Valentine's Day prompts reflection on biblical womanhood

Wanting to impart some substance to the Valentine's Day card I bought for my girlfriend (the literature in Valentine's Day cards is meaningless and awful--sometimes embarrassing, even, to send. I would much prefer the insides left blank and a simple "I love you" on the front.), I had in mind to include some Scripture. So, I searched the Bible for descriptions of a virtuous woman/wife. I found several, but the one I chose was from Proverbs 31:10-13, 25-30:

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. (my emphasis)

Thus, the woman who is virtuous (that is, a good example of her kind) should be trustworthy, hard-working, strong in character and spirit, wise, kind, and well-reputed. But more fundamentally--and this manifests itself in the aforementioned qualities--a virtuous woman should fear the Lord.

Reading this brought me joy, for my own has just such qualities.