Women Making a Difference in Marriage

Since it has been a while since I have written I will recall the last lesson a bit. This short lesson is a nice subtle reminder that marriage is a two way street. Enjoy!

“We have often heard it said that God did not take Eve from Adam’s head so that she would rule over him or from his feet so that she would be his slave. There is some real truth in this. But what kind of picture is God giving to us by taking Eve from Adam’s rib? Our ribs protect our most vital organs. Our ribs protect our heart. This would be one of Eve’s ministries in the life of her husband—she would give protection to his heart!” (From the book “Love Life for Every Married Couple”)

The number two need expressed by husbands was for their wives to be recreational companions. (From the book “His Needs, Her Needs”)

God addressed Adam’s aloneness by creating Eve in the book of Genesis. We are to provide our husbands with companionship. We are to be recreational companions as well as physical, emotional, and spiritual companions. As wives, this is part of our ministry to our husbands. Being a companion is one of the many ways that we can provide protection to his heart, which is an awesome calling!

Which of your husband’s interests or hobbies do you share? Are you willing to spend time in ways that may entertain him more than you? Of course, in the ideal give-and-take of a healthy relationship, both husband and wife would willingly give time and energy to the other spouse’s interests. However, we cannot withhold our companionship while waiting for the ideal relationship. If necessary, set a sacrificial example in obedience to God’s calling on your life.

Prayer:
God, thank you for marriage, thank you for this sweet design. We submit our marriages to you that you may guide them with your loving hand. Thank you for our husbands and the heart that you have given them. Please help us to better understand our husbands and teach us to nurture him in the way that you do. Amen!

Somewhere between her home
and a placard demanding equal rights
she got lost
wandering past the garden
following where the serpent pointed
she turned left instead of right
and got offtrack…….
and through the scenery looked vaguely familiar
a frown of consternation
began to crease her brow
as she realized
it was taking her
far too long
to reach her desired destination
still she determined to go
yet another mile
before turning off her chosen path
perhaps she was being too anxious……
and as she wandered
looking for a marker
to get her bearings
man wondered where she’d gone
as she ventured too far to hear
his need for her
or her children crying
and they too lost their way
trying to follow her
misled by traces of her perfume in the air
the memory of a gentle touch
an encouraging word…..
a piece of fabric soft to the skin
and sage advice
were found along the path
now littered with confusion
and distrust….
and as man’s shoulders began to slope in resignation
weakening his arms
causing him to abdicate his seat as protector
and her children began to find their own way
allowing new friends of rebellion
to fill the space she left behind
a cry rang out……
It filled the earth
it reached the skies
and rang throughout the heavens
“Woman, where art thou?”
“Woman, where art thou?”
“Woman, where art thou?”
it echoed off the mountaintops
and stretched across the plains
it descended throughout the valleys
this plaintive cry
mourning the absence
of this precious lost treasure
and she hearing the cry
came to a halt
not quite sure of where she stood
unable to give her location
she turned looking for her own
footprints in the sand
only to find shallow remembrances
of where she had been
and somewhere between her struggle to recall her true identity
and the place of her restoration
she saw visions of a man with sad eyes
longing for her love
praying for her return
and children
with their arms outstretched
crying for her wisdom to save them
but she had grown weary from the journey……..
sadness rooting her to the spot
depression bowing her
into herself
she succumbed to her fatigue
sinking into a deep and fitful sleep……
and in the distance
the ring of hammers
began hesitantly
building
and building again
until it reverberated
through the land…..
its sharp rhythm piercing the hearts of men
awakening sleeping women
and frustrated children
as wanted signs were posted
by determined hands
in search of the vanishing woman……………