A journey of a thousand miles...

That's what this endeavor feels like.  Becoming a Proverbs 31 woman feels like a journey of a thousand miles.  In those 22 verses, we (women) are told EXACTLY what constitutes a godly woman... a capable woman... a virtuous woman... (depending on your translation).  Every time I have ever read this passage I feel overwhelmed and underqualified to be a wife.  I have always felt like achieving the level of "with-it-ness" of this woman was unattainable.

I married my hunky husband at 21 years of age... fresh out of high school at 18 and attending a local college together.  We both knew from our second date that we would be together forever in harmonious marriage.  Ok, so maybe harmonious isn't exactly the adjective our friends and family would use to describe us.  Passionate, yes.  Strong-willed, yes.  Opinionated, yes.  Harmonious, not so much.  But, we both love each other dearly and through all our trials have been committed to God, to each other, and to our marriage.  We have seen each other through new jobs, losing jobs, master's degrees, and even a long hard road of infertility.  We have lost loved ones, dealt with childhood abuse as it manifests in adulthood, and even birthed our little miracle.  We have, in my humble opinion, been through the ringer... together.

But now I am 30.  I am not only a wife, but I am now a mother.  Being a capable, virtuous, godly woman has never had more weight and responsibility than it does today.

A journey of a thousand miles... begins with a single step.

As I approach the Proverbs 31 at this stage of my life, I realize that she is the epitome of a woman.  A whole woman.  A capable woman.  A virtuous woman.  She is exactly who God had in mind for each of us to strive to be.

As I contemplate ways to improve my relationship with my husband, I keep coming back to, or being pointed back to, this passage of scripture.  Now, Proverbs 31 looks more like a blueprint for godly womanhood.  Still intimidating, but not quite so daunting.  In order to create the kind of world I want my daughter to grow into, I NEED and WANT to be this woman.

In looking up quotes about journeys, I also found this quote by an unknown author:
       "The first step toward getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are."

And this gem, attributed to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:
       "Take the first step in faith.  You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."

Will you join me?  Will you also take the first step toward becoming the Proverbs 31 woman?  I'll be giving you my true and honest reactions as I walk this path.  Journey with me!



Father,
       I thank You for each and every reader of this blog.  I pray that you will stir in their hearts the type of passion and commitment you have been stirring in mine.  I pray that you give me wisdom and guidance as I approach this journey.  I don't know where You will lead me, but I am trusting You to direct my feet and guide my path.  Father, I also pray that you will help me become the type of woman that you deem worthy of her children's blessings and her husband's praises.  I want to be a capable, virtuous woman after Your heart.  In Jesus' name, Amen.