Not Harping

Perhaps I sound like I'm harping on submission. I know that the Lord gave our husbands a pretty hefty command - to love us like Christ loved the church. Wow.   That's a tall order.  But, I noticed this: The more I stick my nose in what my husband should be doing, the less I work on what I'm supposed to be doing.  The devil is constantly trying to inundate us with mouthy, bossy, mean, nagging women as our examples.  I've found that I have to review submission.  I take "doses" of submission by mulling over Ephesians 5:22-33 or Colossians 3:18.  That helps me get back on track and it helps me to be glad in my role.

Mid-bossy-sentence

The ultra-independence thing is counter to what the Bible teaches. This is the very reason that your flesh may be squirming as you read this. Lest I sound bossy or preachy or arrogant, understand this, I struggle with bossiness and insubordination sometimes. It is truly a journey of letting the Lord convict and change me.  My conscience pricks me mid-bossy-sentence and I have to stop and apologize.  My husband is so gracious to me.  Sometimes, the way I learn not to be bossy to him, is to just be quiet.  And, if you know me, that's hard.  Really hard.

A moral

The moral of the previous story is this:
A husband and a wife each have a role in a marriage.  Faithfully and happily serving in your role pleases God and somehow makes a marriage thrive..
The world likes to peddle "ultra-independence" to women, as if we are less valuable because we depend on our husband.  I assure you, God values women.  In a patriarchal society, He had 4 women listed in Jesus' geneology (Matthew 1:3,5-6).  That's big stuff.  And, He made sure that the same salvation offered to men, is offered to women.  It's level ground in front of the Cross.  Our husband will answer for how he led his family and we will answer for how we cared for our family.

Strong Independent Young Woman

Long ago, when I worked outside the home, I casually mentioned that I'd take my health insurance information home for my husband to read, since he handled that stuff.  A co-worker retorted, "Whatever happened to being a strong, independent young woman?!"  Ironically, I am the happily married one of the two of us and she is divorced (for no good reason) and living with a boyfriend with 2 confused kids.  If that is being a strong, independent young woman, count me out.

(And today I am very happily married for 10 years to my best friend!)

Our Words

What does a wife do when she hears someone speak against her husband's decision?  She mulls and it grows... she mulls more and it grows larger.  In my experience, discontentment only leads me to further sin - anger, bitterness, etc.  Being a Godly wife is already like swimming upstream these days.  We as Christians ought to cheer each other on toward more Godliness!  Let our words encourage wives to submit to their own husband.  Let our comments help a wife to be content and graciously supportive of her husband's decisions.  If she doesn't like the decision, let our words help her to be quietly submissive until the time when the Holy Spirit wants to her to speak out. 

"Oh Lord, let my conversation, encourage every wife I encounter to be content in her marriage and obedient to her husband."