The Excellent Wife: Chapter 1

When I told my hubby that I was going to be reading "The Excellent Wife", his response was, "Why? You wrote it."

I couldn't even detect a speck of sarcasm. See why I love that man of mine?

So you might say I was feeling a little smug. Friends warned me this is a tough book. In my heart, I scoffed. I read the first chapter last week.

I'm still licking my wounds.

God's will for every Christian wife is that her most important ministry be to her husband (Genesis 2:18). After a wife's own personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, nothing else should have greater priority. Her husband should be the primary benefactor of his wife's time and energy, not the recipient of what may be left over at the end of the day.

~Page 4

Even though R may think I'm an excellent wife at times, I know there's much room for improvement. Too many times I give him the left-overs. My energy and patience have been zapped by the demands of the job, the home, the girl, and the what-have-yous. I flop on the sofa like a limp dishrag, looking rather disheveled, and my eyes glaze over as he starts to speak. I mumble "mmm" and "uh-huh" at the appropriate intervals, but am I really listening to his heart?

...an excellent wife reflects God's glory by her attitudes and actions.

~Page 4

I'm guessing sighing and rolling my eyes don't fall into the category of actions that glorify God. And what about resentment because he didn't do what I asked exactly when I asked? What about jealousy because he has free time alone at home, which I regard as a precious commodity?

Then there's the nagging and complaining.

With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was tired to death.
~Judges 16:16 (NIV)

Do everything without complaining or arguing...
~Philippians 2:14
Many times I don't express my complaints vocally, but mentally I'm keeping score. It's hard being a wife and mother who works outside of the home. R's swing shift rotation is another obstacle to hurdle as I manage our home (i.e. I can't clean while he's sleeping, and practically being a single parent one week). I feel entitled to gripe.

Because God has so richly provided for a Christian wife in her battle against sin, she is without excuse.

~Page 7

Clearly, I'm wrong.

My friend were mistaken. This book is more than tough. It's really, really tough.

For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes.
~Hebrews 12:6 (AMP)
He must love me to pieces.

Go visit Leslie to see if He's lovin' on some other ladies.