andrea

Womanly: I can't say that was what I wanted to hear from my dad at age 6. What 6 year old wants to be labeled "womanly?" How about "princess", or "flower" instead (those are the meanings behind the names of my two sisters, Sara, and Laura). I got Andrea; "womanly."

It took me awhile, but I actually like my name; and what it means. I dig some of these uncomfortable feelings out of my childhood because I've recovered and been using a bookmark that I received around that age with the following text:

Andrea
"Womanly"
"She will do good all the days of her life"
"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches."

-- paraphrases from Proverbs --

To be honest, I may have kept the bookmark because it was embroidered in pink; not because it defined my name.

In any case, reflecting on my name now that I've been a woman for awhile, I was prompted (by the bookmark) to read the Proverbs paraphrased. There are many women who, whether by intention, or not, have embodied these verses of womanly wisdom as an example for me; probably none so much as my own mom. Though they refer to a married woman, I've decided to aspire to as many of these attributes as are relative to a single woman today. It's a big task. If you read through the passage below, you'll see why.

These verses also popped out to me because, at work a couple weeks ago, a few of us were candidly chatting about what sort of wives we hoped to be. Our expectations of ourselves, I later realized, were all wrapped up in this text:

"Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is more precious than rubies.
Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
She finds wool and flax
and busily spins it.
She is like a merchant’s ship,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She is energetic and strong,
a hard worker.
She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
her lamp burns late into the night.
Her hands are busy spinning thread,
her fingers twisting fiber.
She extends a helping hand to the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.
She has no fear of winter for her household,
for everyone has warm clothes.
She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
Her husband is well known at the city gates,
where he sits with the other civic leaders.
She makes belted linen garments
and sashes to sell to the merchants.
She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.
Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
'There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!'
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

-- Proverbs 31:10-31 --