Corona Devo 195

She (Wisdom) offers you long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left.  17 She will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying.  18 Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.  ~Proverbs 3:16-18

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Yesterday I did a seasonal switch of clothing in my drawers.  Under-the-bed boxes slid out, were emptied, then refilled with out-of-season clothes, and finally they slithered back under the bed.  But some of the 6-months-under-the-bed shirts and pants needed refreshing, and so into the laundry they went.  As loads were washed and hung and folded, I was overcome by the great smell of the clean clothes.

Honestly, the scent-explosion of fresh-laundry that wafted from the newly-washed items blew me away and made my day.  It smelled SO good.  It was the scent-booster beads that are available these days.  You add them into the washer with your detergent, and it changes your life...forever.

When we look at our lives, how do we define "riches and honor" in it? 

(Among other things), I define "riches and honor" in my life as the scent-booster beads that I get to use in my laundry.

It's sort of a long story, but God and (His) Wisdom are the authors of it.  The Bible personifies "wisdom" as a woman.  She is the author of many things in our lives, if we allow her to be.  And she has much to offer us:

She offers you long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left.  17 She will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying.  18 Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.  ~Proverbs 3:16-18

Wisdom comes from the Lord, and living our lives and making decisions with Wisdom is simple, and yet hard.  It's not always easy to be wise, but the benefits are deep (and in some cases, great smelling!).

Wisdom spoke to my husband over 11 years ago and whispered that it was time to leave his current workplace because the foundations were weak and ungodly.  Beyond that, he was led to begin his own company while we had 2 kids under 2 years old and one more growing in my belly. The timing seemed scary, but we obeyed God and His Wisdom: (He) will guide you down delightful paths.

Money got very skinny, but God was always faithful.  And often we got creative.  I remember doing laundry with shampoo instead of detergent because when double-couponing I could get Suave shampoo almost free.  Shampoo however, is not a great cleanser of clothes, especially if they happen to be sweaty from a husband's soccer game or soiled by a diaper blow-out.  But, sometimes life isn't perfect, and you make do.  I also made my own laundry detergent for a while, which I also do not recommend. Whether using shampoo, homemade detergent or even vinegar, there were a few years when our clothes never really smelled that great.

But Wisdom takes her time.  And the funny thing (and exasperating thing) about Wisdom is that she is all about delayed gratification.  We have to be wise today to reap her benefits tomorrow.  It's like putting money in a piggy bank or studying in advance for an upcoming test: the pre-work-out secures the outcome.  

And hence, 11 years later (yesterday), when I was hanging the laundry and the beautiful scent of those booster-beads filled my nostrils, I had to smile, because Wisdom had proven herself again.  And I also know that I enjoy the glorious fragrance of those beads more than most people ever will because I have washed and worn lesser-smelling laundry.  Because of that, I more deeply enjoy this.  That is the perspective that Wisdom gives us.

You might not (and probably don't) consider scent-boosters for your laundry riches and honor, but I sure do.  I remember fondly the ways that we stretched and strived to make things last and "do".  And even then, we felt blessed that God was providing what He did.  Being in a humble state helps us to appreciate all of the excess that we otherwise take for granted.  And we have so much excess, don't we?  

 ...all her ways are satisfying.  ~Proverbs 3:17

God never said that all of His wise ways would be easy, comfortable or popularity-leading, but His ways are satisfying.  To our hearts and souls, our marriages and families and our life-story.  There is satisfaction in being wise in the Lord's ways.

Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.  ~Proverbs 3:18.  

Although we might be tempted to think this verse came from the inside of a fortune cookie, we can grasp the meaning if we chew on it a little bit.  (God's) Wisdom is like a strong tree: firm, unmoving, and secure.  We can lean on God and trust His wisdom when making choices in our lives.  And when we are all in for God and in following His wisdom, the Bible says it will bring happiness.  Not debt, drunkenness, sorrow, pain, depression, divorce, failure, worry or fear: but God's wisdom in our lives brings happiness.

Wisdom will "look" different in each of our lives because we all have different choices to make.  And wisdom lives in stages.  Today's wisdom comes to fruition tomorrow.

My happiness today is in the beautiful smell of wisdom via scent-booster beads.  They are a tiny but robust example of a blessing that wisdom brought to me.  

I pray that we can be encouraged today if we are in a situation or relationship that is slightly poor and lacking (or smelly).  Wisdom in it today can guide (us) down delightful paths (Proverbs 3:17) for tomorrow.  Breathe deep: God's wisdom is a breath of fresh air in our lives.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com