Strength and Honor are Her Clothing

25 Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the time to come. 26 Her mouth speaks wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue. … 29 “Many women have done noble deeds, but you surpass them all!”

Proverbs 31:25-26; 29

Sixteen years ago we spent 6 weeks in the NICU with Brynna and faced wave after wave of inconceivably bad news and corresponding prognosis. During that time one of the main sources of strength I was able to lean on was the strength I saw in my precious bride. Time and time again she stepped up to tackle insurmountable odds with poise, grace, and a level of faith I’ve only dreamed of having.

Just over a month ago our family was once again plunged into the Dark Night of the Soul when our son was tragically killed. We have been preparing our hearts for loss ever since those days in the NICU, but we had never prepared for the loss of one of our other children. It’s been a rough time, to say the least.

At our son’s funeral I saw something amazing; the embodiment of Proverbs 31:25. As I walked up the “greeting line” before the service, I turned around to see my dear wife standing near the casket greeting person after person as they wished us well, gave condolences, and comforting hugs. For over an hour, she stood at her post with a beauty and strength only the Holy Spirit could have provided.

We weren’t the only ones grieving and she was not there merely as a mourning mother, but also a comforting friend and ministering saint. There have been only a few moments in the past 29 years that have reminded me so vividly of the strength the Holy Spirit has given her to walk after His ways.

In Act 3 of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Helena says of her friend, Hermia, 'Though she be but little, she is fierce'. Tammy may not always be the one in the limelight, in fact, she’s almost always picking up slack for me to do ministry someplace. Though her public footprint “be but little”, her footprint of faith is as fierce as they come.