Who do I want to be when I grow up?

Hopefully you've read my previous post on growing up. If not, feel free to do so now, I'll wait.

All done? Good. Scintillating wasn't it. Today as I was pondering life I realized that perhaps I've been looking for the answer to the wrong question. We often ask children, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" That puts the focus on some external, temporary goal. When I suddenly found myself no longer a teacher and "just" a mom, I was disoriented. The goal had been what I wanted to be: a teacher.

Truly we should be raising our kids, and ourselves, with the goal in mind "Who do you want to be when you grow up?" Truly, any idiot (no offense friends) can become a teacher. The "what" I wanted to be was all I thought about. The "who" I wanted to be never entered my mind. Today I realized who I want to be when I grow up.

As I describe who I want to be, I want you, the reader to know that as I describe each of these people, I am thinking of at least on real life person who exudes these attributes, but am not naming them to keep from embarrassing them. I am sure you know some of these women by their descriptions, perhaps some from your own life and your own circle of friends.

When I grow up, I want to be the kind, loving lady whose very smile brightens the room. She smiles through life, the good and the bad. She offers her kind heart and listening ear. You know she's known pain and tears, but her great faith shows Jesus in her very demeanor.

When I grow up, I want to be the sweet friend who never fails to stop and pray for you and your family in any and every situation. The wonderful person who knows and cares about everybody in the neighborhood. She has a deep faith that truly glows on her skin. She's made mistakes and gladly shares her regrets to help build up anyone in need. She loves, unconditionally.

When I grow up, I want to be the woman who follows her husband to the ends of the Earth out of love and duty to him. The woman who prays for her husband, is his quiet strength. The woman whose passion is her husband's passion, who shares a dream with him and realizes in helping his dream come true, she is fulfilling hers.

When I grow up, I want to be the woman whose brings honor to her husband. I want to be the woman who adds to the respect her husband earns by her words and actions.

I could go on for hours, I'm sure. What it boils down to is this: When I grow up I want to be the Proverbs 31 Woman

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 night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
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 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

We woman all want to know, does such a woman exist? I say yes. The Proverbs 31 Woman isn't one woman, she is the united efforts of many women, coming together in Christ to strengthen each other. She is us, together carrying the burden and urging each other toward the goal.