message



"She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs;

she brings her household's food from a far (country)." The Amplified Bible


With the advent of supermarkets and superstores, we wives and mothers don't normally have to go "afar" to get physical food to feed our families. You may be thinking, "Phew! I am off the hook on that one!", but unfortunately, this one can apply to us today. Physically, it can mean cooking meals that your husband or children like that you may not really like (for me that would be kraut and weiners or sloppy joes). Spiritually, it can mean much more.

You are feeding your family with every word and action that you do. Are you feeding them positive, uplifting things or are you feeding them negativity and less than good words and actions? Sometimes, we have to go "afar" (to God) to keep a good attitude in our day to day life. This may mean that we have to take thirty minutes in the morning to spend with God, rather than sit and drink our coffee in front of the Today show. It may mean biting our tongue when our husband or child asks us the same question for the tenth time. By feeding them love, acceptance, and safety, we are giving them positive and uplifting spiritual food, in that we are showing them God's love through us. That is the best food that we can give them.

This Proverbs 31 woman had to hunt for both physical and spiritual food for her family to keep them happy and healthy. We don't have it quite that bad with the advent of stores to buy our foods and internet sites full of recipes. That gives us more time to concentrate on the spiritual food for our family and for ourselves. Without God's love, we are lost and our families are lacking. What can you do today to show God's love to your family? The solution is in your hands and mouth.

Lord, I thank you for the families that you have given us. Help us to show them Your love through our words and actions. Give us the tools that we need to be Your hands and feet on this earth to both our families and our friends. Without You, we are nothing. We praise You, dear Father. Amen.