You remember that the virtuous woman’s husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. If we revere our husband others will too. If we revere him in the home, our children will. If we treat him as though he knows what he is talking about when he is leading, others will respect him. On the flip side, if our children or others he is to lead see us disagreeing, laughing at his ways, or in any way disrespecting his leadership, he loses respect in their eyes as well. This has disastrous results for him and for you.
It is important to understand that there are no perfect husbands or wives. When your husband lets you down by being grouchy or perhaps rude, remember your own imperfections. Remember how much responsibility the LORD has laid on your husband’s shoulders: if he doesn’t provide for the family the LORD tells him he is worse than an infidel. He carries heavy responsibilities at work. He comes home tired and spent without a lot left over to give at home. He comes home to get rested and pampered and to have his self esteem reconstructed perhaps, to be revived and empowered to go back out and slay new dragons tomorrow. Sometimes our husbands come home spent and wounded from the daily battles, and like an injured animal, snap at the hand that tries to help. Respect that. Don’t take it personally. He chose you to be the one to spend the rest of his life coming home to. You are the helper he needs. You are his completer.
You need strength from God to fulfill your role without becoming offended. There will be good days. There will be rough weeks. There will be times when you are both so tired that you have nothing left to give. At these times your only source of strength will be the Lord. You will need Him to give you all you had hoped to receive from your husband. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” You MUST maintain your relationship with the Lord in order to be the help that is meet (suitable) for your husband.
Sometimes we come into marriage expecting a Christian romance novel life. Although there are sweet loving times and many rewarding moments, much of life is work. It’s not one long party or huge playground. 
If we drop all of our fairytale expectations we enjoy the beautiful moments. If we expect one long romance novel we will spend our days in disillusionment.
Let’s learn to reverence.
2 Responses
I am not a young person, and I am all ready married, but this was a blessing and a nice reminder!!!!! Thank you.
Thanks Jan. It does those of us who have been married a while good to remember these things as well. It sure does me good to review!