Women: Brainstorm, Organize, Adapt
Execute, Adjust…Repeat!

We are at a threshold of a “new normal.” I believe the driving force behind what will become the nation’s future comes down to what happens in daily life. After all, the majority of our stress and strain has been borne in the lives of how the family has had to adjust to work, school, ministry, and homelife.

For most families, the lynchpin for how well the families in America have carried on during the pandemic has been the women. I am not discounting every other family member’s important role in the family, but women tend to brainstorm, organize, adapt, bring to bear, and adjust when needed more than the others.

For example, take the Johnson family. Mom Marty brainstormed how to attack the household chores. She divided responsibilities to each family member that reflect the increase in wear and tear on the household. They have daily tasks and weekly ones. The weekly ones are all done together at a specific time. Afterward, they celebrate their work with pizza and a movie.

So, what will happen once everyone is back to their office or school buildings? Will all the chores fall back on mom? Marty needs to look at how she can continue the spirit of the division of labor without unduly taxing anyone. Marty must now adapt.

The Brown family created a schedule through a family meeting that Mom Kelia called. They brainstormed how to make the most of their time. Through a weekly family calendar they mapped out work for the parents, virtual school for the kids, chores, free time, and something they labeled “Adventure Time.”

First, each person picked three places they would like to go to in anywhere in the world, near or far. Adventure Time was a slot of time for all family members when they picked one of the places and did research on music, food, language, customs, etc. Then they prepared for the next Adventure Time a show and tell, including some homemade costumes, some interesting food, and listened to the music of that place. Each person shared what they learned that meant the most to them. Then they had prayer for that place and the needs of the people who lived or visited there.

As the Browns return to working and learning away from home, Kelia will need to help them adjust their schedules accordingly. Hopefully the family will be able to continue a variation of their schedule and Adventure Time.

What have you done that was a blessing during the COVID quarantine? It may be something quite huge—like one family who learned to crochet and create new shawls for an entire nursing home. Or it could be that you were able to have dinner together at the table regularly for the first time in a long time. One family I know started having family devotions each morning before school and work because they didn’t have the travel time issues anymore. Will they be willing to keep at it, perhaps adjusting the time, or making changes in their wakeup times?

Even unbelievers have heard about the Proverbs 31 woman. Verses 10 through 31 speak of someone who sounds too perfect to be true. Yet, if you go beneath the specific tasks that are mentioned, it is the character, the persistent leadership role that pops to the forefront on every verse. In fact, you could go through each verse and name the character trait it displays.

It will take a Proverbs 31 woman to help the family make the adjustments that are coming our way. Some are quite clear, some may be still a little murky, but as a woman, you are called to make a difference, sometimes the difference in how your family will make this next transition.

Therefore, I want to speak of the beauty and strength of Proverbs 31 to your being. I want to encourage your heart to seek the wisdom, high standards, and dignity this kind of woman exhibits on a daily basis. But most of all, I want to say to you a modified version of Proverbs 31:31, I honor you for all that your hands have done. I will watch as your good works bring you praise within your family and in the place of your work and ministry.

Let’s go forward…together!