Strong Women

    You may have heard of Psalm 31 before, the Bible’s description of the Good Wife. I don’t think I’ve posted it here before because I don’t want anyone to think that I come even close to having any of these characteristics. But being as it is Mother’s Day, I thought these would be appropriate verses to read today.

 It is hard to find an excellent wife.

    She is worth more than rubies.

 Her husband trusts her completely.

    With her, he has everything he needs.

 She does him good and not harm

    for as long as she lives.

 She looks for wool and linen.

    She likes to work with her hands.

 She is like a trader’s ship.

    She goes far to get food.

 She gets up while it is still dark.

    She prepares food for her family.

    She also feeds her servant girls.

 She looks at a field and buys it.

    With money she has earned, she plants a vineyard.

 She does her work with energy.

    Her arms are strong.

 She makes sure that what she makes is good.

    She works by her lamp late into the night.

 She makes thread with her hands

    and weaves her own cloth.

 She welcomes the poor.

    She helps the needy.

 She does not worry about her family when it snows.

    They all have fine clothes to keep them warm.

 She makes coverings for her bed.

    Her clothes are made of linen and other expensive material.

 Her husband is recognized at the city meetings.

    He makes decisions as one of the leaders of the land.

 She makes linen clothes and sells them.

    She provides belts to the merchants.

 She is strong and is respected by the people.

    She looks forward to the future with joy.

 She speaks wise words.

    And she teaches others to be kind.

 She watches over her family.

    And she is always busy.

 Her children bless her.

    Her husband also praises her.

 He says, “There are many excellent wives,

    but you are better than all of them.”

 Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you.

    But a woman who respects the Lord should be praised.

 Give her the reward she has earned.

    She should be openly praised for what she has done.

(Proverbs 31:10-31, International Children’s Bible)

 Here are just some of the strong women from my family. 

My maternal great-grandmother, Anna Wagner Steinbach, with her husband and four oldest children, circa 1902. 

My maternal grandmother, Lena Steinbach Jahn, on the far left at the logging camp where she worked as a cook, also where she met my grandfather, circa 1910s.

Grandma Lena Jahn with one of my cousin's, circa 1951.

My paternal grandmother, Emma Buchen Loehmer Segebart, her passport picture from 1924. I'm not gonna lie, if this photo doesn't scream "hard life, strong woman," I don't know what does. 

Grandma Segebart with my sister Pat and me, circa 1966. 

My mom with her family - my dad, my brother, my two sisters, my oldest niece, and me, 1968.