I have said to many people that I have done twice now what most men only do once. I have married up and over my head for a second time. I am blessed beyond measure. I had observed Amanda from a distance for some time after Kim’s death. Amanda, a colleague, knew Kim; and Kim knew Amanda. We have served as missionaries in different parts of the world but ended up at our home office together. As I focused on healing, I also considered the future. I disciplined myself not to take any steps too early. However, I knew enough about Amanda; she was a highly respected colleague. She was a woman of character. I had waited long enough to consider marriage to know I did not want to settle. I endured loneliness to get beyond it as a driving force. After having a wonderful marriage, I did not want to end life with a placeholder. Amanda, however, was a woman I looked up to with respect. So, I took the risk. As an aside, asking a woman on a date at sixty-one years of age is brutal. Amanda was so disciplined, so above reproach, that I had no confidence she would reciprocate my interest. But, through stuttering, nervousness, and sweating, I blurted out a question one day: “Would you consider spending time outside of the office with me?” The rest is history. Now, over these days, weeks, months and into the second year, I have discovered three things about Amanda. “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30 Amanda Fears the Lord I start here because her respect for the Lord is an attribute that is infused into everything else about her. Amanda is a follower of Christ who fears the Lord. She lives by Proverbs 31:30. Her focus in life and ministry is to be a woman who fears God. She walks humbly with God. She walks in reverence. She displays awe for God. She respects the Lord with a holy fear. Again, her fear of the Lord has permeated her being. Her beliefs, her thoughts, her actions, her love, her calling, her passions, and her relationships have all been influenced, shaped, and guided by her respect for her Creator and Lord. And thus, she is to be praised! “…her husband…praises her. Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Proverbs 31:28-29 Amanda is Charming While Proverbs 31:30 speaks of the deceitfulness of charm, I still find charm built upon the fear of the Lord to be a beautiful trait. Another word for charm is allure. Her gentle and kind ways have been a gift to me. Her charm, gentleness, and kindness have drawn me to her. And I have not been disappointed. She is a Philippians 4:8 woman. She is a woman of truth, honor, justice, purity, loveliness, commendation, and excellence. Worthy of praise. She is to be praised! Amanda is Beautiful While Proverbs 31:30 speaks of beauty as vanity, I have found Amanda’s beauty built upon her fear of God to be so very attractive. Ladies, learn this lesson. Physical beauty is not your goal. Fear of the Lord, character, is your goal. Beauty follows fear or reverence. Fear and respect defines your beauty. I have found Amanda to be a beautiful woman. She is to be praised! I continue my discoveries about Amanda, my bride. And I’ve not been disappointed ever. She is a charming lady. She is a beautiful woman. She is a woman who fears the Lord. Amanda is to be praised! “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.” Proverbs 31:10-11 Note : I read this entry to Amanda before releasing...and she replied, "Don't you think that's a bit much?" So, a woman who fears the Lord is humble, too.