I used to read the last half of Proverbs 31 every day. You know... the section about the virtuous woman? And I'd try to picture a woman today and what she would dress like, act like, what her daily routine would be, how she treated others, how she treated her husband and how she treated other men and women, how she parented, what time she got up in the morning, how disciplined she was etc... And I suppose I always pictured a woman who had it pretty well together with a balanced schedule.
But yesterday while I sat in a Do Hard Things conference and was being taught to do what's right and avoid what's wrong when it hurts I realized what an emotional mess a virtuous woman must be. She's strong because she's knows she's incredibly weak. She gives up things she craves, wants and desires because she puts others before herself. Yeah, she's strong and she perseveres but its because she's so willing to suffer and sacrifice for a greater purpose. A virtuous woman appears like someone who has it together because she's obtained God's peace by accepting that she never will have it together.
That's why this virtuous woman "smiles at the future" while the rest of are panicking over what may or may not happen. She's okay with not knowing, not controlling, not being able to plan her path. She knows life is fleeting and she lives for today.
I'm so thankful God brought this message to my attention, because I DON'T have it together and - praise God - I don't need to!!!
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