Have you ever spoken evil of someone when you thought they weren't listening? Maybe what you were saying was completely true, but was it evil?
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Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Ps 34:13
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How about if it didn't seem so evil while you were saying it? You were just "sharing." Maybe it was just a tad bit of complaining about how poorly you have been treated by your husband this week and you just need to tell someone all about it....every detail! Or maybe your children have been ungrateful this week and you just need to tell someone who will sympathize with you.
Could this be considered gossip? Are you slandering your own family? Are you tearing down your own house? Will the person you're talking to possibly look upon your husband and children differently the next time they see them?
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"Oh my, there goes Sally's husband. You know he does look kind of mean....I could see how he could have said that to her. Poor Sally....having to be married to such a brute!!!! And look at her daughter! She didn't even offer to help her mother with the diaper bag! What unhelpful and ungrateful children she has....after all she's done for them!"
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"Oh my, there goes Sally's husband. You know he does look kind of mean....I could see how he could have said that to her. Poor Sally....having to be married to such a brute!!!! And look at her daughter! She didn't even offer to help her mother with the diaper bag! What unhelpful and ungrateful children she has....after all she's done for them!"
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Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. James 3:5-6
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(Obviously there is a time to seek counsel in how to handle child training issues, but always examine what you will say carefully before you say it. We must not slander our children.)
When we speak to others of our husbands there should be a joy in the tone of our voice. The respect that we have for him (or his position as the head) should be obvious in every word we speak. If his name is mentioned when conversing with friends, we should purpose to only discuss his strengths.
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When we speak to others of our husbands there should be a joy in the tone of our voice. The respect that we have for him (or his position as the head) should be obvious in every word we speak. If his name is mentioned when conversing with friends, we should purpose to only discuss his strengths.
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What is interesting about this is that when we gossip about our husbands, not only are we sinning and also causing the listener to sin and take up an offense against our husband, but we are actually convincing ourselves of how truly awful our husbands are. We are reinforcing his weaknesses in our minds and we start to "see him" differently. We find it difficult to respect him and can actually become embittered by our own words against him.
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On the other hand, when we make a habit of praising him and always speaking highly of him to others, even "bragging" about him sometimes (in a humble way of course!), then we are reinforcing our respect for him. We not only honor him in someone else's presence, but we cause ourselves and our children to think better of him. His value to the family increases and his reputation is strengthened as well. It's much easier to submit to a husband who we are in the habit of honoring, than one who we're used to bashing behind his back.
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Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands Proverbs 14:1
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She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. Proverbs 31:26
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This Week's Challenge:
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You guessed it! Make praising your husband a habit this week! Purpose to praise your husband to at least 10 people. Let them know about his good qualities. Let them see your love and respect for him in your words and the tone of your voice. Pray and ask God to reveal all those wonderful qualities that may have been hidden by neglect or even bitterness. Yes, your children count! Brag about their daddy to them. They'll love it and heartily agree with you! They may even repeat it to him when he gets home!
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"You know, mommy says you're the best daddy in the whole world! She's been talking about you all day long" Wouldn't that be a wonderful welcome home for any husband? To know his wife has been praising him to his children? Be sure to write in and give testimony of your results. mcmom@patriarchspath.org I'm excited about getting started on this one!
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Be sure to write in the comment section testimony of your resulst.
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The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:11-12
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Blessings,
Amanda
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