Smiles. Routine smiles, fake smiles, sad smiles, happy smiles, gleeful smiles. What kind of smiles are we showing people? Especially our husbands? Are we even smiling?
As the first born of four children, with an unsmiling mother, and an "in charge" personality, I am prone to wear a policeman face rather than a smiling face. But I have learned the power of a smile through the years. Smiling at toddlers while they play sends a wash of warmth over them that you can often visibly see. Smiling at tired clerks in stores cheers them up. So smiling at the one we love seems like a no-brainer.
But we are often caught up in petty wrongs and bad attitudes, superior attitudes and flat out anger towards the one we love. We are challenged in this chapter to engage in the beauty and power of smiling. It is hard to smile and keep a bad attitude! The joy of the Lord is our strength and by deciding to reside in joy and thanksgiving we can change our attitude towards our mate, the one we were created to serve!
We all know sad single moms who had "bad" husbands. But the bottom line; to be divorced and alone is a huge leap from married with problems. Years ago I had had it with my husband, we had the nine older kids at home and he was no help I thought. I was frustrated with the budget, working part time, the noise and activity level of healthy busy kids, lack of sleep from babies, on and on. I am an anticipater (also known as a control freak), so I wrote a list of all my grievances in our current situation. I then wrote a list of all my expected relief without him. I realized to my surprise that my grievances would intensify! I put the list away to think about it, but my eyes were open!!! It was better to stick it out than to leave. It has been hard at times, but it has also been wonderful as God has given us breakthroughs. I praise God for that list and the miracle of understanding it. I think Debi is showing us through her letter to Beth that our society's tendency to divorce over righteous issues is definitely questionable.
What do you think?
Creation of Woman
"And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him...And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam... and he took one of his ribs...And the ribs, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man" (Genesis 2:18, 21-22)
"Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtainth favour of the Lord" ( Proverbs 18:22)
"For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man" (I Cor. 11:8-9)
"But she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband" (I Cor. 7:34)
"A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband" (Proverbs 12:4)
"For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man" (I Cor. 11:8-9)
"But she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband" (I Cor. 7:34)
"A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband" (Proverbs 12:4)
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23)
"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything" (Ephesians 5:22-24).
"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord" (Colossians 3:18).
"But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of every woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." (Corinthians 11:3).
"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord" (Colossians 3:18).
"But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of every woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." (Corinthians 11:3).
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