Bring Good!

Proverbs 31:12

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

I love this verse. It may be my favorite one in this whole passage.

As we think about what it means to be a sweet wife and a happy homemaker, this verse says it all. Our goal should be to bring our husbands good, not harm ALL the days of our lives.

What does "good" look like? Every husband is different, so every one will define "good" differently. So go ahead and ask him!

If he's anything like Ross, good things will look like: having a happy heart, giving hugs and kisses freely, using lots and lots of encouraging words, being confident of his abilities and his love for me. Then there's the practical things, making his lunch for the next day, planning dinners for the week, arranging babysitters so we can enjoy a date night here and there. Sex might be on the "good" list too : )

I encourage you to ask your husband what kinds of things would do him good and eagerly, happily do them!

We also need to be aware and watchful for harmful things as well. Most of us would say that we would never want to purposely bring our husbands harm, but we all can be selfish and forsake his needs for ours and sometimes that means harm.

Here are some common "harm-ers": being too busy with the practical things for an encouraging word or a kiss, spitting out a bunch of frustrations from your day with no time to listen about theirs, nagging (uh! It's the worst! Your husband didn't marry you because he needed another mother. Stop nagging and start praying!) planning a super busy family schedule with little time for your husband to rest and relax alone or with friends.

These are just a few. Again, I encourage you, ask your husband what kinds of things bring him good- seek to do them happily- and those that bring him harm- and avoid them like the plague : )