Proverbs 31:20
“She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.”

While the attributes of the virtuous woman listed in Proverbs 31 can seem a little overwhelming at first glance, it's important for us not to just assume that these qualities were only needed thousands of years ago. So let's take one piece of the Proverbs 31 pie, and see how it applies to this month's focus area of generosity.

The virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31 is a woman who is always looking out for others. She speaks wise and kind words (vs. 26) to encourage and direct those around her.  She is portrayed as a hard worker who strives to meet the needs of her family as well as others. This woman is generous to her very core – putting others before herself (vs. 20). Love, trust, dependability, strength, honor, and an unfading beauty are all qualities that she possesses. Her spirit of gracious giving and strong character stem from a deep love and respect for her Lord (vs. 30).

So how does this translate to us today? Well, helping out our neighbors, friends, classmates, and families can be done in a variety of ways. Sacrificing part of your time for someone else can be worth more than any amount of money. Sitting with that girl at lunch who usually sits alone can mean more to her than actually buying her lunch. A smile and kind word to that person in math class who is having "one of those days" could mean more than you will ever know. Writing a thank you card to that lady who has been a source of strength and stability is very uplifting and is something we should make time to do. But it's also important to remember that the Proverbs 31 woman does not brag about her accomplishments, but instead others rise up to recognize her and show appreciation for her love and generosity (vs. 28 & 31).

Let's Get Practical:
Here are some more ideas to be generous without having a large budget:

• Go to a washateria or car wash and provide some quarters for someone's laundry or vehicle
• When ordering food at a drive through, pay for the person’s meal behind you as well
• For a youth event, have a barbecue at a park where you offer food to those around
• Sort through your closet and find at least 10 things to give away to a friend or a local shelter