I am writing this post in response to a comment to my last blog. I am about 9 weeks pregnant and still can’t get off the couch. Really that’s an exaggeration. I get up to do some things. I manage to make meals. I am actually really good in the morning until about 3pm. Then I must take a nap and don’t feel much better when I wake up. Nauseous the rest of the evening. Dinner is really hard to make. I am totally behind in house work, and so should be vacuuming or something, but just can’t get motivated to get up. It’s too late right now anyway.:) I praise God every day for my hardworking, sensitive, and caring husband. When he is done with his work everyday, he continues with remodeling the house. He always ask if I need anything, and is very attentive to my needs. He takes care of the kids while I sleep and offers to make dinner. He tells me that it is ok to relax and rest. He will take care of things. Well his kindness does make me want to work harder and get off the couch. Who wouldn’t want to have children for this man. He makes everything ok.

For those of you who may not have a dream husband or want to know how to get over it and allow your husband to become the man of your dreams, I recommend that you read Debi Pearl, “Created to be His Helpmeet.” Here is some scripture for your encouragement.

1 Peter 3:1-2 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any {of them} are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, s they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.

Ephesians 5:22- 24 Wives, {be subject} to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself {being} the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives {ought to be} to their husbands in everything.

If you obey the Word of the Lord in your marriage, it will be a piece of heaven. It wasn’t until I submitted to God’s will for my life and thus submitted to my husband, that he became a dream. Transform our marriage with the Word.

In Debi Pearl’s book, Created to be His Help Meet, Pearl lists 5 words or traits which she suggests to locate in scripture, write the verses and ask God to work each of the attributes into our character. Following is the list of words, where I have found each in scripture, and how they pertain to a woman’s character.

1. Virtue

According to the Strong’s Concordance and Vine’s Dictionary, the New Testament use of the word virtue refers to excellence. The Old Testament use of the word refers to a woman’s ability and in some cases represents her domestic skills. It is the Old Testament use of the word that pertains mostly to women, so I will list those scriptures below.

Ruth 3:11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou [art] a virtuous woman.

This was told to Ruth by Boaz when he found her laying at his feet. Ruth was found to be virtuous, able to care and provide food for her mother-in-law while a foreigner in a town whose people would act highly racist toward her.

Proverbs 12:4 A virtuous woman [is] a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed [is] as rottenness in his bones.

Proverbs 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is] far above rubies.

2. Graciousness

Vine defines gracious, for our purpose, as pleasant and agreeable.

Proverbs 11:16 A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong [men] retain riches.

3. Wisdom

Proverbs 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue [is] the law of kindness.

This of course refers to the infamous Proverbs 31 woman.

4. Prudent

To be prudent is synonymous with acting wisely, according to the Vine.

Proverbs 19:14 House and riches [are] the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife [is] from the LORD.

5. Goodness

All verses I read with goodness refer to the God’s goodness in the widest sense of the word which would include traits 1-4 along with fairness, beauty, justice, etc. I could not find a scripture that specifically related to women.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, bless me with the attributes of a woman that will make my husband complete and full in being and in the tasks that you have given him to do. Bless me with virtue as you blessed Ruth, so that my husband will be honored and so to honor You, even in the face of opposition. May I be a crown to my husband; a prudent wife as a gift from You to him. May I be gracious and wise in all that you give me to do. Bless me with your goodness to be the help meet to my husband, which you have created me to be. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Well I am taking a little detour from the Genesis study, but I will get back to it. I am reading Created to Be His Help Meet, by Debi Pearl. It is fabulous so far and so contrary to how I was raised. I was raised to be a feminist. I was not taught how to cook or clean, because the plan was not that I become a house wife, but some kind of carrier woman. Preferably a doctor or lawyer, but they settled for teacher. Now I find myself in this predicament of having to teach myself how to cook and care for a family; how to be a descent housewife. Not because I have some chauvinist husband who is keeping me barefoot and pregnant (those of you who know him are laughing), but because this is the situation the Lord has put me into, my choice, and the place that best helps him and honors God.

Here are some scriptures that support the role of woman as a man’s help meet:

Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, [It is] not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

Proverbs 18:22 [Whoso] findeth a wife findeth a good [thing], and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

Pearl explains that we are created to fill a need; equipped in every way to be our man’s helper; created to make him complete, not to seek personal fulfillment parallel to him. She writes, “A woman trying to function like a man is as ridiculous as a man trying to be like a woman.” Ooooh! My feminist flesh flinches, but my spirit is at complete peace with this and I am overall intrigued and desire to be this help meet for my husband.

1 Corinthians 11:8-9 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.

1 Corinthians 7:34 but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please [her] husband.

Pearl writes, “It is not a question of whether or not you can do a better job than he; it is a matter of doing what you were designed to do.” “Her readiness to please motivated her to look around and see the things she knows her husband would like to see done.” “It is our job to learn how we can help our husbands in every way possible.”

She goes on to write that our first calling is to be of service to our husbands, then our children, and when time affords, our passion of service will spill over to serving others (screeching of tires sound in my head). Head spins around to catch that again…”My first calling is to be of service to my husband?” I believe my first calling is to be of service to God, however in our service to God, we will realize that our service to our husbands is meet and should be the most important meet as it was designed for us to be. So I am in agreement with the overall message of what she is explaining.

In my next blog, I will go over the attributes of a woman according to scripture. And I plan to squeeze in another blog about Joseph as well, God willing!