A contemporized fictional adaptation of Proverbs 31:10-31, Ephesians 5, and “In Search of the Proverbs 31 Man” by Michelle Mickinney Hammond
“Words of Love from the Ideal Man to the Ideal Woman”
____ (insert name) ____ I'm so glad to finally be writing this letter to you. I had a lot of doubts about what my future would be like before we met. Sometimes were really hard and I had serious doubts as to whether I would ever find you. But I'm so thankful that you were praying for me as I was praying for you. Thanks to your prayers there were many people along the way that encouraged me to persevere in waiting. They helped me find discontent in the idea of settling. And I'm sure glad I did wait because you are so much more than I ever expected for myself! I feel so blessed that God brought you into my life and I'm so happy that you trusted me enough choose to be with me. I know that I can say I love you without fear confident that I can give you the trust of my heart.
Btw...You’re amazing if you didn't already know. I mean you really stand out! In a good way of course. Everyone wants to be around you! You’re always encouraging other people and building them up. I can see this most clearly when you work with the little kids in Sunday school. Not many people our age have the patience and understanding to really work with kids teaching them and building them up. You’re not like everyone else, you don't just fill their ears with praises, you really get down in the gutter with them and help them improve in their weaknesses and tell them how to improve in their strengths. (f.y.i. You’re going to make a great mother! I look forward to the day when God entrusts us to nurture and develop the gracious gift of children) I think you teach like that because that's exactly what you do in your own life.
One of the biggest things that caught my eye was your authenticity. You actually practice what you preach :) You’re not fake. You’re honest with yourself and honest with others. You’re always looking for ways to improve never content to plateau. People see that too and that's what makes you so attractive. People see your work ethic and they can't wrongly criticize you for any of the success you have because they know that you've put in the work.
But in all your success, I don't know how you do it, but you always seem to bear in mind God's purposes. You don't get sidetracked and so involved in striving to be successful that you step on people to get to the top. Quite the contrary, you bring others up with you. You never forget to show love to other people. I'm always amazed, and sometimes upset that you always make time for seemingly every person in need. You're such a compassionate person and attentive. You don't miss or ignore the people you see around you in need. And you’re so busy! I know it's good to have a servant’s heart, but girl sometimes it’s okay to say no!
You know most people dread their in-laws but I can absolutely say that I love being a part of your family. I'm so thankful that you have godly parents that raised you to be the woman you are today. I like that you still have good relationships with your parents and siblings. I know they mean a lot to you and helped shaped you into who you are so I love them too! I am so thankful that you had a father that taught you the value of who you are. You know what I mean? You know you’re beautiful. (You’re really really hot :)) But it’s not your outside that you’re most concerned with. It’s your character, integrity, gentleness...the list could go on that makes you abundantly beautiful. And you don't look too bad either, jk!
There aren't many women like you around, but if there is one word that I had to use to describe you: “elegant.” Like Esther in the bible, you don't have to wear tons of make up or wear ridiculously flashy and provocative clothing. You’re naturally beautiful and the simplicity and modesty of the way you present yourself...takes my breath away. You’re secure in your beauty, and I know that only comes from being secure in your identity. I know that part of your identity comes from your relationship with your dad. Your dad is great but I'm so happy that you are secure in the identity you have through your relationship with Jesus Christ. You are a child of God, a daughter of the king! And with all my might I will always do my best to treat you as such.
You know where I first fell in love with you? It was on that mission trip to Africa we both went on. When we were digging that well for that village with that cute little girl, Axa, you were always holding. It was such a long day and our last in that village! Everyone had been working really hard to try and finish the well before we left so the village would have clean drinking water. But the work was tough! Even some of the guys were starting to lay down their shovels and stop working. Then you rallied everyone together to give it a final push reminding us of the children of the village saying how we should finish it so they could have water. And we did it! There's this moment near the end, just as we finished that I'll never forget. It was just as you were climbing out of the well that Axa came running up to you and then you scooped her up. You were absolutely filthy, caked in clay and mud all over your arms and legs and in your hair. Smudges across your face, tired sweaty and stinky. But as you picked Axa up and smiled as everyone was shouting for joy, you were so beautiful. That day I saw a woman that was so in love with God that her actions showed it. You traveled half way across the world, got down and dirty in the mud to build a well for people you'd never met before so that you could have the opportunity to share the message of the gospel and life that comes from drinking of the fountain of our Lord Jesus Christ.
From that point on, the more I got know you, the more I fell in love. That same night you shared your testimony about how you prepared for the trip. How you had been so careful to budget your money saving enough to go and trying to put in extra hours at work. While others were going out and doing shopping sprees, you stayed in and held yourself back. But then how there was that jump in the price of the ticket 2 weeks before we were supposed to leave. You shared how crushed you were at first, but then shared how in your despair you went to the Lord in prayer and His Word. You came across Philippians 4:19, Proverbs 16:9 and Proverbs 16:3. You talked about the peace you felt knowing God was speaking directly to you through his Word. Then 2 days later you got that check from your grandparents covering the rest of the cost!
You know I'm so thankful for the Brantley's. When we got back to the States I was so scared and unsure of how to approach you cause you seemed way out of my league. You must have thought I was so weird and awkward especially when I was just with you. But Mrs. Brantley I think caught on to me and I'm sure you did too. She encouraged me to stick with it and not give up pursuing you :) She shared how you had approached her to mentor and disciple you and that really made my heart throb! I know it’s stupid, but it’s so attractive to see a woman that desires to grow in the faith and just takes the reigns of her spiritual growth! Someone that has a critical mind and really spends time studying and knowing the truths of God's word and seeking the advice of more mature Christians. Equally attractive was that the girls in your small group absolutely adored you! You took time to meet with each one individually! They all looked up to you for wise advice and people wanted to be around you hoping some of your wisdom would rub off. And your just fun to be with! You don't take yourself too seriously. You comprehend the brevity of life and all that entails. You don't allow yourself to be consumed by the pursuit of temporal things but live life wearing the lens of eternity.
I don't think I can ever express fully how you make me feel. I feel empowered and confident because of the trust you've placed in me. And I want the best for you. I want to give you my best. Knowing that you are a gift from God I feel invigorated to push myself to be to be the best so that I can provide for you. To be ever developing in my walk with the Lord to make sure that I can lead our family with integrity. I think that being with you has really raised the bar in my relationship with Jesus. You've really challenged me to grow and be more authentic in the Christian life. I never realized how selfish and impatient I was till I was with you. I mean were like together all the time. You challenge/motivate me to persevere in the faith. It’s been a whole new experience with you too, being able to share my life with you. That concept seemed so foreign to me having to share my life. And I know I'm not great at it yet, but I love that you ask me to be open with you and look forward to sharing the rest of my life with you.
This sounds weird but God's taught me a lot more about himself through you. I never really grasped the whole unconditional love thing and how that was supposed to motivate believers to live the Christian life. But God has been using you to show me how much He loves me. What it means to be wholly accepted for who I am. This revelation has had a dramatic impact on me! The acceptance and love God shows me through you inspires me. Whenever I feel like quitting work or feel tempted to sin something in me clicks that spurs me to war against the flesh. I have a new sense of desire and power to fight against sin knowing that giving into temptations may hurt you, and I don't wanna do that. I don't ever want to do anything that would cause you to doubt me. I want to make you feel secure in my love for you. I want to make sure you know just how beautiful you are and never give you reason to second guess your trust in me.
Knowing that you love me inspires me to do good things for you! I want to give you flowers and diamond necklaces. I want to surprise you when you get home with a clean house and your favorite dish for dinner. And I want to tell other people how much I love you. I want everyone to know how wonderful you are and what an impact you've had in my life. I'm proud of you and I want you to be proud of me. All those things are concepts that I knew should affect how I viewed God and my relationship with Him but never really understood and definitely didn't practice any of those things with the same joy I have now from the understanding God's given me in my relationship with you.
There is so much more I want to tell you, but hey we can save it for when we are reunited, after all we are together “till death do us part” right? So until we see each other again I will continue to be praying for you as you are praying for me and hoping we continue to grow closer to each other as we grow closer to our Lord Jesus Christ.
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