by Annette Sepe
Hot Springs, AR
If I am going to strive to become a virtuous woman, I need to understand what she is and how she got there. Having said that, I began to wonder why the virtuous woman was compared to a ruby; why not a sapphire, or an emerald, or even a diamond? Being a normal woman, I love the sparkle and brilliance of all varieties of beautiful gems, but I have always believed that “a diamond was a girl’s best friend.” I’ve never owned a ruby, and I wanted to understand why a ruby was used as our example. So I did a little research and discovered the following facts.
A RUBY IS EXTREMELY RARE AND PRECIOUS. Rare does not mean non-existent; rare is possible, and when discovered, it is precious. The understanding is that God has not failed in anything that He has created. “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” (Psalm 139:14)
A RUBY IS KNOWN FOR BEING HARD; ONLY A DIAMOND IS HARDER. On a scale of 1 to 10, the ruby is a “9.” The word virtuous means “to have strength of moral character; to have a firm foundation on which to build.” The ruby does not use its own strength, but the strength given by its Creator. In doing so, the ruby has been chosen worthy to be God’s example. “Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.” (Proverbs 14:1)
Once I reached the teenage years though, I would sometimes get a little discontent and impatient with what we were doing, and I would get frustrated if we didn’t do what I wanted to do and when I wanted to do it. But eventually I learned that having that kind of an attitude didn’t help anything, and it certainly did not make the vacation any more fun. It just made the vacation miserable for me and for everyone else. Once I learned just to be patient and go with the flow, everything was so much better. I found that it wasn’t necessarily what we were doing but who we were doing it with that mattered. I learned to enjoy the little things and to find something positive in every situation.
Looking back, the best memories aren’t always the big things that we did, but all the little moments in between when we shared a laugh or even when something didn’t go right—like when my grandma’s electric scooter decided to die in the middle of the day when we were at a park or when my uncle Kurt flipped his electric scooter on its side! Even the times it rained at the parks created some pretty cool memories. All that being said, I have learned that through all the different vacations we have been on as a family, good and bad, they are always better when I have a good spirit and a positive attitude.
THE RAREST RUBY IS A STAR RUBY. The star ruby has taken in more elements than most other rubies. It is cut in a specific manner that shows the brilliance of the six-spoke star and showcases the star in the very center of the stone. This ruby not only has survived the outside elements of forced hardships but has also allowed a specific cut by the master’s hand. Only a perfect cut will underline its true beauty.“I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” (Revelation 22:16)
INCLUSIONS DO NOT DECREASE, BUT INCREASE THE VALUE OF THE RUBY. Transparency is the second most important aspect of the ruby. Through that transparency the imperfections are emphasized. It is those very flaws that give the ruby its fingerprint and make each one individually special. “Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.” (Proverbs 31:29)
I think I now love the ruby and understand some of its purpose in defining the life of the virtuous woman. I now know that being a virtuous woman is possible. Her strength comes from the Lord. She is humble while also passionate. She welcomes the heat of trials and surrenders all to the Master’s plan. She is not trying to hide her imperfections or wish she were a diamond, an emerald, or a sapphire. She is who she is, which brings honor to the One Who created her. Who can find a virtuous woman? Maybe those who are looking at you!
