fru-gal

We have a theme this month at BITH: Frugal. This topic can obviously take a great many turns and different directions. But, one thing all the contributing women on this blog have is common is that we work to be frugal. To be good stewards of what God has placed in our hands to oversee. That could mean finances, time, resources ... all sorts of things!

Let's start off the discussion with a definition - from good 'ole Merriam Webster:

"characterized by or reflecting economy in the use of resources"

So, what about economy? One click further:

1. archaic : the management of household or private affairs and especially expenses

2

a : thrifty and efficient use of material resources : frugality in expenditures; also : an instance or a means of economizing : savingb : efficient and concise use of nonmaterial resources (as effort, language, or motion)

I find that putting those two together really brings it together. By working to "reflect economy in the use of my resources", I am (hopefully) being "thrifty and efficient the use of material resources" as well as with non-material resources!

Yesterday evening and through this morning ... I mulled over this topic in my head as I went about the things I was already doing. I felt the Lord continually bring up Proverbs Chapter 31 in my heart. Here is a description of the "Wife of Noble Character". Certainly, as we are to emulate her, she used frugality and economy in her household.

- "She brings him (her husband) good, not harm, all the days of her life" v. 12 She must have been efficient with her time and her love for her husband to keep their love strong within their marriage;

- "She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands" v. 13 She worked with her hands to create clothing, coverings, household items for her family;

- "She gets up while it is still dark" v. 15 She knew how to manage her time wisely and was willing to sacrifice sleeping in to accomplish what needed to be done;

- "She considers a field and buys it; out her earnings she plants a vineyard" v. 16The lady had money smarts as well. She was willing to take a risk in order to see a payoff later on down the road;

- "She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks" v. 17 She managed her time and was able to help herself healthy in order to best oversee what household tasks were overseen by her;

- And it goes on ... she "sees that her trading is profitable", she "makes coverings for her bed", "makes linen garments and sells them", "does not eat the bread of idleness". It terms of using her resources wisely ... well, we can learn a great deal from her.

I would be the first person to admit that while I attempt to use the resources God has given to Eli and I - to work to be frugal in our time and in our finances - I am so not perfect! But my heart's desire is to be obedient in what the Lord asks me to do as the woman, the wife, the mother in our household. I feel like everytime I talk with friends and other women, I see clearly how this differs from household to household, doesn't it? But the wonderful part is about that is that we can learn from each other, we can encourage each other, we can teach each other.

My next post will just be on some practical ways that I work to be frugal in my home. And then I am excited to see what else follows!

***one side note: although the theme for February is "Frugal", not all posts may relate. Sometimes there's just something too good, or too fresh from the Lord that we want to share! Either way, we hope that a bit more "focus" brings some cohesiveness to BITH.