A GIFT TO OUR HUSBANDS

Dear friends, I was thinking about the verses in I Peter 3:1-6 for the past few days. We see ornaments everywhere and many of us decorate our homes with beautiful ones. Ornaments also are gifts that people give to one another at this time of year. I began to think that wouldn’t the ornament mentioned in this passage be a wonderful gift to give to our husbands? I Peter 3 says, “...wives...whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel, But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands...” The Lord tells women that our adorning is to be something that emanates from the inside, not something that we put on the outside of our bodies. This kind of adorning is like an ornament, it makes us look more beautiful!

How about giving this special, spiritual ornament as our gift to our husbands? How many husbands would love this gift! All of them, I think. What will this ornament consist of? It will start with true subjection (submission) as the passage states. It will be submission that starts in the heart, not just in outward show. It will include a meek and quiet spirit, “which is in the sight of God of great price.” As we can see here, the Lord says this is a very expensive ornament, and to be greatly valued. I believe our husbands would value it greatly, also. I know mine would! :-)

How can I give my husband this ornament, I am wondering? “Meekness”, according to Webster, is "Mild of temper; soft, gentle; not easily provoked or irritated, yielding; given to forbearance under injuries.” This definition is very convicting to me. Is it to you, also? Jesus, while on earth taught meekness for every follower. In Paul’s epistles, we are told that meekness is one of the fruits of the Spirit, in Galatians 5:22-23. Ephesians 4:2, says, “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.” How many times do we get our “feathers ruffled” in our homes, and do not obey this verse? In Colossians, we are told to put on this meekness. It is something we have to work at! Col. 3:12, says, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering”. Proverbs 19: 13-14 says, “The contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the Lord.” Proverbs 27:15 says, “A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.” In light of these verses, I conclude that to give my husband this gift, I must put all continual reminding, nagging, complaining and sharp words away. I must quit trying to have the last word. I must continually think about having a meek spirit. I must be more understanding, and longsuffering! I must work at putting on this ornament of a meek spirit. Quietness would be similar, yet it means more than just meekness. Sometimes, in marriage situations, it would mean just shutting my mouth! Quietness, what a powerful thing! James says if a man is able to bridle the tongue, he is able to bridle the whole body! This ornament of a meek and quiet spirit will make us more beautiful to our husbands! And what better present can we give them at this time of year and in the year to come, than this inner beauty! Let’s all pray for one another as we practice putting on this ornament.

I wish for all of you a wonderful Christmas,
Mary