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She is worth far more than jewels, cites the Bible's Proverbs 31 - among many other praises - about wives, mothers and women who do it all.

The Old Testament scripture - sometimes sung or read to mothers during the Sabbath in traditional Jewish homes or quoted from the pulpit in churches - celebrates the ideal mother who provides, nurtures and oversees the affairs of her household.

Translations vary, but words used to describe women's character include virtuous, noble and valiant. Pastors, friends and relatives of some local women say the ancient text still rings true, even in the face of modern challenges: income inequality, redefined gender roles, raising children in a media-saturated world, a rise in single motherhood and the distractions of social media and mobile technology.

Despite the obstacles, Port St. John resident Annetha Jones says that raising children, with all of the joy and pain involved, is worth it. "I wouldn't trade anything for being a mother," said Jones, an assistant principal at a Merritt Island middle school.

Jones is married with a 16-year-old son and an 18-year-old daughter now attending Florida State. The professional educator's world is a whirlwind of meetings, late-night work sessions, crunched with church gatherings and nightly family prayers.

She is among the women who make up about 46 percent of the labor force, either providing primary or supplemental income for their families, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jones, who was raised by a single mother, said work does not mean the negation of family time.

"We try to have family dinners almost every night ... I cook but my husband and I both try to share in that," she said.

Despite all she has going on, Karen Davis says she is far from feeling overwhelmed.

Davis recently stood near the concession stand at Knecht Park in Palm Bay, working the booth and cheering on her son's youth baseball team even as the 10-year-old sat sidelined by a foot injury.

Her brown hair - salted with a touch of gray - is close to her scalp, the result of sitting under shears earlier this year as she, her 12-year-old daughter and 81-year-old mother donated their hair to help raise funds for children suffering with cancer.

And the mother of three is preparing to adopt two young orphans from Ethiopia.

"There's definitely prayer involved, I try my best to be focused and keep my priorities in order," Davis, a full-time pharmacist, said about finding balance between her family, faith, community work and career.