We’ve heard about the “perfect” Proverbs 31 woman for years.
I used to come away feeling intimidated by her stellar success inabsolutely everything.
And it did not seem fair for God to put her forward as the ideal woman to model my life after.
If I had a few servant girls like she did, I could be Wonder Woman, too😏.
Yes, indeed, she irritated me.
But now I realize she’s not a model but a guide.
Not an impossible ideal, but an invitation for us to live full out in our identity as virtuous and adventurous women.
And that in choosing to show us how proficient she is in so many activities, God means only to encourage us to recognize ourselves in at least one of them.
With that understanding, I feel the excitement rising inside of me whenever I run across this verse:
She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises.— Proverbs 31:14 MSG
Maybe you feel it, too.
Because this beautiful, wise woman gliding across the waters like a graceful ship—charting her course, taking her time, and returning home with treasures to share . . .
. . . is you!
Like a merchant ship, steady and purposeful, you’ve got your eyes open and set on things above.
As a Proverbs 31 woman, you aim to do the best with what you’ve got.
You want to make the most of what you have — time, energy, resources — and use them thoughtfully and with intention.
More than most, you understand the value of searching deeper, exploring a little farther, and investing in life-giving experiences.
Here and now.
Not off in some far-off land or locked behind a door you don’t have the key to, but right where you are — where God has placed you. (1 Corinthians 7:17 MSG)
So, go ahead and take a little voyage today.
🎨Start with art. Pick a favorite piece. Now ask yourself — who made this?
What other artists, maybe from a different country or century, used a similar palette or theme? Let your curiosity take the lead.
🎧Pop in those earbuds. Hop onto your favorite music app and type in a region of the world you’ve wondered about.
What’s playing there? You might discover a new favorite kind of music.
🍽️And, oh yes, the flavors! Take a favorite dish— maybe something with apples, cinnamon, and a buttery crust — and look up a version from somewhere else.
Say, a French tarte tatin instead of classic American apple pie. (Trust me, it’s as yummy as it sounds.)
Then, pause.
Look. Listen. Savor.
Adventure doesn’t always require a suitcase or passport.
Sometimes, it’s just a brushstroke, a click, or a taste away.
MOVIE NIGHT AROUND THE WORLD
🎥 A FILM TO EXPLORE IRAN
Have you ever watched an Iranian movie?
Since the advent of the Persian New Year late last month, now is a sweet time for you to do so.
Iranians have celebrated this event, called Nowruz or “New Day,” for over 3,000 years.
How? Usually by visiting and feasting with friends and family and giving gifts.
(And I’m guessing with all that visiting and feasting, they occasionally take time to watch good movies, too. 😉)
If you’re in the mood for a slow-moving film where there’s little action apart from all that is going on inside the character’s hearts and minds, here’s one I recommend:
WATCH:
Border Café (Café Transit): This film gem tells the story of Reyhan, a strong Iranian woman who, after losing her husband, decides to reopen his café—something not exactly welcomed in her traditional community.
What I love is how quietly powerful the film is. It doesn’t shout but gently pulls you in, showing Reyhan’s quiet courage, reliance, and grace.
If you’re curious about Iranian culture, especially the role of women within it, this film is a beautiful, heartfelt place to start. It lingers with you—in the best way.
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Do you enjoy watching movies filmed in a language other than English?
TUNES AROUND THE WORLD
A BRIEF TOUR OF IRANIAN HIT TUNES
LISTEN TO:
“Che Konam” (“What Should I Do”) by singer-composer Erfan Tahmasbi laments the loss of one’s beloved and the pain of moving forward with a broken heart.
“Tehran” by contemporary singer Sogand. This tune is about wrestling with restlessness and is rich with lyrics about sleeplessness and the change of season in Iran’s bustling capital city.
“Mara Baboos” (“Kiss Me”) is another tune by Sogand. Hauntingly beautiful, it expresses the pain of saying goodbye and the uncertainty of the future.
“Cheshme To” (“Your Eyes”) by Majid Razavi is an oh-so-easy-to-sway-to declaration of love.
“Dokhtar Irooni” (“Iranian Girl”) by Sohrab Pakzad: an energetic and highly danceable ode to Iranian womanhood.
FUN FACT:
“Mara Baboos” was initially recorded decades ago, in 1957.
This latest version by Sogand, widely known as a rapper, has introduced a new generation of music lovers to this classic tune.
LISTEN HERE: Spotify
PAINTING ACROSS BORDERS
SPOTLIGHT ON IRANIAN MINIATURE ART
Iranian miniature painting🎨 flourished from the 13th to 17th centuries. These intricate works adorned manuscripts and celebrated poetry, mythology, and daily life.
The 📖Shahnameh (“Book of Kings”) of Shah Tahmasp is among the greatest of these. It’s a 16th-century illustrated version of an epic poem written initially by Abu’l Qasim Firdausi around 1000.
With gorgeous color and fabulous storytelling…
this manuscript celebrates the exploits of ancient Iranian kings from creation until the Arab conquest (and the resulting spread of Islam) in the 7th century.
🌟 How popular was this Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp?
Extremely.
It was produced for Shah Tahmasp, who ruled Iran from 1524 to 1576, and is the most luxuriously illustrated version ever created.
The manuscript is no longer intact today, and individual pages fetch millions at auctions.
It’s a good thing that New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art owns over a quarter of the original 258 illustrations.
Some of the most exquisite are by Sultan Muhammad, a master of composition and detail.
Take a peek at this artist’s beautiful work HERE.
I’ve enjoyed touring the Iranian music, art, and cinema world with you today.
I hope you did, too, and you’ve discovered some facets of Iranian culture you want to explore a little further, as we discussed earlier.
Until the next time and place!
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