On Losing An Aunt And Getting A Glimpse At The Proverbs 31 Woman

Last week, I lost an aunt.

My grandmother called earlier that week to tell me her sister in-law’s health was deteriorating. She said she had been “sleeping” for days and her body was slowly shutting down. And it seemed like death was eminent.

Then…it happened.

It was Friday, May 14. She was my second aunt to pass away in about a week, and the third relative in the last six months.

You never want to see a family member die, but at least this time I had time to prepare my heart for what was about to take place….as much as I could.

In these situations, you try to celebrate the life instead of grieving the loss. In fact, my cousin said, in a Facebook post, that she “wasn’t crying because [she’s] gone, but smiling because [she] lived.” She went on to talk about how blessed she was to have had her in her life even if it was for just 22 years.

That statement really resonated with me, especially since I just started reading Beautiful in God’s Eyes by Elizabeth George. It delves into the qualities of the Proverbs 31 woman in the Bible. The second chapter talks about her value.

“Her price is much higher than jewels.” (Proverbs 31:10)

I learned that the Proverbs 31 woman is a blessing to those around her. She is someone who brings a sparkle to their lives and makes her home beautiful. Her husband trusts her, and her children (and grandchildren) respect and look up to her.

My aunt, affectionately known as “Aunt Trunnie,” was all of those things. I didn’t get to see her often, but every time I came to visit she welcomed me into her home with open arms (even if it was unannounced). And she was that way with everyone. At times when I was a child, there was so much traffic, she had to tell everyone to stop slamming the screen door and “coming in and out” of her house. Afterall, the mosquitoes were killer during those hot summers in Trenton, North Carolina. And they’d always find a way inside your house.

There were many times I was covered in red, itchy mosquito bites and regretted not staying inside from the beginning. But years later, I gained enough wisdom to know better so we’d just sit in the living room, in the air conditioning, talking.

Through it all, she proved to be the matriarch of her home, a source of wisdom and of emotional stability. And like another one of my cousins said, she was a soldier.

Now, that’s someone I can learn a thing or two from.

So as I continue my study of the Proverbs 31 woman, I’m glad to get this glimpse through my aunt, a woman who was a blessing to her family and her friends…all because she lived.

What do you think makes someone a blessing? Who do you consider a blessing in your life?

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