So, Where Do We Start?

This blog is the result of a number of conversations and musings with other valiant women in training over the past few years.  Our launching point was, of course, the passage of Proverbs which describes the valiant woman.  What are the traits that make a woman valiant?

Trivia, which isn’t exactly trivia, because it says it right there at the beginning of the chapter, but the description of the valiant woman is given to King Lamuel by his mother in a vision.  This passage is also an acrostic poem, meaning that each line begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. 

Who shall find a valiant woman? Far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.

The heart of her husband trusteth in her: and he shall have no need of spoils.

She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.

She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands.

She is like the merchant’s ship: she bringeth her bread from afar.

And she hath risen in the night and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.

She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.

She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm.

She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night.

She hath put out her hand to strong things: and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.

She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.

She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments.

She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering.

Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.

She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite.

Strength and beauty are her clothing: and she shall laugh in the latter day.

She hath opened her mouth to wisdom: and the law of clemency in on her tongue.

She hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.

Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.

Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all.

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31, 11-31

To sum up, the Valiant Woman is a homemaker who makes her own clothes, makes food for her family, plants a vineyard, and in general, “puts out her hands to strong things.”  She also transacts business, such as buying property and selling the linen which she has made.  She is not afraid to venture out into the public sphere and make decisions based on her own authority.  When it comes to her servants, she makes sure that they are well fed and clothed.  We don’t see much of her interactions with her family, but we know that her husband and children recognize her virtues.

But what makes her valiant?  What are those virtues which she possesses?

She is merciful, wise, hard-working, God-fearing, and she laughs.  She is also strong, but not in the feminist sense of the word.  She is strong with a physical strength which allows her to fulfill her duties, but more importantly, with a moral strength derived from her Faith and the force of her love.

These are the qualities we need to foster in ourselves in order to become valiant.  So let’s dive in and begin exploring the stories of valiant women.