Fifty Shades of Taupe

Since Mother’s Day is just around the corner and that’s the designated day to honor the women in our lives, I thought I’d get this out there in advance to both pay tribute to my female readers and encourage the male participants to be proactive.  The slightly provocative title is not chosen to spur some erotic adventure, but to honor my wife’s favorite color – taupe.  If you were to look through her closet, you’d find garments consistent with the title, along with a few black and white ones.  Her philosophy of decorating, both for her personal adornment and for our residence, is to use earthy tones as a background punctuated by splashes of color.  As I consider her plan, it seems God used the same strategy with the earth and its people – shades of taupe with splashes of color – so it must be a pretty good design approach!

In a time when many people seem to want to put all their “business” out there in cyber space, I find subtlety – the “taupe-iness” of personality – a preferred virtue, and my wife is filled with the quiet grace to qualify.  By contrast, those personas, that if they could be described by colors such as bright red, or neon orange, or electric blue, are a bit disconcerting for me.  I much prefer taupe.  It’s my contention that the writer of Proverbs does, too.  Here are a few excerpts from Proverbs 31:

Who can find a capable wife?  She is far more precious than jewels.  The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will not lack anything good.  She rewards him with good, not evil, all the days of her life.  She …works with willing hands…she…provides…for her household.  She draws on her strength and reveals that her arms are strong.  She sees that her profits are good…Her hands reach out to the poor, and she extends her hands to the needy.  She is not afraid for her household…

Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the time to come.  She opens her mouth with wisdom and loving instruction is on her tongue.  She watches over the activities of her household and is never idle. 

“Many women are capable, but you surpass them all!”  Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.

Nothing lipstick-red about that woman.  Just hard-working, generous, strong, compassionate, prepared, wise, gracious, and productive.  Oh, and filled with faith.  That, my dear friends, is a life-palette to be honored. 

God is less concerned with the quality of our “selfies” than He is with the character of our hearts.  So to all the mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and daughters, I offer both prayers and praise for your strong lives and godly examples.  Men, get it together!  If the women in your lives are setting the pace by being Proverbs 31 women, the least you can do is try to keep up!  And don’t forget the cards and flowers.  Maybe even a nice outfit?  I’ve heard you can’t go wrong with taupe….

Thankful for the wonderful women in my life,

Jacob