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{"id":5316,"date":"2012-03-22T05:00:02","date_gmt":"2012-03-22T11:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/buildingcathedrals\/?p=5316"},"modified":"2012-03-21T20:59:45","modified_gmt":"2012-03-22T02:59:45","slug":"pursuing-lovely","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/buildingcathedrals\/2012\/03\/pursuing-lovely\/","title":{"rendered":"Pursuing Lovely"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

I have been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be lovely. \u00a0Hollywood surely isn\u2019t. \u00a0My home, at the moment, is anything but. \u00a0How is my character? \u00a0Lovely?<\/p>\n

My mind travels to this lady<\/a>, loving orphans in Uganda. \u00a0And to this one<\/a> and her countless years serving the poor. \u00a0I most definitely remember Our Lady and her overwhelming receptivity and goodness as a mother. \u00a0These women showed their loveliness through humility, pouring out their lives for others.<\/p>\n

I think back to meeting the mother of a friend. \u00a0She was kind, vivacious, modest and beautiful. \u00a0I was instantly drawn to her loveliness. \u00a0When she spoke, you could sense her inner peace and contentment\u2013she was a woman of great faith and great devotion to our Lord. \u00a0So lovely.<\/p>\n

In the last chapter of Proverbs, Solomon describes loveliness:<\/p>\n

\u201cShe does her work with eager hands\u2026 She puts her back into her work and shows how strong her arms can be\u2026 she opens her arms to the needy\u2026 She is clothed in strength and dignity\u2026 she can laugh at the day to come\u2026 on her tongue is kindly instruction\u2026 her children stand up and proclaim her blessed.\u201d<\/p>\n

What a gorgeous picture he offers to the modern woman. \u00a0We are not called to be idle and passive, but to rise up and manage what we\u2019ve been given. \u00a0We are called to be uniquely woman\u2013bearing good things, using our resources to produce, helping to lead our homes and families toward greater goodness. \u00a0The call to loveliness\u00a0re-feminizes our womanly role in the world. \u00a0We are not asking to be equal. \u00a0We are carving out a unique, lovely path all our own.<\/p>\n

I read through Proverbs 31 and feel inspired to get off my duff and clean my not-so-lovely house; fold my umpteenth load of laundry for the day; help my children learn through patience and fortitude. \u00a0I am called to serve others and my community; challenge my brain and use it to help solve problems; and at the end of the day, bring glory to His Name.<\/p>\n

What an honor to have such a calling. \u00a0And though I will fail time and time again while reaching for it, I will seek and pursue this kind of loveliness \u2019til the end of my days. \u00a0Hopefully like Mother Teresa, even my last breath will be a lovely one.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"