The Southern Woman

A Southern Woman

Growing up in a Pentecostal family, my mother taught me to be a true Southern Lady by using the Bible as reference.  The virtues of a true lady are spelled out for us in Proverbs 31.  I like using the Amplified Version of the Bible since it is easier to understand and mine also has commentaries by Joyce Meyer whom I love to hear preach and teach!

"A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman- who is he who can find her?  She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.  The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely so he has no lack of honest gain or need dishonest spoil.  She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.  She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands to develop it.  She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuff; she brings her household's food from afar.  She rises while it is yet night and gets food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.  She considers a new field before she buys or accepts it, with her savings she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard.  She girds herself with strength (spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God given tasks) and makes her arms strong and firm.  She tastes and sees that her gain from work is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night (of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust).  She lays her hands to the spindle and her hands hold the distaff.  She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy (whether in body, spirit, or mind).  She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet.  She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry.  Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple.  Her husband is known in the city's gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.  She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them; she delivers to the merchants girdles (or sashes that free one up for service).  Strength and dignity are clothing and her position is secure; she rejoices over the future.  She opens her mouth in skillful and Godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.  She looks well to how things go on in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.  Her children rise up and call her blessed and her husband boasts and praises her.  Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well, but you excel them all.  Charm and grace are deceptive and beauty is vain, but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she will be praised!  Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates."  Proverbs 31:10-31

Lemuel extols on the character of the Godly wife and mother.  He wrote this beautiful acrostic poem, one in which each verse begins with a succeeding letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  He profiles a woman who is godly, industrious, creative, sensitive, multi-talented, and one who is a wife and mother!  She wears many different hats.  She is a seamstress, a merchant, a cook, real estate agent, gardener, and community volunteer.  But her energies are directed towards her home and is a blessing to her family.  Embrace what you are!  You are wife and mother and your family is blessed to have you.  To be a Southern Lady you must be a Proverbs 31 Lady!