Making Your Home Sing Monday

As promised last week, I've embarked in a study of Proverbs 31 in the hopes of refining my role as a wife, mother, and maker of my home according to God. I will make an installment of this study every week as a part of Nan's Monday meme, Making Your Home Sing at Momstheword. Be sure you link to her fabulous blog to read what she and other ladies are doing to bless their homes.

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her,
so that he shall have no need of spoil.
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
-- Proverbs 31:11-12 (KJV)

Trust is an integral part of any marriage. How firm in the foundation of a relationship where trust is lacking? As I studied these verses, I began looking for the ways my husband trusts in me. What confidences does he have in me? In what ways is he counting on me? Am I giving him reason to trust in me?

I am 100% faithful to my husband and I do not give him reason to think otherwise. I do not talk to or spend time alone with other men without my husband's knowledge. This doesn't mean I am no longer allowed to speak to the male friends I had before my marriage - but rather that if and when I am in contact with them (which is limited anyway) I am sure to always tell my husband that I have spoken with them. I don't consider this to be the relinquishment of any rights - I do it out of respect to my husband and to our marriage. I expect the same of him. I believe the open dialogue adds to the trust we share. If there were secretive relationships - even of a strictly platonic nature - it would sure indicate a lack of trust between us.

My husband is working hard so that I can stay at home. This doesn't mean I don't have a job, as stay-at-home moms know. It just means my job has changed. It's a 24/7 gig with no vacation or sick days. Please don't consider this a complaint - I am so blessed to be in this position. There are days I need to be reminded that I have such a special job. My husband should be able to have confidence in my ability to do this job. He should feel confident that I'll prepare and serve meals every day, that I'll keep the house clean, that his work clothes will be washed when he needs them, and that our son is cared for, is learning, and is getting quality time every day. There should be no doubt that I'm raising our child(ren) according to our mutual beliefs and values. He should be able to trust that I'm spending our money in the ways we've agreed.

My husband deserves to know and be assured that I am not talking negatively behind his back, and that I am honoring him by presenting myself appropriately at all times. If I were to behave erratically, irresponsibly, or inappropriately, it would reflect poorly on him as well as on our church. My husband deserves my respect and I need to practice self-control to keep my anger and frustration at bay. I'll confess - this one is an area I really need to focus on! I need to be in prayer daily to ask God to help me keep my emotions in check. The Proverbs 31 wife will look for ways to lift up her husband - not put him down. She'll do thoughtful things for him; she'll consider him in all her decisions; she'll make him feel special, and acknowledge the things he does for her and the family. Whoa - there's a LOT I need to work on!

This week, I'll consciously work at being this Proverbs 31 wife to my husband. I hope to break bad habits and make better ones. He deserves it, and I know by modeling myself after this woman that God has laid before me in His Word, I'll be honoring Him - and He will bless us.