What She Said
A couple of weeks ago, I was at a public gathering where some very notable people were sharing their work on stage. At one point in the presentation, the wife of the group took to the mic to tell her story. Frankly, I don’t even remember what the story was about except that it was about her husband who “isn’t perfect”. Yup, that is what I got from the story. She said “he’s not perfect” at least 6 times in her 3-minute story. It was my take away from the story which was probably meant to build him up about something.
I am sure that the imperfection of her husband was not the point of her story. And hope and believe she did not mean to berate him. It was just a figure of speech meant to show others that she was not bragging. But why not brag just a little when we are talking about our spouses? Why not let the world know just how perfect they are? Let me tell you this. If there is anything that I find lacking in the slightest amount in my wife, you will never know it, especially not in public with a microphone in my hand. I adore my wife. She is the best wife ever. She is the best mother ever. I can’t imagine ever thinking she is less than perfect because she is perfect for me. I pray this to be the story for you.
My heart hurts for the wife of that preacher husband who starts every preaching time with a derogatory story or remark about his wife. I cringe when I hear a wife speak of her husband as her other child. That goes for our children as well. I think the old saying sums it up well. “If you can’t say something nice – Just shut up!” or something like that anyway.
The follower of Jesus Christ sees this as scriptural. Paul tells the followers of Christ at Ephesus…
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:29-32 NKJV).
The Christ follower knows that what we say should build others up – especially our families. We know that we are to be kind and tenderhearted to one another – especially our families. The husband is to love his wife as his own body (Ephesians 5:28) and as Christ loved the church and “Gave Himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25). Christ’s followers know that we are not to “Provoke our children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition [correction to cause understanding] of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). We do have a sense of humor and know how to laugh with one another (Proverbs 15:13, 15 & 17:22). We simply must be sure that it is a matter of “With” rather than “At” when we laugh. In following Jesus Christ the Lord, our words, our actions, our facial expressions, and everything else about us should always build up.
I hope this encourages you.
See You SONday,
Pastor Steve
© 2016 Dr. SF Gallagher