Who doesn’t remember Wonder Woman – the beautiful, brave, and defender of justice? Though she was born from the imagination of William Moulton, she was embraced by million with open hearts. We were all captivated by Diana Prince’s adventures. She made us forget the routine: the endless dishes, the laundry, the buzzing of toddlers, and that unrelenting cycle of cleaning… and cleaning… and cleaning some more. She offered us a glimpse of victory and the thrill of a life beyond the ordinary. For many women, she awakened a longing – to step outside, to discover a new identity. But that longing came with a cost: the daily tug-of-war between work and home, ambition and responsibility, identity and exhaustion. Perhaps the answer isn’t choosing one or the other – but fully surrendering our hearts to God, trusting Him to guide each step, so that in all things, we may prosper according to His will.

Wonder Woman arrived during a time when women were still viewed as symbols of weakness – married young, raising large families, and managing households with quiet resilience. Changing diapers, washing baby bottles, mending garments – these weren’t feats that required superpowers. The tasks were so repetitive that mothers became experts by necessity. Yet in the midst of this routine, Wonder Woman appeared, and her adventures filled us with excitement and wonder. She came to fight against evil, but in a deeper way, we felt as if she had come to redeem women from their ordinary lives.

The courage and boldness of Wonder Woman stirred something deep within us – admiration, yes, but also a quiet ache. Her strength made us wonder: are we enough? And so, many of us began to emulate her, piecing together our own inner versions of what she represented. We were determined to rise. With trembling hands, we spread our wings and dared to reach beyond the clouds, like her. And we did. Women touched the sky. Some broke through it. Astronauts, scientist, congresswomen, stateswomen – bold, brilliant women who dared more and became more.

Snip snap snout… but perhaps this tale is not yet told out – for beneath the cape and crown of Wonder Woman lies a quiet dilemma, one that echoes through many of us. To hold her title, Diana Prince must remain untethered: no deep friendships, no family ties, no tender confessions of love. Her dreams, if whispered at all, must stay hidden. She’s admired for her strength and beauty, not her softness. We’ve drawn her in ink and glory, but never in morning sickness or lullabies. We struggle to picture her nursing a child, folding onesies, or chasing toddlers in worn-out sandals. That would just make her — one of us. And perhaps that’s the real tragedy: we fell in love with a myth that insists she remain powerful, untouchable, poised and radiant.

But here in the real world, Wonder Woman is just a fictional figure. The tension we see in her story isn’t hers to bear… it’s ours: How do we define our worth apart from titles, careers, or income? And when we become parents, the pressure deepens. Both motherhood and vocation demand time, energy, and heart. We long to be intentional – disciplining with grace, teaching with purpose, and weaving strong, lasting bods with our children. Yet the truth remains: neither career success nor parenting excellence should hold the keys to our identity. Because one day, our children will leave the nest – and if our sense of purpose was built solely around them, it will leave with them.

So, what’s the answer? The Bible introduces us to a woman who resolves this inner conflict not through superpowers, but through quiet strength. She’s no capital-W Wonder Woman clad in a cape; she’s a lowercase-w virtuous woman wrapped in wisdom, and we meet her in Proverbs 31.

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. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. 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 (Proverbs 31:10-31).

Now here is a true wonderful woman: she cares for her husband, nurtures her children, tends her home – and runs a business on top of it all. Remarkably, God doesn’t seem to have a problem with that. In fact, He celebrates it. What’s also interesting is how often we see her hands at work: cooking, cleaning, buying land, planting crops, designing and selling garments, and giving generously to the poor. But the text mentions her voice only once – and when she speaks, her words overflow with wisdom, because “the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” That’s no coincidence. It reveals a woman grounded in the Word of God. She is not loud with her strength; she’s gentle in her influence. Her power doesn’t come from what she does – it flows from Who she knows.

God comes first in her life – then her family, and finally her business. We see this in the closing of her story where we read that, while many women have done excellently, she surpasses them all, “for a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” She also tends to her home and loved ones before turning to trade and profit. Because she understands that for everything, there is a season. And when God is first, every task – whether tender or taxing – becomes an act of worship, and peace and prosperity follow.

God’s plan for redemption included us – simple, yet authentic women. He chose a virtuous woman – not a Wonder Woman – to nurture the Savior of the world. Had he waited another 2,000 years to choose her, one wonders if such a woman could be found in the midst of today’s self-centered, image-driven generation. He also entrusted us with children – not to simply raise them into independence, but to instruct them in His ways, so that when they grow, they will not depart from them. Parenting isn’t just provision and preparation; it’s sacred stewardship. And it requires a deep, abiding relationship with the Lord. Contrary to the world’s standards, where parenting is shaped by social media trends and entertainment voices. Yet the Lord has warned us from the beginning: Do not follow their ways (Exodos 23:2). Our calling is to guide our children toward purpose, toward truth, and toward the heart of God.

Many women strive relentlessly to justify their worth because the world insists, You’re not worthy until you’ve done something grand. The truth is that, behind every powerful or beautiful woman, there’s a hidden fragility: a quiet insecurity, a soul that has wept through trials. The virtuous woman is real, and just like the rest of us, time softens her beauty – but she’s not shaken by it. Her radiance comes not from appearance, but from character. She is clothed with honor and strength – all because she puts God first and He celebrates her for that. Oh, how sweet it is to be approved by God – even if we are never applauded by the world. His approval outweighs theirs a thousand times over.

God offers us a refuge – a sacred place where we are forever shielded from the voice of disapproval. That place is His presence. We were never meant to walk this path alone, nor were we created to mimic the patterns of the world. If those patterns held the answers, the world wouldn’t be in the chaos we see today. Only God can provide the balance our hearts crave in every season of life. And for the woman who feels she’s missed the mark -- there is still time to influence, to guide, to love those who may never have known what a godly parent looks like. We are called the light of the world for a reason – God has commissioned us to shine – not through perfection, but through acts of kindness that reflect the One who brought us out of darkness and into His glorious light. We may never soar like Wonder Woman in the eyes of the world, but when our journey on earth ends, we will rise to heaven and witness a generation changed by the power of God.