If you are tempted to believe that while writing this message I somehow find myself higher up than most women.....please stop and pray, asking the Lord to open your heart.  I, in no way, believe I have it all figured out.  The Lord above knows I have a LONG way to go!  Yet, I am deeply encouraged to look back and see where He has led me....where He has changed me, and to know He is working on me still...until my very last breath....

I am quite convinced those in marriage will never get one another 100% figured out, BUT the blessings come when we realize that we don’t have to!  There will be those times of enlightenment, however. 

One of the greatest things I ever figured out about the husband gifted to me was his NEED to know his wife was not just home, but that she was home and busy.  During the time in my life when I was struggling with an idle spirit, there was GREAT tension in our marriage!  I can now see the joy and confidence in his eyes when he comes home and sees the other part of him has been accomplishing things throughout the day. 

May seem pretty tough to others, but I have found the more I seek to serve him in this way, the less he expects.  He use to be VERY demanding about housework, cooking…..PERFECTIONIST to the tee!…..now he comes home and I know he is proud…whether I am sitting and reading a book to the children or scrubbing a floor. 

I delight in the fact that my husband has a deeper confidence and sense of self worth because his wife is busy caring for the things of the home.  Today is one of those days when he popped in late afternoon to pick something up here at home.  When he walked in I was making a new batch of cloth napkins. 

I started making napkins, table cloths, runners, placemats and tea cozies about a year ago to sell.  My very first batch of napkins made was for my family, but we have learned in the past few months that 15 for our family size just doesn’t cut it.  SO, today I decided to crack down and make some more.  When my hubby walked in and inquired about what I was making, I told him I had just cut out 20 more napkins to sew.  His eyes lit up and I could see how much joy he felt!

Yes, he likes the cloth napkins…we will never go back to paper ones again, but truly I know in my heart it wasn’t about the napkins at all.  His wife was busy doing things for the home and family and it delighted his spirit.  His heart was trusting in me.

Of course there are times when he comes home and due to some unforeseen circumstances my being didn’t accomplish much in a physical manner.  The difference now, though, is that he is understanding.  He knows that when things return to normal, whether it takes 5 months for “morning sickness” to pass, or a week waiting for tiny fevered brows to heal…he knows in his spirit that I am doing my best to be about the business the Lord has in store for me…in this life, as his wife.  His heart safely trusts in me and he knows HE will have no lack of gain. (Proverbs 31:11).  I am not claiming to have all of Proverbs 31 down….nope, not me…BUT I am striving for that goal, as should we all be doing.  When we realize that it is attainable one step at a time, we can find joy each step of the way.

“….the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things~that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands so that the Word of God may not be blasphemed.” Titus 2:3~5

~~Thank you to all the Titus 2 women in my life, who have taught me to keep striving towards these things!  God knows who you are….may He richly bless you!~~