Clint appreciated his Valentine's Day surprise of the split wood. We got a nice pile stacked for him. When he came home, we split and stacked more together. You can see pictures of our smaller children splitting wood (with guidance and safety goggles) here.
I am thankful I was able to help him with this and lighten his load. It was very difficult for me to watch him come home from a tiring day and have to go outside to split wood with the maul for an hour or so. I was just physically unable to swing the maul for long.
Being a help meet means helping your mate meet his responsiblities in whatever capacity he needs help in. That can mean having his meals prepared, shirts ironed, briefcase in the car, sermon notes printed out or cutting the grass when he's having to do other things. There is no his or her work in our home. It's "our" work and we both help each other where ever we can. When I have been very ill during pregnancy, Clint has cooked and cleaned house. If I am worn out in the evenings, he will cook supper.
Whenever a couple adopts the attitude of "his and hers" over being "ours" it becomes each person out for their own. If two horses hitched to a cart sought their own direction, they would not get very far, very fast. Their journey together would be a struggle and would end in failure. But, if two horses are pulling a heavy load in the same direction, working together, giving each other their best, they go a lot faster and are a success because they are helping each other. When one missteps, the other saves the cart from tumbling. When one is a step behind due to exhaustion or illness, the other helps take up the slack and keeps them moving forward. Having an attitude of servanthood towards each other is so lacking in Christians today, but it is what God calls for and is what will bless your home with deep, lasting peace and joy.
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. -Genesis 2:18
Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. -Proverb 14:1
I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. -1st Timothy 5:14
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry... -1st Samuel 15:23
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. -Joshua 24:15
Her price is far above rubies. 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 ... Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. -Proverbs 31:10-12 & 28
So many women want to be called a Proverbs 31 woman, but do not want to obey the rest of what God commands in Scripture. So many husbands want to be respected and adored by their families, but they too ignore what is laid out very plainly. They wonder why their lives are such a mess and why they are so unhappy. Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Seek God's way for your life first and the blessings will follow. (This doesn't mean do whatever you want (your goals) in the name of Christ. Some people use a ministry or "calling" as an excuse to neglect their families. God doesn't ever ask us to do something contrary to His written Word.) When Clint and I married each other, we asked God how did He want our marriage set up and found the answers in His Word. God was faithful to His Word and added much more than we expected!!
Matthew 6:33 is saying-if you want God's blessings (gifts, rewards), do things HIS way and the blessings will follow. His way is laid out in the Bible.
God also has plenty to say to husbands in how they are to relate to their wives and children too. Here are just a couple...
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it. Ephesians 5:25
Christ died for the church and won her love. He didn't beat or verbally abuse her into submission.
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4
You can not do that by being an abusive tryant towards your children. Christ had an attitude of a humble servant helping those around Him.
What do you do if your husband isn't living right?
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33
Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; -1st Peter 3:1 (conversation in this verse means "manner of life.")
In other words, do what you are suppose to do, pray and let God take care the rest. Your husband's disobedience doesn't free you to live like you want. You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:9-20 NIV
