Chapter 14 ~ A Double Blessing ~ Her Preparation

Proverbs 31:21 "She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed in scarlet."

Whenever I think of Israel, I think of a dry, arid land ~ camels, dust, rocks ~ you get the idea. But snow? Nope. Doesn't even compute. However, it does snow there, every year! Israel's wet, cold, windy winters are barely endured by the people living in stone houses, surrounded by stone streets, encircled by a stone wall! There is either no heat or very little heat! Can you even imagine the bone-chilling cold as the frigid, wet air seeps into those rocks?
Well, this lady is prepared! "She is not afraid of the snow for her household..." Ever the planner, she's always looking ahead for what's needed for her family. Her beautifully fashioned, warm woolen cloaks will bless her family!
However, not only her immediate family will benefit from this woman's careful planning. Did you catch the phrase ~ "for all her household are clothed in scarlet"?
Sisters, that would not only included her immediate family, but her extended family as well! This would have included elderly parents, (possibly) married children, and grandchildren ~ orphaned children (such as nieces and nephews) could have resided there as well as widowed relations. Servants also benefited from this lady's generosity! "[All] are clothed in scarlet."
What does the color scarlet signify? "The color reveals much about her provision."
1. Warmth. "Red, or scarlet (meaning to shine) indicated the retention of heat."
2. Stately appearance. "Scarlet is the color of kings' clothing and signifies dignity, luxury, and magnificence."
3. Quality. They are not only clothed with wool, but scarlet wool. Only the best for this lady's family.
4. Double thickness. "One meaning of the Hebrew word for scarlet is 'double', and of course God's beautiful woman would only make quality, double-thick clothing, extending a double blessing to her brood."
5. Double dipped. To achieve a true scarlet color, the wool had to be dipped into the dye more than once.
6. Costly. The cost of the dye and the added labor made these robes "luxurious and costly."
Do you see her heart again, sisters? She wants the highest quality for her household. I'm sure those under her care appreciated/treasured her love and concern for them as they drew the luxurious warmth around themselves against the bitter cold.

The How-To's of Beauty:
1. Determine future needs. Mrs. George suggests to lay out a one-year calendar and determine your future needs. These would include maintenance work done both inside (cleaning the upholstery, drapes, windows and carpets) and outside (pruning, clearing out gutters, garden preparation, planting seeds, burying bulbs) the home, and special family occasions (graduations, weddings, birthdays, new babies, anniversaries, and holidays).
2. Prepare for emergencies. Have a fire drill, an emergency plan, first aid kits, flashlights, batteries, candles and matches. Since I live in Kansas ~ aka Tornado Alley ~ I've made up a "tornado kit" that's portable. In it, I have a flashlight, extra batteries, a first aid kit, candles in a jar, and matches. Each spring, I restock water bottles, granola bars and extra changes of clothes to put in it as well. If we ever need to head to the storm shelter, the bag's ready to go.
3. Care for clothing. It's our job to make sure our families have clothes that are ready to wear. Keep up on the washing and ironing as well as sewing on loose buttons or ripped hems. Also, make sure clothing is protected by moth-proofing, covering, and storing them properly.
4. Consider quality. Having fewer but well-constructed garments that you can mix and match is better than having a lot of cheaper, inferior items that wear out easily.
5. Consider comfort. "The comfort, protection, warmth, and health of your family is undoubtedly a major concern the you, and that's a concern that God's beautiful woman shares."
6. Consider beauty. Make sure your expression of beauty isn't overdone, but a simple expression of your love for your family.

Mrs. George concludes this chapter with this comparison: "Know that the work of preparation is important to God and that He will guide your planning. After all, He provides for us. His very name is 'Jehovah-jireh, God will provide'! You and I mirror this aspect of His character when we provide for our loved ones, and our provision happens more easily ~ if not more bountifully ~ when we plan and prepare.... Then, having prepared for the seasons of life and having placed your trust in our caring, loving, gracious all-sufficient God, there is never a place in your home for fear. Blessed by your preparations and by God's provision, your loved ones are indeed doubly blessed."