"A true wife makes a man's life nobler, stronger, grander, by the omnipotence of her love 'turning all the forces of manhood upward and heavenward.' While she clings to him in holy confidence and loving dependence she brings out in him whatever is noble and richest in his being. She inspires him courage and earnestness.
She beautifies his life.
She softens whatever is rude and harsh in his habits or his spirit. She clothes him with the gentler graces of refined and cultured manhood. While she yields to him and never disregards his lightest wish, she is really his queen, ruling his whole life and leading him onward and upward in every proper path.
But there are wives also like the vines which cling only to blight. Their dependence weak, indolent helplessness. They lean but impart no strength. They cling but they sap the life. They put forth no hand to help. The loll on sofas or promenade the streets; they dream over sentimental novels; they gossip in drawing-rooms. They are utterly useless, and being useless they become burdens even to manliest, tenderest love.
Instead of making a man's life stronger, happier, richer, they absorb his strength, impair his usefulness, hinder his success and cause him to be a failure among men. To themselves also the result is wretchedness.
Instead of making a man's life stronger, happier, richer, they absorb his strength, impair his usefulness, hinder his success and cause him to be a failure among men. To themselves also the result is wretchedness.
Dependence is beautiful when it does not become weakness and inefficiency. The true wife clings and leans; but she also helps and inspires. Her husband feels the mighty inspiration of her love in all his life.
Toil is easier, burdens are lighter, battles are less fierce, because of the face that waits in the quiet of the home, because of the heart that beats in loving sympathy whatever the experience, because of the voice that speaks its words of cheer and encouragement when the day's work is done.
No wife knows how much she can do to make her husband honored among men, and his life a power and a success, by her loyal faithfulness, by the active inspiration of her own sweet life."
Toil is easier, burdens are lighter, battles are less fierce, because of the face that waits in the quiet of the home, because of the heart that beats in loving sympathy whatever the experience, because of the voice that speaks its words of cheer and encouragement when the day's work is done.
No wife knows how much she can do to make her husband honored among men, and his life a power and a success, by her loyal faithfulness, by the active inspiration of her own sweet life."
---JR Miller from The Family; a 19th-century preacher
8 comments:
I found you at the LAF site, and I'm so glad I did!
I loved that book and you remind me to put it on my "read it again" list.
You have a beautiful site.
I needed to hear that today as it's been one of those days where I got a little to testy with my loving DH and did not have the right attitude at all. Thankfully that was several hours ago now, but still, that article just jumped out at me saying "see..remember what was said today". And God's gentle voice is saying 'repent', so that must I do.
I wish DH would repent of his actions but he never does. Sometimes he always makes me feel so guilty...like everything is always my fault... *sigh* He doesn't even realize it either...
I lurk on your lovely site quite a bit. Wow, that truly gives me something to think about. The first paragraph was beautiful and the second was convicting. I wish I could comment further, but I am really pondering what the author wrote and comparing my own actions and attitudes to the ideal of the first paragraph. Perhaps I should get that book? I have a few others on my list now, but I will have to find that one.
Thank you so much for sharing that excerpt!
Mrs. H
How sweet, and how very true. I often hear women complain, 'ah, there are no real men left'. But hey, what will our men be if we don't build them up?
That is a beautiful post!
The painting at the beginning of this poat is "La Belle Dame Sans Mercie." Do you know the story?
You inspire me. Many women spend too much time looking for the "right one" and not enough time working on "being the right one".
This is fierce and beautiful!
Post a Comment