August was heavy at our house, but Jeff helped me salvage it. Honest wives admit we think our husbands should learn from us. In moments of confession at a small group or women’s retreat, we might even concede that we keep a mental list of lessons our man needs to achieve if he’s to be moved into the “I respect him” category.
And then there are those moments when God humbles us, showing us how much we have to learn from the man we call “husband.“ Though imperfect like we are, God uses him as a tool of teaching and leadership. At times, he is like a pair of shears, tenderly trimming away at the thorns or dried sprigs that take away from our beauty.
When was the last time you learned from your husband?
How to learn from your husband
To learn from our man, we have to lay aside our pride and open up with a teachable (aka humble) spirit. We start to learn from our man simply by being quiet and listening. While we are not more sinful than our man, we are made differently than our man. “For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.” (1 Timothy 2:13-14) God can grow you into the wife you want to be if you learn from your husband.
- lay down my pride
- be open to learn
- have a humble heart
- be quiet (stop talking)
- listen respectfully
In the last month, I battled mono, attended the funerals of two dear friends, sent JoHanna back to college, ended a 10 year ministry at our church, cleaned out my office & turned in my keys, wrestled with God over things I don’t understand, and prayed over pain in the lives of loved ones near to & far from me. On my birthday, I received lots of Facebook well wishes, but my heart was so overwhelmed it was nearly September before I could “like” a single one or say thanks. I’m glad August is done. I’m tempted to hit “delete” and not remember those heavy weeks of loss and concern. But God has used my husband to teach me a valuable lesson of salvage.
We do not move on before we stop to give thanks.
As each year or each season ends, Jeff (who is just a little bit 😉 more methodical and disciplined than I am … ) takes time to make a list of reasons to give thanks. He has lists from years gone by. Provisions. Fruits. Blessings.
A funny thing happens when you stop to give thanks. You realize your blessings outweigh your burdens, your triumphs outnumber your troubles, your God is greater than your grief, and your future more promising than your past. Jeff has taught me this.
I bet your husband has taught you a thing or two also. Maybe you need to stop right now, humbly and quietly and respectfully, and consider how God has used your man to work in your life. While you do that, I’m going to tell you the first 20 things that come to my mind to be grateful for. Instead of being an August to forget, it will be one I will choose to remember!
20 things I’m grateful for in August
- I was blessed with two mighty prayer warrior friends
A sneak peak of the book cover!
- I had a sweet summer with both kids at home
- We have enjoyed 10 years of fruitful ministry
- I had the gift of working with amazing, godly women
- Being sick gave me time to be quiet and to pray
- My sickness is one that will pass
- My office was a resource to care for many women
- God has given us wise and godly mentors & counselors
- Loving friends have spoken words of blessing to us both
- I received cards full of words of affirmation & truth
- God made August on my blog all about prayer … because He knew
- I have been upheld by sisters in Christ near & far
- The internet provides ongoing ways to minister to people
- I had an article featured in Just Between Us magazine!
- I turned 46 and have so much to be grateful for
- Hallway Publishing did the final cover of my book to be out in November!
- I’m pretty sure some of my friends are really angels
- Technology allows me to be in close touch with loved ones who are far
- God uses people to protect and provide for us
- God used people to speak one verse to me OVER AND OVER … if I didn’t know Jesus, I would think it was a coincidence. Since I know Jesus, I know it is God’s divine movement. Wow.
