And so we all wish...

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all the beautiful mothers I know! You are doing a great job - just keep pressing on! A woman of valor who can find, for her price is beyond pearls.

Her husband relies on her, and he will lack no gain.

She requites him with good and not with evil all the days of her life.

She seeks wool and flax, and she works it with the will of her hands.

She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar.

She rises when it is still night; she gives food to her household and an allotted share to her maidens.

She contemplates a field and purchases it; from the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

She girds her loins with vigor and strengthens her arms.

[When] she advises that her merchandise is good her lamp does not go out at night.

She stretches forth her hands onto the distaff, and her hands support the spindle.

She spreads out her hand to the poor man, and she stretches her hands out to the needy.

She fears not for her household for snow, for all her household are dressed in crimson.

She makes beautiful bedspreads for herself; fine linen and purple wool are her raiment.

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits with the elders of the land.

She makes a cloak and sells it, and she gives a belt to the trafficker.

Strength and beauty are her raiment, and she laughs at the last day.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and instruction of kindness is on her tongue.

She supervises the ways of her household and does not eat bread of idleness.

Her children rise and call her fortunate; [also] her husband, and praises her.

"Many women have acquired wealth, but you surpass them all."

Charm is false and beauty is futile; a God-fearing woman is to be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands, and her deeds will praise her in the gates. [Prov 31:10-31]

STITCHES

We spent our afternoon today serving the people in the Housing estates of Ascot Vale. The team at Operation Stitches had decided to put on a pre-winter carnival for the people who live in these estates. 20-plus of us were off, and it was a quite a sight; with a trackless train, giant and mini jumping castles, pamper parlour (hair-braiding, manicures, perfumes), temporary tattoo stand, fairy floss and popcorn, loot bag stands. I volunteered to be stationed at the scarves and beanies stand - each person had the chance to pick a beanie and a scarf to prepare for winter for free. Each beanie and scarf was lovingly knitted by the folks at kogo (Knit One, Give One), an organisation made up of people who knit for the sake of giving.

The Husband was first to volunteer to be in-charge of the giant jumping castle, and with his black t-shirt tucked into the back trackpants, finished with a pouch bag; he really did look more the part of a bah-kut-teh seller. He had a ball of a time; though he needed to be quite stern with some of the boys, trickier moments like that were balanced out by some kids who exclaimed to him, "It's the best day of my life!!!"

It was quite a fantastic experience, to be able to see these people as individuals and serve them and love them, particularly the children. Even though it went on for a couple of hours, it felt too short a time! It wasn't so much of "doing charity" or "helping the needy"; but rather an eye-opener to see these people as our equals. To see them as how God sees them, and who they (and we, for that matter) have been called to be. To see them as deserving love just as much as we do; to see them being shown grace just the way we have been shown; shown the courtesy we would expect for ourselves and our friends.