pieces of proverbs 31 in The Message translation:"...a good woman is hard to find,and worth far more than diamonds....she’s up before dawn, preparing breakfastfor her family and organizing her day....she looks over a field and buys it,then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden....first thing in the morning, she dresses for work,rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started....she senses the worth of her work,is in no hurry to call it quits for the dayand she always faces tomorrow with a smile....when she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,and she always says it kindly....charm can mislead and beauty soon fades......the woman to be admired and praisedis the woman who lives in the fear of God."for me, this particular passage in proverbs has long been one that I look to for inspiration...when my inner-compass in life is skewed and emotions run high and I want to "quit"...I often come back to this woman.it's strikes me as odd that in many conversations with other women, some almost gag at the thought of this woman...I get it...she is kind-of the "wonder woman" of the bible. ;)but in conversation with these gagging women, they act as if her character is so unattainable and unreachable...I think the opposite. :)am I like this woman?not usually...but I want to be.the fact that solomon took the time to talk about this woman in depth...to talk about the attributes that even thought they can be "counter-culture"...her character is beautiful, admirable and so worth chasing.she and her character give me hope...her character gives me motivation.when I die...I'd so love to have just one of her character traits thought of by my husband and kids.so why am I telling you about the proverbs 31 woman?because I got to meet and photograph a woman I now admire very muchwho also happens to work for the incredible ministry called Proverbs 31 Ministries.she found me through social media of all places...and I'm so glad for it.getting to meet her...hearing her heart as she talked about her family, her storyand the opportunity that came about to work + write for P31 was refreshing and encouraging.both Sammie + I walked away from her portrait session completely encouraged.and the funny thing is...I really don't think she set out to be encouraging...as the person who is typically behind the camera, I know that being in front of the camera is not an easy task...especially if your vocation is as a writer and you're extremely used to being behind a computer screen and not in front of a camera.but her trust in allowing me to see + photograph her,and in listening to her story...it made her unease lessen and I ended up getting to photograph her...and she is beautiful...maybe not in the typical 18-year-old-just-graduated way you're used to seeing on this blog...but she her beauty came alive to me as a woman who has lived life fully and open-handed in the "fear of God".that is beauty.that is admirable.I'm so glad to have gotten to meet and spend time with you, Glynnis.and I'm so thankful for the talents God has given you to write and encourage so many women like me through Proverbs 31 Ministries!