Proverbs 31

24: She makes garments and sells them, and stocks the merchants with belts.

*This Proverbs 31 wife takes skills she already has, and in addition to ""obtaining wool and flax and making her own cloth-v. 13""  and "'putting her hand to the distaff and her fingers to the spindle- v. 19'' to ''fully clothe her household- v. 21'', she makes enough extra to sell to others!

By the work of her hands that she already employs, clothing her household, she also makes enough to supplement her family's income.  I like this idea!  If there is something I already do, or am willing to learn here at home that will benefit my family, that can also be used to help supplement our income while still allowing me to stay home to be wife and mother then that is something I need to look into.

Now I am NOT a salesperson.  I refuse/detest/can't stand trying to talk someone into purchasing something.  Either they want/need it or they don't.  What strikes me about this verse is that it is very specific-she makes the garments and sells those (maybe on request?) and takes the belts to the merchants.  It doesn't say she goes down and opens up a stall herself and mans it all day.  She takes the work of her hands and consigns it out basically to someone who already has that job!

Yesterday we went to a consignment shop (how perfect is God's word!).  This was a children's consignment shop.  This shop was run by a lady and her grown daughter.  They take in children's items-clothes, toys, shoes, etc. and sell them.  They keep part of the profit and the seller gets part of the profit.  It always makes me feel great shopping there.  I'm helping the store owner by shopping there, I'm helping many individual families out by purchasing their slightly used items, and I'm helping the environment out by purchasing items that might have been otherwise thrown away.  In this shop, there are also many handmade items that are "consigned" just like in this verse.  Hair ribbons, socks, purses and diaper bags, bedding, costumes, etc!  What an awesome visual to have in my mind as I read today's verse!  Obviously the Lord was trying to make a point!