Loving your husband? Going out of your way to show him how much?
“This is all well and good, if you’re from the 1950s.” At least that’s what they say.
When Michael comes home from work I like to have dinner ready for him. Something he likes. I’ll take a few extra minutes to pull my hair up into a bouncy ponytail, and put on one of my prettiest aprons. If I’m so inclined, I might put on a bit of makeup–nothing much, maybe a touch of mascara, a little blush, and some lip gloss.
I tidy up the house and try to have all of my chores done by the time he arrives. It’s my way of showing him that I care for our home and I care about us.
Sometimes I’ll get a little sappy and run my fingers through his hair or cuddle up with him on the recliner. Another way of showing him how much I care.
“This is all well and good, if you’re from the 1950s.” That’s what they like to say.
The real question however is, what does the Bible say?
The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. – Titus 2:3-5
When did loving others and making an effort to please them go out of style?
Earlier this evening my husband and I hosted our Bible study group. By the time our company arrived at 7pm the house was clean, the tea was hot, and the brownies were cut into squares.
Little did they know that I had spent the afternoon vacuuming, sweeping and scrubbing the toilet. They also didn’t know that I had pulled my hair up into a bouncy ponytail just minutes before they arrived. Did they need to know? Not really, all that was important to me was that they felt welcome in our home.
We’re so used to impressing others in our society. But when it comes to impressing our husbands people are suddenly taken aback. Surely we must have “June Cleaver Fever.”
Romans 12:2 instructs Christians saying, “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Some people take that to the extreme thinking that we have to dress differently. And yes, we might have to dress differently if our clothing isn’t pleasing to God. But the heart of the message is this: we are to dress and to act in a way that conforms to God’s will, whether this social system considers it normal or not. We cannot let pop culture dictate the way that we live or the way that we love.
Whether you’re from the 50s or living in 2015, God’s instructions for marriage are every bit as wise as they always have been. That’s what I like to say.
That’s all for tonight, ladies. I’ve got a husband to cuddle!
You are loved by an almighty God,
Darlene Schacht
The Time-Warp Wife
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