On goes 2012. This week (and beyond, let’s hope), I am tackling the “willing” part of my One Word Resolution.

Be willing. Stand cheerfully at readiness.Put one foot in front of the other. Repeat.

I am and/or have been:

Willing to sooth a clingy toddler. Willing to serve a crabby spouse. Willing to admit when I’m wrong. Willing to say nothing in order to hear. Willing to say everything in order to speak.

Ready, cheerful, and inclined to be in a position for God’s purposes. Willing to take leaps of faith when everything seem hopeless. Willing to see the little things as gifts and miracles.

Willing to trust and let go. Willing to forgive. Willing to make more time for myself. Willing to fly across the World to chase a dream. Willing to just “be” for the sake of being.

Have you ever thought of what you are willing to do?

Love,
Jess

Wisdom from the Ages

Proverbs 31: 10-31 is a passage from the Bible that is actually a Hebrew poem about wisdom. The poem describes a woman that makes very wise and loving decisions about how to live her life. She serves others, she is a business woman, she is thoughtful and the list goes on.

I want to study the traits of this wise woman found in Proverbs 31. I am a hands on learner. Reading can only get me so far. I will task myself to try all the wise things the Proverbs 31 woman does in her wise, wise life.

¹⁰ A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.

¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

¹³ She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.

¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

¹⁵ She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.

¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.

¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.

²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

²² She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”

³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

³¹ Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

I am using my New Year’s Resolution, Enrich, to act as a guide for the love and logic behind my Proverbs 31 task.  However, I’m going to need a whole lot more than love and logic to get me through the process. I am going to need a lot of faith.

Love,

Jess

P.S. How much are rubies? And how the heck do I use a spindle?