It’s SHOPPING SEASON!  (Ugh!)

Today, just a quick thought for husbands who get frustrated when their wives take a long time shopping, stopping to look at things that weren’t on the shopping list at all, at things that you didn’t even think were on the agenda when you went into the shop.

Proverbs 31:10-31

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Perhaps when your wife stops to look at something that you KNOW you don’t need right now, she is just being frivolous, wasting time and wanting to waste money.  But perhaps, just sometimes, when your wife dawdles in the shops, she is functioning exactly the way God made her to function.

Perhaps you are seeing her looking for ways to preserve your hard-earned money by planning ahead, looking “well to the ways of her household,” looking to the future needs, identifying what needs to be bought in future even if it isn’t purchased now, looking for bargains today for tomorrow’s needs.

Perhaps, instead of complaining, we should consider whether verse 28 is the need of the hour:

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.