Pastors Blog

When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
-Proverbs 31:21

When it snows in New Orleans, we are all amazed. It actually snowed on Christmas Day two years ago--the Christmas before Katrina. We scraped the white stuff into piles, built tiny snowmen and thew soggy snowballs.

The virtuous are prepared even for those rare emergencies that threaten the health of the family. Snow is not common in Israel. In fact, I understand that Mount Hermon, the site of the only ski resort in Israel, is the only place that gets snow regularly.

I am inspired to prepare more thoroughly for storms and evacuations. If virtue means that a family in Israel is well-prepared for snow, then virtue means that a family in New Orleans is well-prepared for hurricanes.

This wife and mother has clothes of scarlet ready for the cold weather. Scarlet is a great color for cold and snowy days. The coloring of this ancient cloth also means that it is material of the finest quality. These garments are warm and cozy on those unusual days when they are needed by all family members.

She is a homemaker, among many other things, and she carries the responsibility for clothing the family properly. She attends to this important matter with such care that even unusual circumstances cause her no fear. She is not afraid of snow--she is ready for it. We learn here one of the keys to reducing anxiety--good preparation. It is not a cure-all, of course, but it does help to use our energy for practical readiness rather than needless frittering.

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 21

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you alone know the future. You alone know what storms may come to our coast this next hurricane season. I pray for another year without the need to evacuate. But I pray that, should the call come, you will help me and my family be so prepared that we are free to help others in their need.