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An Excellent Wife!
I've been looking forward to writing this post for a while now.
Tomorrow (September 29th) Mrs. Pete and I celebrate our twentieth wedding anniversary. I
can hardly believe it! For twenty years my wife has supported and loved me, and
I have supported and loved her. These past twenty years have been the best of my
life.
Proverbs 31 says:
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
My wife lives the fruit of the Spirit:
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control. I am constantly amazed at how well she does in raising our son.
She does, indeed, open her arms to the poor and extend her hands to the needy.
I'm never worried that she will be irresponsible with our finances. I'm proud of
the work she does at my son's school. She is always willing to step in and help,
but never to puff herself up. I do, indeed, have full confidence in her.
I remember the day that she said "yes" to my marriage proposal like it was
yesterday. After dropping her off at her parents' house, I drove home to my
humble little studio apartment. I didn't have much of anything - no job and no
prospects. No possessions to speak of, other than a small car my parents had
given me as a college graduation present. I hardly had enough money to buy gas
for it. I was as poor as the proverbial church mouse, but I had her love, so I
was the richest guy in the world, and the happiest.
For over twenty years she has stuck by me and supported me, through thick and
thin, better and worse, richer and poorer, in sickness and in health. I have
been so blessed to have her as my wife, and I thank God for His blessing.
How much do I owe her? Everything.
How much do I love her? Completely.
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