Day 2 of 31

"… but whoever listens to me will live in safety
and be at ease, without fear of harm.” Proberbs 1:33

It is so easy for me to get wrapped up in daily stress. I wake up and go to bed everyday, with the inbetween part filled with all things wife, mother, housekeeper{loosly said}, employee, friend. I am TIRED! With the ever present cloud of financial stress not only hanging over our heads, but under our feet as well, I am SCARED! I would be lying if I never question myself on why I had FOUR children...FOUR! I am STRESSED! I don't have enough hands, hours, or braincells anymore to combat and accomplish all that is required of me! I CAN'T DO IT!

NINE...There are NINE "I"s in the above statement. Disgusting!!!! I pride myself on not being selfcentered and narsasistic. Excuse me as I vomit on my own words. I am foolish to forget that I am not the only adult in this relationship that isn't having an easy time. My husband has five expectations branded on him. The first is the expectation that he be the "Spiritual Leader", the one who leads his family to honor Christ. The second is the world's expectation to be the "Successful Bread Winner", fincancially supporting the family and their future. Third is MY expectation of him to be the "Perfect Husband", {i'm not going any further with this explination, or I would be crossing that speaking negative line}. Fourth is the expectation to be the "Perfect Father", giving all four children all of his love and attention, all of the time, while training two boys to be men. And the fifth expecation is "His Own", being who he wants to be, doing what it is he wants to do, and living where he wants to live.

This man is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. With every pain and fear that I am experiencing today, he is experiencing his own. The only difference is, he doesn't vomit it all over me or other friends. He bears it alone. Women always say that a man will never know the pain of pregnancy and childbirth. Can we as wives not admit that we will never know the "pain" of carrying the weight of all the expecations of being the male head of the house?

My prayer for my husband today is that amidst all of his daily struggles, he is able to gain wisdom and discernment beyond the imaginable. That in all of lifes caos, he is able to ask adn recieve God's plan for our family. I pray that he searches the will of the Lord for all answers to all problems. I pray that he will receive the peace and protection that is promised to him in doing so. I pray, also, that I am a sorce of comfort and support to my husband, not another "weight".

Proberbs 2:1 -11
1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding. indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.

Day 1 of 31

First day, and so far so good! I have a sad feeling that I am quickly going to realize during this 31 days that I have been doing a better job of tearing my husband down then building him up. I have already had to bite my tongue too many times this afternoon. I have loved my husband since the first day I met him, but unfortunatly, for many reasons I'm not going to share right now, I question wether an observing stranger let alone my own children would believe this.

Today I am using as training wheels. Basically, trying to keep my negative comments to my self. I am praying basic prayers for him today. Tomorrow I will start with praying a specific prayer, with a new one each day after.

I encourage you to post ideas, encouragement, verses, and stories that will be refreshing bits of wisdom that can be snacked on. Share your shortcomings and moments of inspiration. Use this blog as tool of accountablity. Just remember to keep comments about husbands postive. :)

New Wife Resolution

I have to first say how much I DESPISE New Year's Resolutions. Don't get me wrong...I have no problem against forming new personal goals. I feel that these resolutions should be formed on stronger foundations than a holiday that has been taken over by marketing adds for diet programs and exercise equipment who know full well that they will be making money all over again from the same people next year. Have I mentioned I despise New Year's Resolutions??

So here it is, still the "New Year", and I am starting what I refuse to call a New Year's Resolution. Determined to call it something else, I search the thesaurus for another word for resolution so I can be witty about the whole thing and do a play on words. However, after reading such synonyms for resolutions such as constancy, courage, declaration, dedication, earnestness, fixed purpose, perseverance, relentlessness, steadfastness..I find myself not caring anymore if I call this endeavor a "resolution".

That being said, let me introduce you to my resolution to pray for my husband for 31 days, or the "New Wife Resolution". In the next 31 days I will not speak negatively OF my husband or TOO my husband. Anyone who knows me, knowa this will be a VERY difficult one for me. Enjoying sarcastic banter mixed in with an already frustration filled marriage, makes this an almost seemingly impossible resolution. I will also be praying for him consistently throughout the 31 days. I'm not going to pretend for a second that I am a perfect Christian wife who is dedicated daliy to praying for her husband. The desire is there, but so are a million excuses of why I don't on a regular basis.

I will also post something positive about my husband, or this experience, on this blog each of the 31 days.

I don't want to do this alone! I KNOW that I am not the only imperfect wife out there that has not perfected her supportive praying habit for her husband. I encourage anyone who is a wife, to join me in this resolution. I want this blog to be a source of encouragement, accountability, and a reminder as to what and WHY this resolution is being pursued.

Feel free to post a comment daily, even if it is anonymous.

I plan on beginning this 31 day journey on January 13Th, 2012. My prayer is that I am able to be quiet..for once..and listen to who it is God and my husband need me to be. Have I mentioned this is going to be difficult??