Proverbs 31:16 Tribute

One thing I have realized doing this series is that the Proverbs 31 woman is an ideal, no one woman can live up to all these qualities – there is not enough hours in a day! Another factor is that our circumstances might not require us to fulfill the criteria. Alice my grandmother certainly never was involved in the business of gardening, that was strictly my grandfather's role. She was in charge of indoors and he was in charge of outdoors. Although this verse could be referring to her thrifty housekeeping.

However, my maternal grandmother, Phyllis fulfilled this role very well. She was was widowed when my mother was 4 years old and she found herself the other side of the world from her family and had no means to get back to England. There was no pensions in those days so she cleaned, ironed, taught piano and gave singing lessons and eventually became a successful business woman. Throughout, it all she had a large vegetable garden and kept hens. Mum had all she could ask for.

So, Phyllis you were a good proverbs 31:16 woman. You were an inspiration for us to be all we can be, we can learn from your industry, integrity, and resourcefulness.

This week, I have painted my tribute in oil, no computer manipulation! I wanted the portrait to be a thoughtful study, as I think this verse is more about planning and organizing the way ahead.

29 Faces - no 14

For my 14^th Face in the 29 Faces in September challenge I have used watercolour and pencil. I tried a new technique of scattering salt on the wet paint in the background and as it looks like snow so she is a winter nymph.

Linked to Paint Party Friday

and Spiritual Sundays

Proverbs 31 Josephine not Alice

This week, I am going to change tack, and make this a tribute to my Mother. I started the week with continuing the tribute to Proverbs 31 wives with Alice, my grandmother, but, to be honest I don't know much about how she provided I know she did, and did it well, more about that next week.

It been a difficult task this week as my Mother has severe Alzheimer's, and doesn't really know me anymore. I am full of grief for her and the situation and I can not do anything, as well, I am thousands of miles away. The reason I am making this a tribute to her is because of the telephone call from my sister, who nurses at the hospital where my mother is residing, to update me on her condition. Whenever she goes on duty she pops in and has a chat. She always finds shopping lists scattered around her room, of things she has to get when she gets home to Lower Hutt back here in NZ. ( she has not lived in NZ for 25 years). It was like God was saying to me “Look Sharon, honour your Mother, she was a wonderful provider!” And she was!

When we we small, our parents were hard up. But she always made sure that there were special treats for Xmas, birthdays and holidays. She would regularly put special items in a cupboard high up in the kitchen, us kids would sometimes sneak peeks, when she was not around. We would get a chair climb up onto the bench, and rifle through the cupboard trying to guess when they would appear on the table. As things improved financially, she was always searching for the best producer of this and that. When she visited us in later years, she was always loaded up with special treats and enough food to full the freezer. Yes, she was a good provider in the Proverbs 31 tradition.

 

It was hard painting my Mum. First of all I wanted to paint her in her prime, in the photo above she was 28. I remember the day well as it was my 7th birthday, and I was not very pleased as I had wanted a bike and I couldn't understand why my Grandmother Phyllis (left) had given my sister a doll too! But as the painting went on it got too hard, so I had to stop so I decided to do an impressionistic one, actually I think it is more of a self portrait, as it looks very sad. The vine bits are from a glass bowl with silver vines inlaid that she gave me on one of my birthdays. I will finish the other portrait and use it later.

So in all, a tough week painting but in some ways healing. Mum I honour you!

Linked to Paint Party Fridays and Spiritual Sundays