Fetching

Definition of fetching: attractive, pleasing 

• a fetching smile

There are so many words in this language (American English) that have specific meanings yet, those meanings mean so many different things to different people. My idea of what is attractive is so very different that most other people. So, this word also has many different interpretations. Most people use it to refer to the outward appearance or looks, like the example given in the Dictionary entry above, "fetching smile". I want to look at it from a different angle...

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain.She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar. She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants. She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard.  She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp does not go out by night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle. She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet. She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.  She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants. Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her: “Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.”  Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates. Proverbs 31:10-31

Ok, I have never been married so I am not looking at this, from that point of view. And while fetching is used mostly in regard to woman, in my thoughts it doesn't have to be just women. I want to look at it like this, our inner beings, our soul or spirit should be fetching enough to show outwardly.

Think about the woman described in this Bible passage. Nowhere in this passage, is she praised for being beautiful, or skinny, or for looking fetching! Yet she is! All that she does, makes her a virtuous wife. She works for her household inside and outside, I don't think she is a stay at home mom. Her husband is blessed by what she does, her children honor her. Even the people she meets outside the home see her worth far above rubies. What makes her so special?

I believe the woman is allowing her life to reflect the life that God wishes us all to reflect, men and woman, boys and girls. Here are the attributes I think make this person so fetching....

She is trustworthy, there is no reason for anyone to fear that she will intentional do them wrong. She is loyal and adds to the relationship instead of only taking from it. We need to be this way in all of our relationships, trustworthy, loyal, and intentional. Next, she seeks things to help the family relationship grow and prosper. Whether it is food from far away or having a garden at her home, she provides what is needed. In our relationships we need to provide what is needed, that we can provide. Obviously, you can't give what you don't have but, if it is in your power to provide something, your willingness to do so is important.

She is hard working and labors as long as it takes to make the life of her family good. She works with her hands and is not lazy. Since, I am using this broadly to speak to all... family consist of your community, those you live with everyday whether your immediate family or your whole realm of influence. Everything she does is for the furtherance of her people, those who mean the world to her. It doesn't stop there, she reaches out to the needy and those less fortunate than her. We all need to be more compassionate to those less fortunate than ourselves. I think if the church (all Christians) did as they should, in this world, there would be no need for welfare, disability, or food stamps...

She is kind and wise, her whole family does not have to worry that she will intentionally steer them in the wrong direction. Or that she will do the things she does for vain glory. She is wise and edifies them all. She is strong and her honor precedes her. She doesn't have to speak or be beautiful because her own "works" ... her attitude, her willingness, her love, her compassion, her loyalty, her work, and all the other things that come from the inside her, out cause her to be praised. Not just in her home but in the gates...

It would be so good if we all could live our lives as fetchingly as this virtuous woman. God, wishes we would, and He will help us to do it, if we let Him. It is my prayer that I can live my life just a little like this woman...

Thanks for reading. God Bless You!