What’s the most important lesson you taught this week? Did your daughter finally conquer those multiplication tables? Did your son learn all 50 state capitals? Did you by chance teach your children how to love their spouse for life?
As I sprinted through this week—trying to keep up with multiple children in multiple grades, the house, a few writing assignments, and a sick dog—I found myself on auto-pilot, barely looking up from my to-do list. About Wednesday, as I dashed out the door to get a child to an appointment, I realized I failed to kiss my husband good-bye. Guiltily, I paused to consider how I had been treating him over the past week.
Did he feel top priority in my life? Had I used my days to affirm him, to show interest in his interests, to do him good and not harm? (Proverbs 31:12) Had my example given my daughters an understanding of how to nourish their own marriages during busy times? Had my sons developed healthy expectations regarding their wives from my treatment of their dad?
Even if I completed every item on my to-do list with absolute perfection, would it mean anything if my husband felt neglected? If my children learned that tasks trump people?
Wednesday night I got on my knees and asked my Lord to yet again save me from being so busy with books that I fail to do my real job—ministering to the people. I asked for wisdom in how to be the bride my husband needs every day. I made the commitment to:
- Kiss him every time I leave
- Reserve the first ten minutes he’s home to take him aside and find out about his day, his needs
- Ensure his priorities for our school are carried out
- Monitor the tone I use when speaking of my husband—is it honoring, loving, not impatient or frustrated
I asked God to use the dayliness of each day to help me teach my children one of the most important lessons of all—how to love their spouse for life.
Tess and Mike Worrell enjoy discipling their eight children and are in their 14th year of home schooling. Tess also writes and speaks to various groups on issues of marriage, parenting, and living as a Godly woman. Tess would love to hear your input. You can contact her at tess@yourfamilymatterstous.com or visit her website: YourFamilyMatterstous.com.
Glad to hear you are safe from the storms that blew through Jefferson Co.
EEEEKKK!! I think you have described me to a T here. Thanks for the reminder that I need to pay more attention to my husbands needs and less attention to all the things that are pulling me away from him.
After suffering from a ‘chronic illness’ for many years, I’ve just found out that I have multiple food allergies that have been causing all my problems. So my life has revolved around “What can I and what can’t I eat?” for the last month. I need to put my focus back on my family and the food will fall into place and stop living like those in the wilderness in Numbers 11 & 12.
Thanks again for the reminder.
Moe