Tribute to women

"My Grandma"
Edith Marie Long
Dec 9, 1896 to Feb 17, 1995

© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

This is the last chapter of Proverbs.  We've read how women who nag are like dripping faucets, gossips are like a gold ring in a pig's snout.  A man who lives in such a house is better off on a small corner of the roof, and more in Proverbs.  I gotta say it, sometimes guys can be just as bad.  They just get "helpful" or "concerned."  Thinking about these descriptions always makes me giggle.  We're all guilty at times.


Proverbs 31 has a beautiful tribute to the good women, the virtuous.  The photo above is of my Grandma, she was like this proverb.  She was always working.  In fact, she would watch basketball on TV, listen to baseball on the radio, while crocheting afghans for our whole family.  She drove the old ladies to Church up until her 80's.  She rarely missed a Sunday.  She lived to be 98.  My Grandpa passed away before I was born, in his 50's.  So I never met him.  All the years afterward, she kept his wallet in her nightstand.  She never remarried.  She came to all of our family graduations and weddings.  She was the first to show up when a new grandchild was born.  She used to make herself big dinners and freeze the leftovers in TV Tray tins.  When she was 81, she needed to get social security so she took a job stuffing advertisements.  I look at this photo and see the humor in her eyes.  Although she wasn't one to make jokes, she did get a kick out of me.  I asked her once if she was surprised I became a Christian.  She said, "Yes, you were such a bad little girl."


She tried taking me to Church with her, but I got sick in the Church office and she was afraid to take me anywhere after that. : )  She was a good woman:  steady and strong.


This is how highly good women are valued by God and good men.

Proverbs 31


10 Who can find a virtuous wife?
     For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
     So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
      All the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
      And willingly works with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
      She brings her food from afar.
15 She also rises while it is yet night,
      And provides food for her household,
      And a portion for her maidservants.
This is true today.  I'm the first one up, getting breakfast.  My days start around 6am and end around 8pm.


16 She considers a field and buys it;
      From her profits she plants a vineyard.
She's wise in business.  This is definitely not an image of a helpless girl is it?


17 She girds herself with strength,
      And strengthens her arms.
In Bible times no one worried about getting exercise.  Life was exercise: carrying water, kneading dough, washing clothes by hand.  It's so amazing how things have changed.


18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
      And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
      And her hand holds the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
      Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
I like this part, she's compassionate and cares about others. : )


21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
      For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
Today we watch the ads for sales.


22 She makes tapestry for herself;
      Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Grandma made all her own clothing.  I think I get my artistic, crafty abilities from her.  From God originally- it runs in our family.  By the time I could sew, material was more expensive than store bought clothes.


23 Her husband is known in the gates,
      When he sits among the elders of the land.
I can see this.  When I am generous with my husband, he's more generous at work.  Everyone loves him at work. 


24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
      And supplies sashes for the merchants.
Even back then, handwork was of high value.  She thinks about the household budget and helps out.


25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
      She shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
      And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over the ways of her household,
      And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
      Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many daughters have done well,
      But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
      But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
      And let her own works praise her in the gates.
I want to be like this.