Articles
A Braggart’s Marriage
This might come across as bragging, but I have to share something truly special with each of you. It might seem inappropriate. It might come across as arrogant. Yet, I’m going to boast about it anyway. Here it is—my wife just kissed me.
I know that’s no big deal to most of you, but to me it is. It always has been. I love that my wife loves me. It’s how God designed this relationship to work. I love that no matter what my day has been like, no matter what I have been like, my wife continues to love me and treat me as if I am the best thing that has ever happened to her. She is head-over-heels for me, which is a small measure of love when compared to how I feel about her.
Not only that, my wife respects me. I don’t deserve it. I fail her miserably. I constantly put myself before her, I seek my own interests, and I constantly leave her with parenting duties I should take off her shoulders. Because she loves God and obeys Him, she continues to respect me and show me honor like she is commanded in Ephesians 5. She continues to shoulder the responsibility of parenting when I’m not there and she displays her submission to me in front of the kids so they know who is the “big boss” in our home.
At the risk of being a braggart, let me tell you one more thing about my marriage—I married up. You know what I’m talking about. She’s better than me. I would even dare say she has always been out of my league. If you don’t believe me, just ask some who know what I was like in college when I met my wife. I was awkward, to put it best. But I wore her down. I defeated her defenses and somehow—and I’m not honestly sure how—she agreed to marry me.
My wife is incredible. She deserves to be publicly exalted. She is a standard for all women on how wives should treat husbands. In rare moments, she’s falters or falls but she always perseveres. She deserves to be praised because she continues to get up, wipe the dirt off her knees, and get back to the task of being an extraordinary wife. My wife has brought me to realize the true value of being a “virtuous woman” who works tirelessly at the task of being a good wife. The proverb truly states, “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels” (Prov 31.10). Like the husband in this passage, I can honestly say, “’Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all’” (Prov 31.29).
East Shelby is blessed with many excellent wives and husbands. If your marriage needs help, talk to someone you trust can show you God’s directions for an excellent marriage.
“Let marriage be held in honor among all…” (Heb 13.4).
