At lunch yesterday, I was getting my kids glasses of water. Of course, I couldn’t find any of the baby’s sippy cups… all three of them… couldn’t find one of them. So I asked my kid.
“Oh I think he took it outside.”
Me- looking outside… NOTHING.
“I think he took it in our room.”
Me- looking in their room… nothing.
“Ok, well I guess he will just get a regular cup and hope he doesn’t spill it.”
Two seconds after my first child asked to be excused, she was standing in front of me with a green sippy cup. “Mom, how did you not see it? It was right there,” she said pointing in front of the bookshelf in the living room.
How did I not see it? It was right in front of me. Well, I wasn’t looking for it there… but it was literally right in front of me, and I passed it at least two times.
I wish I could tell you this is the first time this has happened. Or even that this is a rare occasion… but that would be a lie.
Yesterday I saw a video on social media by the Holderness Family. It was making jokes out of Marriage in Quarantine. And it was funny because it is true. I really do love having my husband home with the family, but sometimes we annoy each other because we are not use to being together 24/7.
My marriage has been an amazing blessing to me. I’ve learned that many times when I am mad, it is because I am letting my emotions control me rather than controlling them. But more than that, I have learned that God is working on my heart. When I am wrong, when I am right, when I am annoyed, when I am happy. He is always working to make my heart like His. I have learned so much about the love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through my role of being a wife and mother.
However this has not always been the case.
I can vividly remember eight years ago committing myself to being a godly wife. And that started by learning what the Bible actually said about being a wife.
So, I had a Bible, but the binding on it was crisp. It was only opened like three times when my husband was deployed and specifically asked me to read Job. I had no idea what to do or where to start. So, I did what anyone in the 21 Century would do- I turned to Google.
Well, I found Proverbs 31:10-12, 23, 25-31
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
This passage was challenging because I am not her. I still am not her. I am striving to be, but all sin and fall short of the glory of God. I’m just going to quickly reflect on some words that jumped out to me today as I reread this.
Her husband has full confidence in her. Why would he do that? Because I have proven that I can and do handle my responsibilities with love. He trust me. He loves me. But mostly, because he knows I can and do serve God and my family to the best of my abilities.
Her husband is respected by others because she shows him respect! Ladies, it is so important to respect your husbands. I have learned that men and women do not speak the same language. We want love. They want respect. Show him respect in your deeds and words. But also speak well of him and build him up in front of other people. Don’t lie or go out of your way to boast. Also when the opportunity presents itself, let him lead and support him.
She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction. Oh I hope I am growing here. Honestly, sometimes I can tell I am being led by the Spirit and wisdom and biblical advice flow, but sometimes I am being led by Renee and I just want the conversation to be over. But as I have become more acquainted with the Word and God’s will for my life, I have also had those words more freely flow from my tongue.
How did I not see it? I wasn’t looking for it. But maybe I wasn’t supposed to be looking for it at that time in my life.
When I read this eight years ago, I did not see what I see today. Because I am not in the same spot emotionally or spiritually. Then the message I needed was- get in your Bible. Today the message I need is grow in your faith through the assignments God has blessed you with!