Proverbs 31:24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.(girdles or belts)

Proverbs 31:24 She makes linen garments and sells them,

She makes merchandise and it is in high demand.  She makes and sells high end fashion.  When she has something new-everyone wants it.

She also makes girdles for under the garments so her stuff looks GOOD.  She is the SPANX’s lady of her day, which makes her even more diversified and provides additional items that are wanted and makes her items look good when they are on.

and supplies the merchants with sashes.(girdles or belts)

She generates income for her family–in several different ways.  We know she diversifies.  She is one busy lady.

In Vs 18-we know that she perceives her merchandise to be good and her lamp does not go out at night.

This tells us — she is open for business.  Her lamp is on and it is saying “Come on in–we are open for business.  People can stop by and buy from her and her merchants can stop by and place orders, or pick up orders from her.

She is diversified, so having the light on would let people know she is there and available to take order or sell her goods.

The lights being on tell us a couple of other things as well–

She makes enough money to keep the “electricity” on.

Also-she works late, she is not lazy.

My cousin used to have trunk sales and she would go to market and buy items twice a year. Her husband built her a place in their basement so she could store all the merchandise.   She would have people standing on her porch, early in the morning waiting for her to open her doors so they could buy up the newest stuff because certain things sold out super fast.  Then she would list the rest on her ebay store and she would have parties, hosted by other gals, at her home. She hired a teenager to be her runner and as she sold items, the  teen would take the ticket, go pull the items and sack it all up-while she rang them up and then the teen would bring it back upstairs as the person was leaving.

That reminds me of this lady having her porch lite on and people waiting at the door to get her new items.

We also can assume that her children are learning skills as they are at their mother’s feet, as she works.

My big boys are a huge help.  We expect them to help clean and do things around the house.  The two little ones are expected to help as well but their level of work is not quite as advanced.  Both of our big boys know how to separate laundry–to their mother’s liking, and help do the laundry.  They know how to fold towels and why we fold in a certain way (so it takes less space and you get more in the designated area).  They both know how to cook and when something new is used or a new way of making something is added, I explain why we are doing it this way.  The other day we had the dishwasher loaded and I was hand washing the last few items and had them drying and putting away.  I was explaining that hot water not only helps clean things better but also helps the dishes dry a little faster and if they let something sit for a minute before picking it up, their towel would not get as wet because it would already have dried quite a bit.  Tidbits of information that they will take with them and be able to share with their children some day.

They both know how to make beds and how to fold and tightly tuck the sheets under the mattress to keep them from coming out, as easy.  I teach them these things so they know WHY we do them a certain way.  It helps them to be discerning.  If a new item comes out claiming to be the new best way they can make informed decisions.  Sometimes something new does come on the market that is better, or things change and you need to change the way you do things.  Sometimes something comes on the market and the ploy to sell, is not always honest and trust worthy.  We teach them, how an advertisement might be trying to trick you, by their choice of words.

I have advertisers on my side bar and I decided a long time ago that I would only accept advertisers that I would be proud to represent.  If someone wants me to advertise their product, I will give my honest opinion about their product.  I had a SLIMY (in my opinion) company contact me and want me to add them to my side bar, they made an offer of money and had it been the monthly rate, it would have been a nice amount but being the SLIMY company that they are, they wanted it for an entire year.  They did not want a post done but then you would have thought I was supporting someone like them and I would never tell someone to go to them.  So one side of the balancing act is — creating income for my husband going back to school full time in the fall and the other side is my reputation. This is where, what people think of you ‘makes a difference’.  I had sent a reply back to this company, before I knew who they were, asking for more specific details, so I could make an informed decision.  I went in to talk with my husband and told him ‘who I thought the company was and the only way I would do it, would be to give the facts and my opinion of them’ and the first thing he said was “You have always said you will not do business with someone, unless you can stand behind their product”.  I got the e-mail back and it was the company that I thought it was and I sent back a reply–“thank you for the information but I am not interested”.

This is another lesson you will be teaching your children.  Can you be bought?  When to walk away.  Business ethics.  Your standards and what you expect.

If you have a business, have good sound people around you, that you can bounce things off of and get their opinion.  Make sure that you know, they have your best interest in mind.

The merchants trust her — they know she provides good quality items.  Her reputation is solid.

She respects them and follows through.

Building a client base & a good business reputation, takes time and commitment.

Is it your desire to have your own home business?  Ask God to direct you and to bless your hands and help you create things that will create an income for your family so you can be successful for Him.  The Lord can do AMAZING things.  We know it but sometimes we doubt.  Remember you were created in HIS image–His hands-beautiful hands–thank the Lord for those hands.

If God has already blessed you, do you help others who seek business advice, so they too can stay at home or are you stingy with what you will share.

This has been a good lesson for me this week–as I think on these things and what I can do, create, develop a business–since my hubby will probably be back in school full time in the fall.

PRAYING for Wisdom.

What do you think I should do when I grow up?