“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
- Proverbs 31:29-31
The New Boilerplate
My wife filled a small book with “Angel” on the cover. It was hidden with a box of crafting things. On 18 July 2025, I thought I had posted the last of these. But this little angel book held a prayer, followed by 71 quotes. So, the “with a little help” series is back in business for a while. And it will be fun for me. She did not attribute any of the quotes. The first quote was from James A. Garfield, the 20th president of the USA. The next one was disputed, with some thinking it originated with Teddy Roosevelt and others saying Fred Astaire. After the prayer, these might be on the lighter side.
Her quote
“Character contributes to beauty. It fortifies a woman as her youth fades.”
- Jacqueline Bisset
The Discussion
Winifred Jacqueline Fraser Bisset is an 82 year young actress in Britain. She had a few love interests, but she never married. In the expansion of this quote, she talks about how character is defined by a variety of things, one being a strong moral code. Other items were courage, fortitude, and integrity.
These are all admirable qualities, but to what standard are they measured. When we measure them to God’s standard we fall short.
While never committing to any of her lovers, she may have been thinking about a vow that she could not keep. That almost sounds noble, but it does not measure to God’s standard.
Paul talks about how those whose heart burns for the opposite sex should marry so that sin does not enter into the relationship. But then, you have a vow to love only that one.
When the author of the wife of character wrote the last 22 verses of the book of Proverbs, the bar was set very high. The Ten Commandments when taken to the extent of the intent to do those things that are forbidden – to that extent the bar is set equally high.
While character contributes to beauty, and the standard for that character is set beyond our reach, the person who is beautiful is the one who never gives up and also knows that to reach that standard – even to get close – God has to be in our life, and our one true desire is to be like Him.
Jesus lived by that standard while on this earth. He is God. He is perfect. Nothing short could save us.
But to love the Lord with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your strength and with all your soul… That is beautiful. That shows character.
And it wears well as we get older.
Soli Deo Gloria. Only to God be the Glory
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