Monday, August 17, 2009

How to be a Good Wife

I was looking at some books in the thrift store last week and I came across a book entitled How to Get Your Husband to Talk to You. Well, Jeremy is very sweet about making time to talk to me and is a great listener, but I picked it up anyway to read the blurb on the back. One little section said this:
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Develop thicker skin. (This alone is worth the price of the book. It will be your husband's favorite thing you've ever done...well almost!)
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That made me shell out the $2.75 for the book and I am so glad that I did. I think the book should actually be called How to be an Amazing Christian Wife! It is chock full of short little chapters (1-3 pages) on different ways to be a blessing to your husband and just be a better christian woman. These authors do not beat around the bush. We are responsible for every look, tone, and word that we use. By making those things positive and kind (instead of frustrated or cold) it lifts a burden off of our husbands and they begin to feel closer to us and...talk.

I highly recommend this book. If you are in a happy marriage or a struggling marriage there is something here for you. And, the short chapters makes it very "mom friendly". Just read a few pages when you have time. There are some cheap used ones on Amazon. I will leave you with the content of one of the chapters.
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Chapter 41 Introduce Mystique

Just saying the word leaves you with a sense of wonder, doesn't it? A woman of mystique is a rarity, and certainly a bit of mystery surrounds the few who possess this quality. Nothing will quite get your husbands attention or cause him to want to talk to like this will.

A woman of mystique has an allure, and aura that's hard to define. She is open and warm and conducts herself with dignity and poise. She exudes a quiet confidence that isn't dependent on others' thoughts or opinions of her. She seems to know who she is and is comfortable in her own skin. She is positive and accepting of herself and others. Discipline, which often sounds boring and staid, is a cornerstone of her life. Yet she's not rigid or legalistic.

There is a fragrance about this woman that draws you to her. she seems to understand that people talk about what's important to them. Perhaps it is the way that she listens and responds. She has a way of making you feel singled out and special and responds in a manner that is uplifting and encouraging.

She has an unmistakable presence yet isn't brazen or provocative. Her beauty goes beyond the clothes she wears or the accessories that accompany them. A complete lady in every way, you sense by the way that she throws back her head and laughs that there is another side to her that is reserved for a select few.

She is a walking juxtaposition. She seems to be make of tenderness and steel at the same time. She exhibits graciousness at every turn yet is firm in her resolve and is uncompromising. She is not oblivious to problems, nor does she bury her head in the sand. She maintains a calm assurance that all will be well. She doesn't wring her hands in the face of adversity but has an abiding faith that comforts all around her.

Is she perfect? No. Is she fallible? Absolutely. Does she allow herself to be vulnerable? Of course. Does she err? No doubt. But at her core is a woman who wants to please God. This is what makes up the warp and woof of her life, and what sets her apart from those women who simply reflect worldly mystique.

While the daily rut of life can be the comfortable path to take, the magnetism and attraction that once was characteristic of your marriage can be slowly leached a way. Allowing God into your life, and the process of growth as you walk with him, will revitalize and renew you and refresh your marriage. This won't happen all at once, because it is a process that occurs over time as a woman allows God more and more control of her life. When a woman reflects God in her life, her husband may be changed without her every saying a word. This is a work of God. And she will experience a brightened countenance and a richer walk as she journeys through life with the One who made her.

Begin today to become a woman of mystique. Pray, hope, have faith, love. Place your hope and confidence in God, and become the woman he meant for you to become. This will undoubtedly pique your husband's interest, and he will wonder what's happening to you-and he will be thrilled to find out!

2 comments:

Anna @ Feminine Adventures said...

That was really good! Thanks for posting. :)

Brandy said...

I'm so glad you liked it! The whole book was really excellent and practical. Thanks for stopping by Anna :0)