One Family's attempt to live simply, while simply following. Jesus that is!
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
A Virtuous Woman!
Over the course of the past few weeks, I have asked many of you to lift my grandmother, Ruby Boyd, up in prayer. She is suffering from multiple mylenoma and the disease has spent the better part of the past three weeks attacking her kidneys. Late last week she had gotten news that her kidneys weren’t reacting to the dialysis and that her outlook was not positive. After a pretty good weekend, her health has deteriorated pretty quickly and she was recently moved to Hospice care.
But last Thursday I had an incredible opportunity of spending some of the best time I have ever had with my “Grandie.” After work, I stopped by the nursing home and we just got to sit and visit. She was along and awake and seemed happy to see me. She talked about her recent doctor’s appointments and the not so good news they had delivered. I had brought my Bible with me and asked if I could read a few scriptures for her. She said that would be nice and we started reading a few of the Psalms.
After spending about ten minutes reading, she asked if I would read Proverbs 31. She said she wanted this to be read at her funeral. She said this was exactly what she had patterned her life after. So i read…
10 [c] A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 ”Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
After reading, I was just amazed at how virtuous a woman my grandmother was. I stopped reading and just offered up a prayer of thanks for her life. She was worth far more than that of a ruby! And God just reminded me of how blessed I was to experience such a woman. A woman who patterned her life on the truth of God’s Word. A woman who was clothed in dignity and strength and who had the full confidence of her husband. A woman who fears the Lord and who is about to recieve her ETERNAL REWARD!
She is a woman the world will miss. That I will miss. But that God will welcome.
