Proverbs 31:14-15

Zvose Ndinoita

Translation: “I do it all”

Speaker: Mrs Tapiwa Victory Manyika Maridzo

Greetings in the mighty name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I’d like to acknowledge and honour the anointing that is upon my Father, Apostle Dr S.T Manyika as well as my Mother Pastor Maureen Manyika as the President of our Women’s and girls ministry - Virtuous Women of the Word, which operates under Out for Christ Ministries International.

This is a teaching that I was tasked to address on our Word Based Babes platform which is the girls ministry that falls under the women’s ministry. The topic being ‘Cooking’.

🍳🥘🧑🏾‍🍳⏲️🥪🥙🌯🥗🍔🍗🍖🥓🍱🍝🍜🍛🥞🥧🍑🍓🍒🥑🍌🍎🍊🍍🍋🧀🍇🥔🍞🥩🥦🥒🥕🌽

Proverbs‬ ‭31‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar. She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.”

Often times when we talk about the Proverbs 31 woman we talk about how she is a working woman, a rich woman who buys land, a woman who looks good, a fearless and happy woman. But there is this part in verse 14 that doesn’t get much emphasis. The Proverbs 31 woman is an excellent wife who makes a wide search for what she buys. In other words, she does not settle for what is convenient—she seeks what is best. In verse 15 we are told that she even has servants, but she is the one who wakes up to make breakfast for her household, not the servants.

There are many things that fall under this topic because aside from being able to cook, you must be able to clean because who will wash the dishes? You yourself must be a clean person because the fruits and vegetables you will buy must be cleaned so that you do not feed your family unclean food. I’m sure we’ve all heard of the saying “women are the managers of the home”. This is true because you must be organised as the manager. You are the one who is supposed to know what is there and what isn’t there. You must be a working woman so that you can also afford the ingredients and kitchen utensils/appliances you will need to make certain recipes.

I remember attending a bridal shower where the teacher said something that stuck with me until this day. “Murume hakumbirwi mari yekutenga madomasi” which means “we shouldn’t have to ask a man for money to buy tomatoes”. This was Pastor Mukopa who was teaching at Mrs Javangwe’s bridal shower. Some things as a woman you must be able to take care of on your own without always having to run to daddy, whether this is your dad or your husband.

This does not start in marriage. It starts before. We all have different strengths as women. Some are great cooks, some are very clean and thorough. It is important that you work on the areas that you are not very strong in because that is what the devil will try to use against you in life.

I remember when I finished highschool I took a gap year. In that gap year that is when I became very serious about wanting to learn how to cook. I was the only one who wasn’t working or going to school yet. So it only made sense that I be the one to cook because everyone else spent the day at work or at school. They would come back hungry. There are girls that are just sitting at home thinking that they are too good for some of these things. I would cook most days, if not everyday. I figured that for me not to get bored of cooking let me be intentional about learning various kinds of recipes. I would also wake up very early everyday to prepare my little sisters lunchboxes for school.

I started watching YouTube videos and learning. When my mother and father saw that I had the interest they bought me cookbooks. When parents see that you are serious about something, not by just talking about it but by also putting in action they will support you. Sometimes we think we have to go to school for these things but it just takes willingness and consistency.

Upon getting into a relationship it became clear that I was to relocate to join my husband. I thank Mrs Vongai Mazendame because she would teach me on the reality of life overseas for women, wives and mothers. We would have these sessions over the phone while I was still preparing for marriage.

In life you don’t know where you will end up ladies, let us not be delusional and think that we are the exception, unique or special case. Here overseas there are no maids. No one has one because maids overseas are very expensive as compared to Zimbabwe/Africa. Maids overseas have the same salary as every other profession, so if you were to have one your salary would be finishing paying the maid. So here people take care of their own homes. They go to work, come back home and take care of the home.

This is where maturing as a woman, not just as a woman but as a Christian woman comes into play. Understanding that men and women are different. We were created differently and that is a beautiful thing. We will never be the same. We are meant to compliment each other, not to compete with each other. Men can help and they also have their own domestic chores that they do which mainly involves the outside parts of the home, fixing and fitting, taking care of the lawns, cleaning and fixing the car etc.

We have to understand that men are not wired to cook and clean everyday. They can help and they do it but that is not what they were created to do, they can’t do it everyday. They also don’t have the finishing touch and neatness that we have as women. Just like how we don’t have the strength that they have to lift heavy things and work the hard jobs they do.

Let’s not give into the extreme feminism that is happening these days. Women are nurturers, givers of life. Men are leaders, they lead their family into God’s provision as taught by our father Apostle. They protect and take care of their family’s outside world. You as the woman take care of your family’s inner world, the home. You nurture through feeding your family well prepared meals, keeping the home clean so they do not get sick with dust. That also gives them life by keeping them healthy and strong. Giving life is not just about pushing out a baby but also constantly pouring life into those babies and your husband by taking care of them.

As women we can be vocal, men are not like that. We want everyone to know all the work we have been doing and you think you are the only one who is working. Men won’t tell you all the hardship they had to deal with out there while working. They take it as it is and continue because they understand that it is their duty whether they like it or not. So do them a favour and don’t always be complaining when they get home. They must come home to a nice fresh smelling house, with a good meal that has been prepared. Home must be their peace and happiness. You will see that he will also take care of you the way you will take care of him.

Earlier I mentioned that the devil will use where you are weak to attack your life. For those who will have access to helpers/maids. If you let the maid do everything for your husband he will appreciate her more than he will appreciate you. The Proverbs 31 woman has girl servants (maids) but she is the one who wakes up to make breakfast for her household. There are some tasks you must make personal. Especially things relating to your husband and kids, helpers/maids can do the general stuff but don’t leave everything to them. Make it a point that you are the one who cooks for your husband, he must enjoy your food not the maid’s food.

You will be surprised by how simple men are, the times when I see my husband with the biggest smile on his face is when he comes home to a good meal after a long day at work. I come back home from work and I cook. He is happier when he is eating my food than when I show him my money and salary. Because something like cooking is personal. You are catering to your family. Even when I was still at home as a daughter, my dad knew he could depend on me to make him good healthy food. He would come back home with ingredients and tell me the recipe he wanted me to make on a certain day. He would be so happy when I would get the meals right.

Today I have even managed to create another stream of income through cooking. I never went to school for it but today I am teaching thousands of women how to cook from my Instagram page. Brands pay me to work with them and I have developed 2 cookbooks. I make sales daily.

Don’t take these simple things for granted, now I cook for my husband and also make money from cooking for him. God is faithful to those that are faithful with what He has blessed them with. With the little you have God will give you much if you are faithful and your family and husband will call you blessed!

Proverbs‬ ‭31‬:‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her:”

So let’s get cooking ladies! There are many sources to learn from these days. Cooking shows, instagram cooking influencers/bloggers, cookbooks, YouTube and even just learning from family and friends.

God bless you!✨