an amazing woman

For my friend...

10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 15She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 19She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 21She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. 30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

~Proverbs 31

Such strong praises and such high expectations for a virtuous woman. Surely no one woman could ever live up to such high standards. I say...not true. I have been blessed to meet and become friend to woman who is the picture of Proverbs 31. She astounds me at how well she fits the resume and yet I think she has no idea just how worthy of honor she truly is. If ever there was a woman whom I could pattern my life after, it would be hers.

For her privacy, I shall not tell you who she is, but I'll just give you a few hints. She is married with children. She stays home and feeds, clothes and trains them all while her husband is at work. During all of this, she finds time to can food, shop for bargains, shovel snow, mow grass, clean house, homeschool and she'll even allow her honored friend (me) a few minutes on the phone when a crisis hits and I need a shoulder to cry on. She loves, honors and respects her husband and caters to his needs and wants. She never complains, she prays for everyone who asks her to and some who don't. She is living with crisis of her own and yet very seldom shows any pain, weakness or willingness to burden others with her pain. She also has a great ministry that gives things to those who are unable to provide for themselves and she and her husband provide all the expense and time invested to make her charity real for others.

She and I are the same age, born in the same year only a few months apart and I am on a journey to become the Proverbs woman, but next to her I pale in the brightness of her warmth, love, generosity and compassion for others. I am both awed by her and honored to call her my friend.