The other day I spoke to a friend at a vendor event who said, “One day I’d like to stay home and run my business.” She currently has a full-time day job and a side business she runs with the help of her husband and children. The last few years I have spoken to many women who have said the same thing and it is something that I have said as well. Women truly do it all, and many of us are increasingly drawn to being in our homes as much as we can be. Yet, even the women who stay home still work tirelessly finding ways to make income, DIYs, cook, clean, save money and teach our kids.

^[b]A wife of noble characterwho can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husbandhas full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
¹³ She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.

I and several of my friends have started direct sales businesses. There are so many to choose from now, aren’t there? The reason there are so many successful direct sales companies is because women are running them and using them as a vehicle to supplement their family’s income. Then look at how much business is conducted through Etsy and similar platforms.

She is like the merchant ships,

bringing her food from afar.

15 She gets up while it is still night;

she provides food for her family

and portions for her female servants.

16 She considers a field and buys it;

out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She sets about her work vigorously;

her arms are strong for her tasks.

18 She sees that her trading is profitable,

and her lamp does not go out at night.

So many women I know are up before the sun to start the day’s tasks. I’m always up with my little one at the first sign of morning light while my husband catches a few more winks. We make sure everyone else is fed before ourselves, we make investments in our children as well as our finances. Then we stay up to get just a little bit more done before we go to bed.

¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the eldersof the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.

Most of the women I know not only look out for themselves and their households, but they look out for others. We often stop what we’re doing to be with a friend who needs company or contribute to a cause. We dress to impress. We love to accessorize. We are obsessed with Pinterest because we want to create things for our home, save time, save money, or find new ways to make profits. We are entrepreneurs.

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

We know that we try to do it all, but often fall short. I know that we still accomplish much. We laugh at ourselves, hopefully more than we cry about our shortcomings, and we find perspective. Most of us don’t get bored because we are too busy.

Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “Many women do noble things,

but you surpass them all.”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,

and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

My friends, we are a generation of Proverbs 31 women. Look around and try to find a woman who isn’t working while raising children, or homeschooling her kids while running some form of small business, or DIY’ing their home and garden like Joanna Gaines, or running their husband’s business, while doing a number of other things. We want to do so much and we are so hard on ourselves when we aren’t doing that thing we were planning on doing (whatever that thing is for you). But we are doing so much and when I look around at my diverse group of friends and see how amazing their kids are or the things they’ve accomplished, I know that I am surrounded by women of noble character and incredible work ethic. You’re doing a great job girls; just keep going!