Last Sunday’s message (shout-out to my Daddy!) hit me right between the eyes. Key words like “be diligent” and “keep dreaming” reminded me to stay true to the course. Like Paul, to keep running my race. Dad encouraged everyone to read one Proverb a day; the chapter to correspond with whatever calendar day it was. Since today is April 17, here are a couple of the verses that popped out to me from Proverbs 17.
—A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)
—A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. (Proverbs 17:27)
—Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. (Proverbs 17:28)
Verse 22 really convicted me. Wives, how many times have our husbands walked through the door from a long day of work only to come face-to-face with our “crushed spirit”? I’m not saying we don’t have long days too (DEFINITELY not saying that), or saying we need to be fake. I’m simply saying I was convicted for all the countless times that my husband comes home to a wife that is not very cheerful. And when I’m not very cheerful, the opposite of verses 27-28 happens. Ladies, I encourage you to do whatever it takes to be cheerful when your man comes home. Take 20 minutes before he walks in to spray on some perfume, brush your teeth and calm your probably frazzled nerves… turn on some peaceful music, and just enjoy your little ones. You want your husband to ENJOY coming home. And when THAT happens, that opens the door to better communication – where you both can discuss the struggles & joys of your day.
On another note, getting angry happens… it’s natural. However, verses 27-28 reminded me to guard my tongue during those times. Watch what you say – you’ll never get those words back. Instead of “biting his head off”, take a second to think about what you’re going to say, and how to say it with a gentle yet very real honesty. You’ll be glad afterwards when you don’t have any regrets for how the conversation went.
Life isn’t always a walk in a rose garden… but our attitudes are completely our choice, and we have 100% power over them. Be cheerful.
www.AbbeyDraa.com 