Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. I Corinthians 12:1

Meetings galore. E-mails rolling in. Phones ringing. Paperwork accumulating. You know what those weeks are like. And as the pressure mounts and the responsibilities swell, the only thing you want to do is run away screaming, or crying-maybe both. Putting aside the unrelenting demands, the workday finally comes to an end. As you climb into your car, you take a deep breath and-ah, wait, you have to go home yet. Theres dinner to be served, kids to take of, and a husband to cater to. As women, we understand the hand of expectations we are dealt in life. Knowing not only what cards to play, but also when to play them, can be the difference between living a successfully balanced life and burnout. For instance, as a working woman with a family you understand the two-fold responsibility expected of you to not only work, but also care for those in your life. If you’re single, you know what is expected of you in your sphere of influence. But no matter what your status in life, it is impossible to escape the responsibilities and pressures that accompany them. Both diligence and zeal are required to play your hand of expectations well. Proverbs 31 is a powerful description of the noble woman. Verse 17 illustrates her ability to handle her own responsibilities, She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. Though we don’t exactly know the kind of work this woman was involved in, we do know that she worked vigorously to complete it. Her strong arms are a metaphor for her preparedness. Whatever cards she was dealt, whatever life threw her way - she was prepared! Responsibility is inevitable. There are people in our lives who greatly depend on us. No matter what hand we are dealt, whether its a good hand or a poor hand, I pray that we will be women who rise up to the challenges staring us in the eyes, and that God will give us the diligence, wisdom, and zeal to overcome the odds and play that hand well.

Prayer

Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her: but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game. - Voltaire (French philosopher, 1694-1778)

• Bible Readings for the Week Ahead:
• Monday: Psalm 62:5
• Tuesday: Joshua 24: 14, 15
• Wednesday: Proverbs 19:13
• Thursday: Proverbs 31:10-31
• Friday: Titus 2:3-5
• Saturday: 1 Corinthians 11:2-6
• Sunday: 1 Kings 5:12-14