Monday, February 09, 2009

A Little Fuel for a Fire

I really enjoyed this post this morning.

It brought to my attention how well Matt and I work together, and how much he depends on me for, well, lots. I'm not very good at the matching socks and ironed shirts part, but I am able to pick up the slack on pastoral care, when he needs it, or preaching, or liturgy-all, as you know, related to his job. And it IS true that an orderly home is easier for him for all of us. I know its totally counter cultural, but we can't all put ourselves first all the time, and so I highly recommend, for any woman considering it, putting your husband before yourself (after God, of course).

That's all, I'm really supposed to be working on my quarterly report.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Anne,
Your post is an excellent reminder that wisdom and knowledge are two different things. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.

I can almost hear the nashing of teeth from our feminist friends at the mere suggestion of putting someone else ahead of self - especially a male!
Jackie

Anonymous said...

Anne -- I need your NEW home address to send Elphine her Valentine from her Godmother and Godfather. Please send it to me by Email. Thanks and lots of love, Nancy and Bo

Anonymous said...

Well, if you want to hear 'nashing' of teeth from this feminist, don't hold your breath.

I think love between spouses - or, for that matter, between a parent and child - is a continual balancing act. There are certain non-negotiables with every relationship, but that goes for both members of the couple, doesn't it?

If there isn't a balance, then the love is really not reciprocal, is it? And, isn't that what God expects from us, ulimately? That we love each other as God loves us?

I certainly feel that way with the woman with whom I share my life, and she with me.

The same goes for male couples I know.

Your Jewish blogger friend doesn't know the words of St. Paul, but you do. In ICor1:1-13, he says some really wonderful things about love, especially this:

"Love is patient and kind, love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

I don't hear any gender qualifyers, do you?

May God continue to bless you and your husband and your children. It's never an easy balancing act, especially with all of the turmoil you have all been through recently. You've been in my prayers.

Perpetua said...

Well, I did help my husband write a book when my daughter was little and it was too much. I had quit my job to be a stay at home mom. We were supposed to go away for a romantic weekend but he said he couldn't go until the chapter was written (by me!).

When I took my daughter to a child's birthday party and mentioned the problem to some others, a man in the group said I should get my name on the book. The truth is, I had done the outline for the book and written quite a bit. So when I came back home from the party, I told my husband I had to have my name as one of the authors. He agreed.

Anonymous said...

I'd like to thank you for this blog.
When The Episcopal Corp. turned its back on my family we were hurt and angry. We loved our church, but could no longer swim in the ethical cess pool which the national church had become.
To keep myself informed, I frequented a number of Orthodox web sites, many of which radiated the same hurt and anger I felt. We have since found a home in a wonderful Anglican church and much of that hatred and anger is beginning to ebb.
As that happens, I find myself turning more and more to your BLOG because of the inspiration it provides. It reminds me that there can be peace, even in the eye of the storm, blessing, even in hardship, and that Christ is indeed in charge.

At A Hen's Pace said...

I think one of the greatest services we can do for our husbands is to be willing to dream with them and to listen to the Lord with them--as you and Matt so clearly do! We do that, and I know how incredibly important it is for my husband.

~Jeanne