- Andrew Dyer
MY WIFE, MY CROWN
Today marks a baker’s dozen [13] in years married to my wife, four kids later. Who would have thought?
I was blind to it in the early years, as I was busy being immature, but now only by God’s continued grace do I recognize what I had missed seeing; Christ shining through her.
She is my Proverbs 31 wife.
10 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her
maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
She will be the first to say she is far from perfect. I would agree, and she about me. Neither of us are a perfect anything. So we journey along together in our imperfectness, thankful for our salvation in Christ alone, through faith alone, by grace alone. Lord, help us raise these kids the way you want them raised, as arrows in a quiver to be sent out for you(Psalm 127:3-5), despite our daily parental failings. [Like when I quote scripture to my kids through gritted teeth.]
This though, is my main point of writing;
The more mom my wife becomes, the more attractive she is to me.
The world tries to convince us of the exact opposite about our spouses; that as our marriages grow old it’s ok to end it and try someone new.
If the grass looks greener on the other side, you are probably not watering your own lawn enough.
I believe this new awareness that came to light over the years, by grace, is just another facet of God's perfect design for marriage between one husband and one wife. [Hopefully this blind husband's experience can help others to see]
My wife, my crown.
An excellent wife is the crown of her husband… - Proverbs 12:4