valor

Every year for the past maybe 5 or 6 years, I have chosen a word to live by. A word that guides my life, my actions, my intentions. This past year, my word was hope (I will talk about that in another post.) My word for 2014 is valor.  

Valor is defined in the dictionary as “strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness :  personal bravery”.

In researching a bit more on valor, I stumbled on the fact that it is the keystone to my favorite Proverb in the Bible, Proverb 31. I didn’t even realize it when the word picked me, I was more hung up on the meaning of valor and what it means to me, in my life, but here is Proverb 31, in case you need a refresher. 

“A woman of valor, who can find? Her worth is far above jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and nothing shall he lack. She renders him good and not evil all the days of her life. She opens her hand to the needy, and extends her hand to the poor. She is robed in strength and dignity, and cheerfully faces whatever may come. She opens her mouth with wisdom. Her tongue is guided by kindness. She tends to the affairs of her household, and eats not the bread of idleness. Her children come forward and bless her. Her husband too, and he praises her. Many women have done superbly, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a God-fearing woman is much to be praised. Place before her the fruit of her hands. Wherever people gather, her deeds speak her praise.”

Wow. That’s some power. That’s the kind of woman I want to be. The kind of woman I strive to be. Yup. Valor, that’s my word. What’s your word?