A VIRTUOUS WOMAN

"Who can find a virtuous woman..for her price is far above rubies." Proverbs 31: 10


Who can find a virtuous woman? I can . Her name is MOTHER.

Proverbs 31:13 :"She seeks wool and flax and works willingly with her hands....

My mother has worked hard all her life, providing for me as a child, doing without, sacrficing for me. She still works circles around me, caring for several acres of land, raising daylilies, caring for a beautiful yard. There is not one lazy bone in her body!

Proverbs 31:14: "She is like the merchants' ships..she brings her food from afar."

Mother is an excellent cook....coming from a long line of excellent cooks! And just as she likes to share beauty from her yard, she loves sharing what she cooks with those she loves. Her chicken salad is to die for and she doesn't dare show up for Christmas or Thanksgiving at our house without her fruit salad. Her grandchildren would disown her!!!!!! She is happiest when she is cooking to share.

Proverbs 31:15 "She rises while it is yet night...."

Mother has always been an early riser. She CHOSE to get up at 4:00 am and go to work early when they had flex time at her job. And, now that she is retired, she still CHOOSES to get up early. She is having her "second breakfast" by the time most people are having their first!

Proverbs 31:16 "She considers a field and buys it, with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard."

Mother has always had to support herself, and she has always done a fantastic job at it. She is not afraid of physical labor and her yard is living proof of that! She has had hundreds of daylilies in bloom in her yard... the site of numerous garden tours and even been featured on Mid South Gardens twice. She has a business mind and is meticulous about her business. She taught me volumes about handling business matters. One thing she pounded in my head was "NEVER sign anything without reading it!" It stuck. I pounded it into MY kids' heads. I have had to chuckle as I've heard BOTH of them say, after signing papers to buy a house or other legal documents, that the people they were dealing with could not believe they were actually going to READ it all. They, in turn, replied "My mother would kill me if I didn't read it all!!" THANKS MOTHER FROM ALL OF US!:)

Proverbs 31: 20 "She stretches out her hands to the poor, yea she reaches out her hands to the needy."

Mother is SO tenderhearted where there is genuine need. She would do anything she could to help anyone in need. Carry meals, get together clothes, give money...whatever it takes. If there is a need, she is there to meet it. She cared for her elderly sister for months before she died. She was bedridden and Mother tirelessly and selflessly tended her right up to the day she died.

Proverbs 31: 25 "Strength and honor are her clothing and she shall rejoice in time to come".

Yes, Mother is definitely a strong woman...she has had to be. But her strength comes from only one source...her faith in Jesus Christ. And honor....there is no more honorable or honest person alive than my mother. Her character is above reproach.

Proverbs 31: 28 "Her children rise up and call her blessed."

Today I bless you, Mother. I thank God for you and pray His richest blessings upon you as we celebrate your birthday today. May you know today that you are treasured by all of us and you are greatly loved. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!