Larry and I celebrated our fifteenth wedding anniversary on September 4. Larry always says the reason he married me was because he saw how my mom treated my dad (she waited on him hand and foot!). What wasn’t always obvious is that my dad cherished my mom. They had the perfect combination of her “being submissive” and him “loving his wife like Christ loves the church”. I repeat: he cherished her. That’s a trait rarely found in a marriage these days. My parents and Larry’s parents have always been our models. We also turn to our Christian beliefs for guidance. For example: I find it easy to be submissive to my husband since I know that every single decision Larry makes for our lives is done with my best interest at heart. I trust him! He cherishes me! It works for us! At times one of us may be less than lovable; but when we love each other through the Lord, we can overlook some of our more human flaws. Between me, him and the Lord, we have a pretty good thing going on!
So, to add a little fun to your day, I present the following. This is excerpted from a 1950's high school home economics textbook. It’s instructions to young girls on how to be a “good wife”. Whether you read these instructions and say “heck yeah” or “not in this life…!” it’s still a fun read. Enjoy!
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* Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal is part of the warm welcome needed.
* Prepare yourself! Take 15 minutes to rest so that you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more understanding. His boring day may need a lift.
* Clear away clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too!
* Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces if they are small, comb their hair, and if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.
* Minimize all noise: At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, dishwasher, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Be happy to see him, greet him with a smile and be glad to see him.
* Some don'ts: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he's late for dinner. Count this as a minor inconvenience compared with what he might have gone through that day. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.
* Listen to him. You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first.
* Make the evening his. Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax.
* Your goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit!
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22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her. Ephesians 5:22-25 (NKJV)
-Cindee