Virtues + Values

These are the identity statements that shape the values that I carry in my heart that come from my identity. These values and virtues determine how I live, what I invest my time on and who I spend my life with. It also makes it very helpful to know what things to say no to, who to avoid like the plague or who I need to use wisdom with if they do not share the same values, to avoid pitfalls that would trip me up and veer me off the course of God’s vision for my life.

I am…

…a loved woman. I am loved by God. He is my Father and I am His beloved daughter. The God of the Universe likes me a whole bunch. He smiles when He looks at me and His chest bellows with laughter in His delight over me. Because I am loved by God, I live differently.

…a dignified woman, with a strong sense of identity. I am alive because God wanted me, and He gave me dignity and a reason to hold my head up high.

….a purposeful woman with a clear sense of vision, destiny and purpose. I am not aimless and unfocused. I have goals and I can see them clearly and I am walking towards them with steady steps. I am one who is going forward, not backwards, nor stationary. If I am around a crowd that isn’t going anywhere and has no vision or goals, I lose interest, fast.

…a wholesome woman with a clean-cut, wholesome lifestyle. I live cleanly, and I have a simple, uncomplicated life. My days and nights are made up of honourable pursuits, and people would not question my values by what they see me doing at all times of the day and night, weekday or weekend. My lifestyle is wholesome, simple as that. I do not live in the grey space of questionable activities, and I am not comfortable or at peace when I get into these type of questionable situations. I squirm, big-time.

…an encouraging woman who likes good, wholesome, positive, life-affirming, encouraging company. I hang out with others who are wholesome, pure, honourable, and live with integrity. I like being around people who like talking about God, and who have a positive outlook on life, enjoy being alive and thrive on encouraging one another. I shrivel up when I get around negative, sarcastic, life-squashing company.

…a law-abiding woman who honours authority and likes to keep the law. I am a law-abiding citizen. I do not like to break the law. I like to keep the rules and not go against them. If someone in authority over me has asked me to do something, I like to do it. If they tell me to avoid something, I like to avoid it, trusting their wisdom in requesting this of me. I speak up in a group if I believe we are not honouring authority or the rules that we are to be submitted to. And I don’t have much patience for rebellion.

…an honourable woman with high ideals and values when it comes to walking out honourable relationships with people. I treat people with honour and respect and dignity and I believe I am to be treated with honour, respect and dignity. I will keep my word and be loyal to the promises I’ve made. And I will speak up about this value of honour, often, as we are God’s creation, made in His image, and therefore, we must carry the hearts of people with dignity. There is no excuse for dishonouring and disrespecting anyone, no matter how badly they are behaving or living. I never have a right to attack a person’s identity.

…a pure woman who does not push the limits and boundaries of personal and relational integrity and purity when it comes to walking out a dating relationship before marriage, and when it comes to walking out a marriage relationship. I would rather sever a relationship or cut a limb off than to compromise the integrity and intrinsic value of the other person, myself, and the life of God within us.

…a teachable woman who responds rightly to correction and discipline. I apologize and repent the moment I realize I have wronged someone. I do this, even if I am 10% in the wrong and another person is 90% in the wrong. I will take 100% ownership of my part and freely and fully offer my repentant heart and actions, without expecting anything in return. I understand that I am weak and that I fail others often, but I am eager to extend the mercy and grace to myself and to others. I am willing to remain teachable and learn from my shortcomings.

…a deep woman with a serious mind. I enjoy long, in-depth conversations about the deep things of life. I am not afraid to talk about the serious issues of life and I like to explore the hard questions and find lasting wisdom for our lives. I don’t have much time for small talk. Small talk’s okay to start off a conversation, but if it always stays on the surface, I lose interest pretty quickly. Life is deep, not shallow, so I live in the depths.

…a silly, goofy woman who loves to play and laugh. Not only am I deep, but I am extremely goofy. I can be the silliest of souls, with a childlike joie de vivre (joy of life) that comes out at the most unexpected, surprising times. Life must be laughed at, or it cannot be fully lived.

…a growing woman who loves to be in a stimulating, challenging environment intent on growth and movement. I love to activate and challenge people out of their comfort zones. I cannot stand to be around stagnant, stale, apathetic company that is bored, disengaged and unchallenged by life. Nothing could seem more torturous to me than the thought of not growing at all. Growth and going on into maturity is the food I thrive on daily.

…a fruitful woman who loves to see multiplication and fruitfulness in love. This is why I love the possibility of marriage and children – being an integral part of a bond of love that finds itself bearing fruit that will carry on past itself. A love that does not fail or die, but rather, multiplies itself and continues on into the life of a new generation. To me, what greater purpose can one have than to see the fruit of your life carry on beyond yourself?

…an adventurous woman who must explore new frontiers of God’s fascinating earth. I am not content to just stay in one corner of the globe, in a comfy bubble. I must expand my world, by exploring it, and I must be a global-citizen, seeing the light of Christ shed abroad into every nook and cranny of this planet. I can’t help but encourage and urge others to get out of their comfortable bubbles and enter into the adventure of world-engagement. I can’t quite understand people who have never left their house or their hometown, ever. What the boink??!

…a spicy woman who loves spicy, flavoursome food from all around the world. I love to eat interesting food from all different cultures with all kinds of flavours. I live a spicy life. I can’t stand bland. Life must be tasted deeply to be fully lived.

…a colourful woman with a love of beauty and creativity. I am always creating beautiful spaces and beautiful things. I love to make things beautiful. I love to restore homes and make them into peaceful, beautiful dwelling places. I love to make creative art and designs that bring joy to people and encourage them. I love beautiful clothes and jewelery that put God’s beautiful creation on display. I love colour. Life is colourful or it is nothing at all.

 

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