The hardest thing about blogging is finding the time...finding the time to do anything is the hardest thing.
I have a math equation for you. Proverbs 31= Ephesians 5:25-30.
Proverbs 31 is such a confusing passage. Who is this woman? I bet all the Martha girls out there really get her. I consider myself to be more of a Mary, so the fact that this woman can do back flips while she makes ridiculous amounts of clothing while also feeding her children, is somewhat disheartening to a girl like me. However, I love the following... "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the days to come." This requires a deep and intimate relationship with Jesus. I screw up more than anyone I know, and if you know me, you would have to say the same. It is not easy to "laugh at the days to come" when I feel like I am continually making trouble for myself. Only when I spend sincere time with my Maker, do I find that I am able to do so. Of course there is the frequently quoted "Charm is deceitful, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." This would be more comforting if every mother, not just King Lamuel's, taught her son this little tidbit. The most striking part for me though has always been, "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue." A woman who is kind, is truly a good woman. I gravitate toward these women. I do not gravitate toward the buys bodied ones who like to let me know how much they have it all together, because they smell bad. Nope, thats not true, because they never smell bad, they just give me a bad taste in my mouth, that I usually have to wash out with an excessive amount of coffee and dance party.
How much was Our Lady like this woman? As the Spouse of the Spirit, this girl really had it goin on! I can't picture Our Lady running around like a mad woman all the time, just getting things done, accomplishing every task. I see her so much more at peace than that. What I do know about Our Lady is that whether or not she was able to laugh at the days to come while anticipating her deep sorrow, she kept all these things in her heart. She made her heart a home. A home for the Spirit. I have been thinking some lately about how to make my heart a home. I could let my heart be a place where people could come and not feel rushed or busy, but welcome to be themselves. A home where they could be free to share their troubles and equally free to look like an absolute idiot. A place where they would not be judged but encouraged. I have much work to do on this home in my heart. How fortunate that "He who began a good work in me will complete it" Phil 1:6.
But men, Ephesians 5 is your wake up call. Loving your wives like Christ loves the Church, laying down His very life for her, is a tall order. Good luck. I'm prayin' for ya. I think the key is that while your wife is making her heart a home for you, you can be preparing to lay down your life for her. This way, husband and wife can do their very best to attempt a total act of self-giving, where as Dr. Asci would say..."the lover wills the good of the beloved". While we were all thinking about how he was a real life vampire, Asci was trying to communicate to us that there is work to do in this whole Christian marriage thing, and not just that he hearts gaming.
