Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. -1 Peter 3:3-5

This scripture has always inspired and challenged me. A beautiful woman, in God's eyes, is one with a gentle and quiet spirit. I don't know about you, but those two words don't describe me in the least. I am extremely passionate, often too intense, about most of the things going on in my life. I am also a chatterbox, especially around my very quiet husband. I need God's help in a major way!

I have recently been reading Elizabeth George's book, A Wife After God's Own Heart. It's been a wonderful read so far, very insightful and full of advice. There is an entire chapter devoted to learning to communicate in a spiritual way, which I have found so helpful in my quest to become a woman of gentle and quiet spirit.