The unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit

Since I've been home whenever I get online I check email then read blogs and then rarely have time to update mine. All that's changing today. I'm doing mine first because of course it's all about me! Just kidding.

I've had lots of thoughts of different things to put on here but I think I've decided to start with the more serious and maybe move to the very not serious stuff later.

For the past few days I've been reading in the book of Ruth. The thing that amazes me is Ruth's attitude. Her husband has died and she follows her mother-in-law to a land that she is not familiar with. You read it and might just skim over but it's definitely something that I would never want to have to do.

But through it all her attitude is very humbling to me. She serves Naomi by going out in the fields and working, and if you look it's actually Ruth's suggestion that she go work. And people notice. Boaz blesses her and helps make her time in the field easier because he has noticed what she's done. Her attitude reminds me of a verse in 1 Peter.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair of the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead it should be that of your inner self. The unfading beauty of a gently and quiet spirit is of great worth in God's eyes.
~1 Peter 3:3-4

That's what I want again: a gentle and quiet spirit. Lately I've let other things come into me that have made my spirit not quiet but I'm feeling some rest coming. I've taken a cue from Ruth and am trying to just serve those around me. I always find that whenever you take the focus off of yourself that great things happen and this is definitely one of those times.

I continue to pray for a gently and quiet spirit.