A Woman of Noble Character ~ Week 7

Week 7:  Proverbs 31:28-29  Has your husband and/or children done something or given you something you did not expect?  Write a post about how your family has blessed you.

 28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

 29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

When I was a child, I pictured marriage as being somewhat confining.  I'm not sure why I thought that.  I guess I don't remember my mom ever really getting out with her girlfriends or anything.  She had close friends and they usually served in church callings together.  I remember her having presidency meetings at our kitchen table and she and her friends sitting around laughing.   Those meetings seemed to go on for hours--just a bunch of grown women laughing and having the time of their lives together.

I don't believe that my mom didn't get out because of anything my dad did or didn't do.  It was simply because she didn't have anything she really wanted to do.  She was content to be home.  My sister, however, knew another mom--same woman with a different way of doing things.  She was younger, had fewer kids and was a bit more adventurous back in her day.  By the time I came around, my mom had six children (five at home).  I think she was worn out by the end of the day.

I guess I pictured that that's how marriage would be.  That was my first thought when I read the questions for this post.  But it hasn't proven to be that way.  My husband has given me freedom.  First of all, he freed me from the poor self-esteem I had when we first met.  He lifted me up.

One week in church, he shared with me that they'd had a lesson on how men could help their wives (or something like that).  The gentleman teaching the class turned to the Warden and asked him specifically  how he helps his wife.  He shared that he allowed me opportunities to be all that I can be (those are not his words, but that's the basic essence of what he said).  That is true.  He encourages me to stretch and fly.  Funny thing is, I don't always take him up on these opportunities.  My ability to get my degree and raise seven children and keep things in the home running are, in a huge degree, possible because of him.

I only wish I could offer as much to him.

I attribute much of this characteristic in him to his mother.  There are many things she did in his growing up years that taught him how to be a fair and loving husband.  She took her opportunities to learn and fly.  I think the Warden observed this as a child and it became part of what he hoped for in his wife.  He tries to make that possible for me.  I don't think she knows that she did this, and I am the direct beneficiary of her actions.  I am grateful for the woman she is.

The Warden is not the kind of guy who comes in after a long day at work (and believe me, his days can be very long) and says, "Where's my dinner?" and "Why isn't this house clean?"  He's a jump in and get 'er done kind of guy.  I think he learned this silent service from his dad.

As for my children, they have given me everything--many sweet moments of peace and satisfaction, but also opportunities to stretch and grow--stressful and uncomfortable situations--as I've participated in their growth.  I am grateful for these that I've been entrusted with.  I feel strongly that they're mine for a reason.  I am thankful for their forgiveness as I try to get this motherhood thing right.

Never could I have imagined that my life would be like this.  It's far from perfect, but it sure has the potential for something great because of these wonderful people in my life.