Chisseling

I'm still in the excellent wife Sunday school class- we have a few more weeks to go. Each week, on Saturday nights I do my study and questions to have ready for Sunday morning. Bringing myself to do it though has, from day one, been something I haven't looked forward to. Honesty, I have dreaded it. And I think I figured it out.

From day one, I have tried to implement all the new things I have learned. Gotten frustrated with the results and felt like not going to the next week's lesson. Really. Then it hit me this week. I'm one of the wives in the book that is described in this week's chapter. Here's an excerp:

"Wives respond to biblical teaching on submission in a wide variety of ways, ranging from immediate acceptance to outright rejection... Few wives naturally have the right heart's attitude to be submissive to their husbands. Even if a woman desires to please God by being submissive, she will not always feel like being submissive. Also in a conflict, when feelings are intense, it may be very difficult to submit. Regardless of her feelings, she should honor Christ by developing a mind set or a resolve to do the right thing in the right way with the right motive whether she feels like it or not. In the process, her feelings will eventually improve. Many wives are motivated solely or primarily by how they feel, and that makes their motivation at times selfish and sinful. There are many biblical principles that make it easier for the wife to change her motivation from "What can I get out of this" to " How can the Lord Jesus Christ be honored in this?"

The author goes on to list the 20 principles on a wife's motivation to be submissive. They were all very good, but the one that sticks out ot me was
"#3. A Wife should repent of any wrong thinking by renewing her mind with scripture.
This principle is regarding how women can be taken captive by worldly philosophy to aggressively pursue equality with or dominance over their husbands. Some believe that their husbands should always make them happy or cause them to feel good about themselves. Her career and having it all become at least as important or possibly more to her than her husband's career. "
Colossians 2:8 and Romans 12:2 are the basis for this principle. It hit home to me because I regarded my career as one of the most important things. It was humbling to read that. While I stepped away from my career for my kids, it was not something I did so very willingly. I wanted to still be someone important and it is still something I struggle with when people ask me if I work and I say I stay home with my kids. My feelings regarding it have changed somewhat to being able to know that the sacrifices we have made will hopefully make the difference down the road. Knowing that you can make it on one income, rather uncomfortably:-), but that my husband has done his best to provide this lifestyle for us. Our goal in moving here was to ensure that our kids are safe in this school system rather than downstate where drugs and gangs are so prevalent. Our goal was to raise our babies outside of daycare and we have done that. Our goal was to not go on welfare by living in this depressed area and we have done that. Our goal was to raise children that are God fearing and God loving and that they exhibit that in the way they treat people and we see that.
Back to where I was going with this all. I was dreading this class because I was convicted in many ways of not being submissive enough. I always felt like being submissive was not for these times, it was for the 50's Leave it Beaver Moms. I was wrong. I have long thought that my Dad was treating Joy like a doormat. But in reality, she has the submissive thing right whether she realizes it or not. She makes and packs lunches- with love- for my Dad when he spends all of his free time fishing. She not only makes lunches for him, but also for whoever goes with him. She for years made Thanksgiving dinner and brought it all to camp- so that first- my dad was still able to hunt on Thanksgiving and second so that all of us could enjoy it out there. She makes sure my dad is prepared no matter what he is doing. She puts aside her own needs and sees to his FIRST. She is truely a helpmate that God intended her to be. And she puts up with alot of jabbing and criticism all the while. Joy probably got these traits from her mom. I can see her mom being the same way- she was such a gentle sweet lady and her Dad was much like my own. I'm not saying that a husband should not appreciate his wife and all she does- but in this study- I'm learning about the wife's role. Imagine the results if I could get my Dad and Paul to the Exemplary Husband class that's coming up!!! Thank you Lord for your chisseling- it's not pleasant, but I know that it honors you when I follow your ways.