Rubies

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life." Proverbs 31 verses 10-12

Sometimes it feels like God is really trying to get through to me. When something is mentioned a few times, my ears begin to prick up, like our cats, and I start to pay attention. This week, there is something that keeps coming up....Rubies.

This week, I had the amazing privilege of meeting up with an amazing young woman. As a teacher, she was a regular attender at the Christian Union meetings that I ran. She was always smiling, always friendly. She was very bright, and clearly very thoughtful and sensitive to the needs and feelings of others. Recently, via Facebook, we have been reunited, which has been good, but to meet for coffee this week was just great. We had a good chat and generally caught up. She is now a very successful musician. She is also extremely beautiful, both inside and out. She has continued in her relationship with God and has come to know Him more. She has questioned her faith, lived her life and made great decisions for Jesus. To be honest, I felt so blessed to have been a part of her life as a teenager, and just delighted to know her now.

One of the things that I love about being a Christian is having "intentional" friendships. As a Christian woman, God has called me to many things, one of them is to be a big sister. I'm not talking about the biological type (although being just that to my little brother, Ben, is one of the greatest joys in my life.) In the Bible, in the book of Titus, older women are encouraged to "train" younger women. Surely this is what being a big sister is all about?

My lovely friend and I, had a big sister/little sister chat, whilst enjoying our cuppas. We talked about guys, and about relationships. We talked about marriage, and we talked about love. We discussed what the ideal wife should be like. We talked about the chapter from which the above verses came from. In Proverbs 31 of the Bible, we can read about "The Wife of Noble Character". It is clear that she is more than just a good woman. She is more than a "Yummy Mummy". She is clever and careful, a great business woman. She provides for her children and husband very well. She is a hard worker, and she shows kindness and compassion to those in need.

My friend and I talked about how it seems to be all about what the wife does, but I began to notice the verses about how the wife was treated, viewed and praised by her husband. It was then that I realised that this woman is able to serve so very well, thanks to the praise, encouragement and strengthening of her husband. You see, she would not be able to see her own potential or to live it out, without being treated so well. Her husband reminds her that she is precious to him. He praises her...publicly. He boasts about her to his peers. He is proud to be with her. He releases her to run her own business. He enables her to be productive and to serve outside of the house.

Because of the actions and words of her husband, she is "worth far more than rubies". Because he loves her so well, she makes a massive difference to her children, her friends, her employees, her community. She is not just important to him. To the world, she is "worth far more than rubies".

Rubies are quite interesting. There are two kinds of rubies - natural and cultured. Cultured rubies are made by human hands. They are the result of a chemical process - a beautiful one, but a chemical process none-the-less. Natural rubies occur naturally, and they are extremely rare. In fact, natural rubies are so rare that they are worth far more than diamonds.

Rubies are striking in colour. When I make Raspberry Jam, it's that "Ruby Red" colour that I wait for to know that the jam has reached it's boiling point. Only then can I pour my "Ruby Red" Raspberry Jam into warm, sterilised pots, wait for it to cool and smother all over a piece of crusty white bread....mmmmmm.

Rubies are beautiful, rare and striking. I love rubies.

This week, my mum and dad celebrate their Ruby Wedding Anniversary. They have been married for 40 years. Their marriage has lasted - a rare thing in this "day and age". They have produced two children, and have served God, and their church, together for years. They have many friends, and have survived recessions, unemployment, sickness, grief and great trials. I think that this is beautiful. Their commitment to each other is striking. Other people notice it and are inspired and encouraged, that they can make it in their marriages, too.

So, what is God saying to me? If rubies are rare, beautiful and striking, and I am worth far more than them...am I rare, beautiful and striking? If I follow in my parents footsteps, will my life reflect the beauty of a ruby? If I serve, bless and enjoy...will other people see me as striking? Will I stand out and shine?

I'm not sure...but I am so grateful for a God who creates such beautiful gems...and then tells me that, to Him, I am worth far more. Thank You, Lord.