©Dee Dee Hall-2001
The last piece of my puzzle can be found in Pr. 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.
How blessed I have been to have a virtuous woman, Jo Flowers, for my own mother. Everyone who knows her can testify of her tender and compassionate spirit. She puts me to shame with her patience and unselfishness. She not only is a wonderful mother, but a very talented artist - working willingly with her hands. I was equally blessed to have a virtuous woman for my mother -in-law. Esther Hall was a very faithful mother to her children, even when they disappointed her. She was the only one to come and see my husband -to-be when he was in jail. When I think of her, I think of one who never complained. She went through many hardships bravely and had the stamina to keep on going. Another woman who comes to mind is Sis. Stewart. She was a precious preacher's wife who would come and visit our church occasionally. Her face had the glow of the Lord upon it as she worshiped the Lord. My boys were small at the time, and she would always bring a little surprise for them. She always had a tract, or book, or an encouraging preaching tape to share with my husband. She was constantly encouraging others in the Lord. When our daughter had open-heart surgery she gave us a bag of wrapped up presents, numbered 1-7. She told us to open up one each day while we were at the hospital. There were useful items such as a little sewing kit, stationary and stamps. Also were books and even some money in one for us to get something to eat. Years later her husband of over 50 years fell in sin and left her for another. Yet through this terrible ordeal she never lost her love for God and his people!
One other mother I would like to mention is Angie Miller. She is a young mother of 4 who had a strep throat infection that went toxic to her body. She went into a coma and damage was done to her hands and feet. When she awoke from the coma, she found that her right arm from the elbow down was missing, and her left hand had lost most of its fingers. Her feet also suffered the loss of her toes. I can only imagine the horror of that moment. She told me it was terrible, but she wanted to live for the sake of her children. I greatly admire her for that. The Lord gave her courage to face her ordeal, and through much prayer, and determination she has undergone much suffering and physical therapy. Today she is walking, driving, and learning to use an artificial arm. And her children still have a precious mother to love and appreciate. The following poem was written after my husband and I visited her (soon after she first came home from the hospital).
A Mom without Hands I saw a precious mom today, Who'd lost both hands and feet. Although her frame had suffered loss, Her spirit still was sweet.
Her youngest son came running in, With a flower for his mom. She had no hand to reach and take it, So he placed it on her arm.
With gratitude she wished to reach, And stroke his little head, But with no hand to reach and touch, She touched him in her heart instead.
With tear-filled eyes she longed to do, The things that mothers do Making beds, featuring meals, Tying her son's shoe.
Now she must find another way To let her children know How much she loves and cares for them, She shares with them her soul.
And as the days go passing by, With her spirit on the mend, She'll read to them; she'll talk with them; She'll become their dearest friend.
Please read: Pr. 31:10-31, then continue on:If you are a woman who was not blessed with a virtuous woman for a mother, you should determine in your heart that your children would have one. Children raised in a godly home with two parents who love and fear God have a wonderfUl heritage. It is sad to see families go on for many generations without a Christian influence. If someone from; a family like that gets saved, it is more difficult for him or her to learn the ways of Christ. They have missed so much while they were growing up. Missionaries to Australia have noticed the hardness of the people to the gospel. Much of that comes from their heritage. The first settlers of Australia were convicts, who probably had no Christian heritage in their family for many generations. Children from Christian homes should cherish their advantage and never forget the mercies of the Lord for giving them saved parents.
In Conclusion, What gives value to the things of life? If God's secret treasure were gold and silver, then the millionaires and billionaires of this world would be the happiest people on earth, but we know that this is not so. Picture Howard Hughes, the rich billionaire, in his last days. He was so paranoid that he would not leave his room. It was piled high with used tissues when he died. If a person had millions of dollars and was eaten up with cancer, what value would the money be to him? Man was created a spiritual being. This soul of ours sets us apart from the animals. A person who neglects his soul and the spiritual side of life lives no better than an animal. Even the animals provide for their young. Our life must consist of more than just making a living. Jesus said in Mt. 4:4 It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. In Mt. 12:35 He also said A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things.
This word treasure leads us back to the key verse found in Is. 45:3 where it reads and I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret Places. I would like to discuss the treasures of darkness. There is much I don't understand about treasures in darkness, but here are my thoughts about it. In Jo 1: 4-5 we read In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. Jesus is the light of the world, and He shines in the darkness. Those who receive Him obtain this treasure. When Jesus was dying on the cross, about the 6th hour, we read in Lk. 23:44-45 that there was a darkness over all the earth until the 9th hour, and the sun was darkened. Truly, Jesus was the treasure of darkness.
Also, we read in 1st Peter 1:7 that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perisheth is another treasure of darkness. Jesus said in Mt. 5: 1 1-12 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: For great is your reward in heaven. Although we hate to admit it, the hard times, the trials, and discouragements are times that the Lord seems to draw the closest to us, and we join in the fellowship of His sufferings. We read in Job 35:10 that God gives us songs in the night. David also testifies in Ps. 77:6 about his song in the night. God uses the dark times in our life to try us as silver is tried. (Ps. 66:10)
When we connect all our puzzle pieces together, this is the picture we see: a treasure chest full of God's secret treasure.
The fear of God is the key to the chest.
Our greatest treasure is Christ in us - the treasure of darkness; this treasure is hidden in our earthen vessels.
Christ's greatest treasure is the pearl of great price (the church) hidden in the field of the world.
The King James Bible (the word of God) is greater than all the jewels on earth.
The grace of God, that brought us to salvation and is our constant companion through life, cannot be valued with earthly wealth.
Thank God: for full assurance and for His mercy! Our testimony is worth more than silver and gold. Our words can be like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Loving favor of friends, family, and God is precious indeed, and a goodly heritage - a godly mother is worth far above rubies. And lastly, the trial of our faith is more precious than gold. I will conclude with this precious promise in Pr. 8:21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. ©Dee Dee Hall-2001
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