Excellent Wives

A collection of three pieces of “homework” from Quek Tze-Ming’s sermon on 31 August, from three husbands

Piece 1

An excellent wife – can find meh?
Such a one is worth more than an engagement ring. Yea, more than a heap of engagement rings.
Her husband trusts her; for she is good to him and their family every day of her life.
He can sit easy. Like a lioness, she looks after her family.

By day she works to bring in a second income.
At night, armed with iPad and iPhone, she scours the worldwide web on her iPad.
She brings in goods from online maternity shops, Taobao, and diaper suppliers. She compares one merchandise with another, and considers that her choice is well-reviewed and saves money.
She arranges with contractors to furnish the home and make it liveable. All things are arranged in good order.
She dresses her family up well. Not a crease or mismatch of colours can be found.
She sources for fine food to let her family eat well, while her husband serves in the marketplace.
Indeed, like a lioness she provides for her family.

She plans ahead.
She carefully watches over the welfare of her home, and shrouds them with a wall of protection.
All details are attended to, and so there is naught to worry about.
She laughs at the heat, the haze, and the mozzies.
She gives to the welfare of the underprivileged.
She plans with great care.

She considers matters carefully, like a lioness with a quiet spirit.
When she speaks, insight and practical wisdom pours out.
When her children are old enough, they shall rise up and call her blessed.
Her husband, likewise, exclaims: There is none like you indeed; One of a kind!
You are truly a lioness.
You are like Christ, who richly offers us the best gifts from the Father.
You lay aside charm and beauty to serve your family.
You know that all things ultimately come from the LORD.
And so you pray unceasingly for others that they may prosper.
Kudos to you!
May you see the fruit of your labours, and be glorified in them.
Your family is your fruit, and your crown.

Piece 2

Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? (God already gave me one….)
One who is more than all the riches in life.
Her spouse has placed full trust in her
through whom he gains and grows and prosper.
Good, not harm she brings to him
Through life, throughout until she meets “Grim”.
She busies herself in the social welfare ministry
Working skilfully, so all, even her may survive successfully.
Getting up early to feed the children, the dog, the rabbit
Fighting hard against her own “赖床” habit.
Back to back, she inspects, she plans and counsels and meet
Her work, her colleagues, her clients, a truly amazing feat.
She is caffeinated and passionate and an effective worker,
Making sure that her family would not poverty suffer.

Writing, typing texting and emailing
Allocating help to the poor and supporting those that are ailing.
She has no fear for the heat or the haze
Because at home there is air-con…so all okez.
She buys 350 thread count sheets during GSS
and She wears clothes from Dorothy Perkins
Her husband is known to be able to fit thorough his gate
When leaders visit him at home, late.
She does not really make garments nor sashes for retailing
But she’s quite good at selling things by email and “Facebook-ing”
She is reliable and a person who upholds dignity
Standing secure in the face of future uncertainty.
When she speaks, her words are wise
Though not always kind…they’re more…precise.

She carefully organises most things in all her commitments in and outside her household
Therefore laziness is not really characteristic of her as a whole.
Her children love her and pray for her
Her husband too, with blessing and often together.
“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!” so the wise man say.
Then, because, it’s scripture, so we must give way
To say “you’re first, wife”, would mean we “buey pai say”
So without sounding proud, conceited or unchristian,
Second is my wife, I think should we be OK!
Charm and beauty, truly, does not last,
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
May the Lord reward you for all you have done
and may others too, now, and also at the coming of God’s Son.

Piece 3

A wife like mine you sure cannot find.
She is more precious than a good night’s sleep, a decent meal or a string of television shows.
Her husband trusts her – though she often does not realize it – probably because he doesn’t reaffirm her enough.
She has never done him harm, though she thinks she has – but she hasn’t, really.
She seeks salad leaves, groceries and trades with market aunties despite them mistaking her nationality. She brings food from the afar supermarket, lugging the double-pram back and forth in the hot sunshine.
She rises while it is still early morning and provides food for her children. Her husband prefers to forage for himself cos he hates routine.
She deals with contractors to fix the issues at home, for her husband cannot speak the lingo.
She schools the children daily, each according to their method of learning and their education level – even in music. She has given up her own career to do this, and is glad to have done so.
She keeps the children involved and entertained when her husband is trying to work from home because of a lack of conducive office space.
She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong, using the growing babies as variable weights.
Her lamp goes out every night – within 5 seconds of her touching the pillow. Yet she never fails to rise at any scream by her children.
She is not afraid of lizards and cockroaches for her children. Although if her husband is around she screams like a girl (which she is).
She cleans the house and changes the bedsheets regularly – despite the fact that her husband never notices the fragrant smell on his clothes and bedding.
She opens her mouth in wisdom, making time to minister to other young ladies and wives, sacrificing her nap time to do so. The teaching of kindness is on her tongue – bluntness too.
She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness, in fact her cupboard is completely devoid of such branded bread.
Her children rise up and call her blessed (well they actually rise up and just make annoying noises – and the baby can’t say anything despite being 18 months old – but I’m sure they think blessed thoughts). Her husband also and he praises her (in his head):
“Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”