I can remember times during the days of our marriage when my husband would come home tired and ready for his evening meal, but I had planned to go out to a meeting or activity. What should I do? Place his dinner in front of him, say Bye, and leave him to all the children? Or should I stay with him and the children for the evening?
The modern viewpoint would say, “Well, you’ve been with the children all day long. It’s about time he had his turn!”
But what decision builds into the marriage and the home? I think you’ve guessed it. It is so easy to build into so many other things in this life and forget our greatest building project.
That doesn’t mean, of course, that you will never go out. There are always special occasions. But we need to be sensitive and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as to what is the best thing. Good things are often the enemy of the best! It’s so easy to get into the habit of always going out, which doesn’t build up the marriage and the home. I believe it is important, as much as possible, to be home with your husband and family to prepare the evening meal, to sit together for the evening meal, and to enjoy family worship together.
Proverbs 14:1: “Every wise woman builds her house: but the foolish plucks it down with her hands.” The New Century Version says it very clearly: “A wise woman strengthens her family, but a foolish woman destroys hers by what she does.”
Every day make decisions. Every day we plan our schedule. Let’s always make our decisions in the light of building up and strengthening our marriages and families. And remember, it’s not just the big things, but the little everyday things that are the most powerful building tools.
Blessings to you today,
Nancy Campbell