Role Models of America
The Pro31 Woman
Lesson 6
Proverbs 31:21
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household……
3 Preparations found in this verse:
· Natural Seasons: It is a wise woman who looks ahead to the coming seasons of life and prepares well. How do we prepare for seasons of cold? By seasonal clothing such as sweaters, scarves, hats, gloves, and coats . Or maybe items to be purchased in a bigger size for a child who is going to be too tall for last years coat. It could also mean she has stored up a new blanket, and or made warm clothing for a coming child. Her thoughts about the coming winter, cause her to think about the sizes of her family and how they may have outgrown last year’s clothing.
· Emergencies: Who can know when a bad storm is headed for one’s area? No one can know for sure if and when something will occur. Floods, fires, hurricanes, tornados all happen in life. But we all can prepare as much as possible for our families, by having a plan in place for emergencies. An emergency happening suddenly prevents everyone from thinking clearly about what they need to gather up in a hurry. So her expertise in thinking ahead will be a wonderful blessing to her family in an dire hour of need.
Part of good preparations includes clothing, food, medications , copies of important papers flash lights, batteries and possibly a radio . A wise woman will take an afternoon and an empty suitcase that is stacked in the closet and pack essentials inside (with a list of the contents taped to the outside for easy memory) and stored in the readily seen place in the garage.
If an emergency should arise – she is instantly ready to go having prepared well in advance for her family.
So women would are ready for any season of weather will not be afraid (or worry about) bad weather coming ahead because she knows she is ready. Icy cold weather promotes sickness without proper attire. So one’s choices of clothing either help protect or can contribute to health problems. The most prudent time to prepare for winter is in the Spring when all winter clothing in the retail markets are marked down in sales. So not only can she purchase warm clothing for her family, but get it at a great discount.
And yet there is another meaning to be found here.
· Family Traumas: An emotional storm that can sweep over a family can have an tremendous effect on the family members. And a wise women can also prepare for this spiritually by her prayers, scriptures that she sows into her families hearts and minds. So that when a ‘trial by fire’ comes, her family will remember her words and stand steady and strong together.
How does one prepare the family for these kinds of ‘cold blasts’ of life?
1. By clothing her family in the Word of God and covering them in prayer daily. The woman who tells God’s Promises to her children and her husband will find they stay encouraged and strong even when situations in life are tough.
Where are some of God’s Promises?
The Book of Psalms is filled with verses of His protecting Word.
The Book of Proverbs is also full of encouragement for those who put their trust in God.
Take some of these chapters to heart for yourself and pray specific verses over your family. Memorize verses that bring comfort and encouragement to you. Share them with your husband in a time of need. Tell them to your children when life is tough. They will all take comfort in them and find their refuge also in His Word.
2. Prayer. The prayers of the righteous availeth much. Meaning those who are clothed in God’s righteousness and learn to pray – their prayers obtain much! Much in answers, in miracles, as in overcoming obstacles, as in impossibilities and inner strength. When you pray for your family God hears and answers!
……….for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
Being clothed with scarlet in those days would have been very expensive as colored cloth – or dyed fabric was prized and costly. Unless she created or dyed the cloth herself. She would have had to gather the crimson colors in natural materials such as roots, berries or flowers to create the color of red to use. Creating the system by which her dyes could permanently hue the fabric had to have been a learned skill.
Why Scarlet? Scarlet would have been of the elitist class of people. The Important People of their realm. She was saying you are so special and important to me that I am insuring that wherever you go, when you look at your clothing you will know that your mother/wife loves you and cares for you like none other.
· I am making sure you know you are deeply loved and celebrated.
And when others look at you, you will stand out as one of importance, as one to be given status or rank. This mother was making sure to give her family every possible angle to advantage and to become noticed. They would stand out in a crowd, would shine above others, would be chosen above others.
· Her attention to color as well as type of appropriate seasonal comfort in clothing assured her husband and children that they would have every advantage in their goals with her help.
Written by Gayla Holley
All Rights Reserved 2007
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