My First Day
Well, I am up before the sun. I fed my 3 month old babies, Claire and Leah. They help me get up while it’s still dark. I stayed awake after putting them back down to sleep.
I dressed myself in my gray imitation Uggs boots and my light blue fleece robe without a tie. (Ry always steals my robe ties for part of a costume, mostly Ninja Turtle headbands I think). I stumbled downstairs and made coffee. It is still perking.
Now, I am upstairs in my office “closet” on a laptop, wondering, what am I doing trying take on all the Proverbs 31 wisdom?
Well, I have to start somewhere. So, why not at the beginning.
Proverbs 31:10
10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
First things first. I am a wife. But, what is this noble character business? All I can think of is a wife that is brave and knows how to curtsy.
Noble Definition: possessing, characterized by, or arising from superiority of mind or character or of ideals or morals
Noble wife, okay. I possess decent morals and most of the time I think my ideals are solid.
Am I worth far more than rubies? Let’s see, just to be cheeky, I’ll try to figure out my salary!
According to Salary.com my yearly income, in my zip code, as a stay-at-home mom (SAHM) of 4 kids is $133,544. Salary.com put together some of the responsibilities of SAHM and listed them in an hourly form. Below is an example of the hours.
| Housekeeper | 16.5 |  |
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| Day Care Center Teacher |
14.7 | |
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| Cook |
13.1 | |
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| Computer Operator |
9.2 | |
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| Facilities Manager |
8.6 | |
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| Van Driver |
7.3 | |
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| Psychologist |
7.2 | |
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| Laundry Machine Operator |
7.2 | |
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| Janitor |
7.1 | |
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| Chief Executive Officer |
5.5 |
I am sure there are more responsibilities like nurse, referee, and gift shopper. Not to mention, all the extra pay that would ensue from literally being available for 24 hour on call services like bad dream cuddling, wet-bed changing and late night baby feeding.
The point of Proverbs 31:10 isn’t lost on me entirely. I realize that a wife of noble character is worth more than anything or any service money can buy.
Well, I better go throw some jeans on and ingest some of that coffee I smell downstairs. The big kids are up and so is the sun.
Love,
Jess
Twitter Updates
Jessica
I have no idea how I came across your blog this morning (OK, mid-morning, early afternoon), but I’m so glad that I did. It’s so ironic that you’re trying to “take on” the Proverbs 31 woman. A girlfriend of mine and I are going to study the entire book of Proverbs starting this Sunday! I feel as though I always and forever strive to “be” that woman, wife, mother (someday?), friend, daughter, sister, and aunt. Although…. I never can quite capture her.
I read one of the most amazing, life changing books about 5 years ago called “Captivating”. The same girlfriend and I are starting to read that book over the course of 8 weeks starting today! She has never read it and I encouraged her to read it- even read it WITH her (for the 2nd time)! She is going through a pretty rough time in the romance/self esteem department, as am I (always and forever?!). SO- ALL THAT JUST TO SAY THIS: If you have never read that book, or want to join my friend and I in re-reading it…. I think that would be magnificent. It would be worth “far more than rubies”, in my opinion, if the 20-30 something women of Minneapolis would ALL take on this book…. Study it, Discuss it, LIVE IT….together- reading through it all at the same time. Just a thought, it’s a grandiose one, I’ll give it that…. But you said it best in your entry for today (Feb 2)….. “Well, I have to start somewhere. So, why not at the beginning”.
As a fellow photographer, woman, wife and daughter of Christ- I thank you once again for blessing me so very much this morning! You are “beautifully and wonderfully made”. (Psalms 139:14)