Rubies

I was doing a quick online study -- in Proverbs 31:10 it states that a virtuous woman's price is "above rubies". I have been stuck on that phrase for at least a week. What was the price of rubies? It wouldn't be good to find out that rubies were a common stone - that would give a whole different context to the meaning! When we read the verse, we take for granted that rubies are an expensive gem, priceless.

I ran across an article on rubies which helped me quite a bit. A ruby is a precious gemstone. It is considered one of the world's most valued, and was one of the stones on Arron's breast plate. If we investigate further we find that each ruby is unique from every other ruby. Each ruby, no matter how large, radiant, or how clear, is made unique by the markings and flaws on it. Let me repeat that -- the flaws make it unique --. Each ruby is precious, yet each ruby is flawed.

That is so like us. We are unique, precious, yet flawed. We will never be the perfect wife, mother, or worker. Our goal should be to submerge ourselves in Christ, and to simply do the best that we can each day. Give what you can and let Christ work out the rest. It is amazing what He can do with our imperfection and flaws.