At His Side while He Wears the Crown

I love how God made us women from Adam's rib. He took us from the side of Adam. The views in this world may try to change God's truth but God's truth abideth still. There are some who may think we women can rule and we are more capable, stronger and do what we say we are going to do. We don't need a "man" to rule" us. There are some who may think women should be trampled over by the men as the men do whatever they want to women. We should just keep quiet in silence and of course be gentle. God's words are thrown around in ways He never intended or told others to use. However, our God is faithful and He does not change like the shifting shadows of our culture and other people. God is not like us. His thoughts and ways are much higher and are not our ways.

God took us from the man's side not from his head or his foot. I can't take credit for that line. Although that may not be the direct quote, I have read that. If we are taken from the side of Adam, what does that mean?

 His ribs protect his most precious organs, the heart and lungs. The ribs essential provide support for the whole chest cavity.  Our heart pumps all the blood throughout our body. Our lungs help us breathe and provide oxygen to all of our cells. Without oxygen and blood, we would die. This is a simple description of what our hearts and lungs do but you probably realize they are essential.  God didn't just make us women from anything. He chose a rib, the precious part of the body that protects the two most vital organs.

Today's Proverb Study Scriptures:
~Prov 31:23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
~Prov 12:4 A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
Observations:
1. Our husbands are to be people of influence at the city gate or wherever they are sent to by God. I pray regularly for my husband and son to find high esteem with God and men.
2. We, women are to be crowns. I like the imagery of nobility of a crown with the use of "noble character". If we are not a crown, we are a disgrace and like decay to our husband's bones (almost like arthritis - pain in the bones that causes us to be weakened).

Application:  The application for me is that in order for my husband to be a man of influence, I need to submit to God and do my part. I use to make more money than my husband. I led our family in many areas. My husband was grateful for this. He supported me. Then things changed. We realized God's plan was different than our own. Sometimes the old way seemed to work better for us as we were use to it. Dying to our self is always harder. I stopped working (for the most part other than an occasional contract) when I was three months pregnant. I started sensing a peace in Motherhood and being a wife that I never had before.  Lately after suffering some major losses and setbacks, I have started getting angry at the losses. I have started feeling more pain and thus have started talking more about my losses.  I don't want to ignore that I am in pain but I don't want to focus on the pain so much that I become a pain and decay in my husband's bones. Decay seems to be slow. It doesn't happen just once or in one moment usually. Decay involves a process. We may not see the result of decay in one day but over time, you will see it. I am starting to see things that we receive at our wedding start to decay. A decade of time (going on 11 years now) can do that. Likewise, I am starting to see behavior that I had ten years ago bring an some ugly returns. I am starting to pray more and be quiet so that I don't bring decay into my husband's life.  I want to stay by his side.  More so than decay, I have seen beauty. God has taken decay and restored so much. He is the God of restoration and beauty. To Him be the praise.

Prayer: Lord, where there is decay bring restoration. God you are the God who restores. You are my only Help. Lord, I want to be a crown and not just stay by his side while silently gritting my teeth. I want to stay by his side with encouragement and a quiet assurance. Lord, restore me to the woman that you want me to be.  You are the potter and I am the clay. You made us women from the ribs of our husband. I pray that I would be a helper to my husband and bring you Glory.