"In Search of Virtue"

“Who can find a virtuous woman?” Proverbs 31:10a

Every time I read Proverbs 31 I desire anew to be like this amazing priceless woman.  The desire to pattern my life after this example sends me on a journey in search of the full meaning virtue.  What is virtue?

With some research, using my large "American Dictionary of the English Language" written by Noah Webster in 1828, I find the word "VIRTUE." The first defining word is "Strength"!  More specifically it is actually speaking of physical strength.  The second defining word is "bravery" or "valor".  I find this very interesting.  For, as a woman, we are not usually considered the "strong one" yet here we are given a Biblical example of a woman of strength and valor!  These two defining words are followed by more; Moral goodness, Moral excellence, Acting power, Excellence, Efficacy power, and Authority!  Now, I know that my husband is the head of my home.  He is my authority head.  Yet as a woman I have been given authority over those below me.  Those whom I daily care for and train- my children.  Authority in my line of duty.  I then must have Strength, physical and mental strength are absolutely necessary for my job.   Bravery, now this I understand!  It is amazing how much bravery it takes to tackle a mountain of clean laundry that needs to be folded and put away, or more seriously to take on the challenge of being my husbands faithful support, or training and teaching the children that God has placed in my home.  At times children do not always train and learn easily.  At times husbands make choices we do not understand. Yet, as a mother and wife, I must stand brave, knowing that God is in control.   Moral goodness, the ability to allow goodness and right living to dominate our lives by allowing God to control or heart, our tongue, and our actions.  Moral excellence comes from maintaining a right relationship with God over years and time, building a habit of striving for right.  Acting power is the ability to do right even when we do not feel like it.  When we are out of energy, when life seems to be crashing in, when husbands make decisions we do not understand, when our children are sick and we are tired.  Excellence,...wow!  I think of this meaning excellence in all we do.  In all areas of our "job description, as a woman of God, a wife, a mother, a homemaker.  Efficacy... once again I tear through the pages of my dictionary and find this word, which essentially means efficiency!  The ability to produce effects, further more, the intended effect.  (That is important for we can all produce an effect but is it the intended effect?  To produce an intended effect takes learning and practice.  The last defining word for Virtue is "authority".  As the home maker/ house keeper/ mother/ wife/ I have an authority.  I can use my authority wisely to delegate jobs and responcibilty to those precious lives that God has placed in my home to train for His use.  The children he has blessed my home with.  A Mother who does not use her God given place of authority is not being wise.  We need to keep our homes with the authority that God has placed in our hands.  Training, teaching, delegating, discipling, disiplining, and loving.  All of this equals virtue!  What a challenge... I have so much to do... 
Note:
This blog will follow my journey as a woman and the lessons that God is using in my life to make me more like HIM.  As you can see, the pattern for a godly woman is very complex and yet simply beautiful.  ~Colleen