Wednesday Wisdom: Week 5

More encouragement and wisdom today from Carolyn Mahaney's book, Femine Appeal.  Her book is to young wives and mothers, and is based on Titus 2, exhorting us to love our husbands and children. 

Here are some quotes from Chapter 7.  She gives an abundance of illustrations with these, so this is just a quick overview!

"We should be women who are known for praying, greeting, listening, encouraging, and planning."

Renown for Praying:
"...we should be committed to the 'good work' of praying for our husbands and children."  We are the best ones for this job!
Renown for Greeting:
"Our lives should mirror Scripture's pattern, and- you guessed it- as wives and mothers, our family members should be the recipients of our most enthusiastic greetings.  When they awake each morning, call on the telephone, or enter the house, this seemingly small act of greeting will go a long way to advance their happiness."  I saw this beautiful truth in practice a few years ago by my friend, Stephanie C. when her young daughter woke from a nap, and have tried to make it a priority ever since!  It is so important to stop what we're doing and lavish our little ones and lovers with love when they are coming, going, waking, etc.!
Renown for Listening:
"...taking a sincere interest in what our husbands and children desire to communicate is a primary way to bring them joy."  Yes!
Renown for Encouraging:
"We should be lavish in our dispersal of 'good words' to and about our families.  Daily we should bestow much more encouragement than correction or criticism.  I know we've heard this before, but it is such a good reminder!
Renown for Planning:
"Proverbs 22:3 advises, 'The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go and suffer for it.'
"Proverbs 21:5 guarantees: 'The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance.' I know we all desire an abundance of happiness for our families; so let's get on with the good work of planning."  She gives great examples of how we can plan special things for our families to show our love and how our planning also prevents pitfalls.

God Bless!