Tiny Devotional for Saturday, 12-12-2020

 A great good AFTERNOON to my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And, to family members who have dropped by, there’s a bathroom on the LEFT.

An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones.
Proverbs 12:4, NASB


Writing about this verse bothers me, a LOT. If I skipped over it, it would bother me more. Let’s see how it goes.

Here’s what I understand about a crown.

  • It’s a symbol of deserved honor, composed of only the finest materials, formed by the best artisans. 
  • It is the highest award a person can have.  
  • It is never demanded; it must be awarded.
  • A TRUE crown is never placed on a buffoon; it requires a worthy head.
This describes the relationship of the husband to the excellent wife. He must deserve her; he must make his conduct and character match her excellence.

Here’s what I understand about rottenness in the bones. (I’ve actually got a progressive bone disease.)

  •  It hurts almost all the time.
  • There’s no cure for it.
  • It will only get worse.
  • Some bone diseases are more severe. (A friend’s father was shaving one morning, and his femur snapped. That’s how they discovered bone cancer.)
  • Our bones protect and support us; without strong bones, there is no possible good outcome.

This applies to both husbands and to wives: anything that you do that causes your mate shame, humiliates and embarrasses them, especially in public, destroys them from the inside. 

Disagreement on significant issues (not which restaurant to pick!) and honest, LOVING criticism are a part of married life, but should always be done in private. Mocking your spouse isn’t funny, except for stand-up comedians, and THOSE should take care.

Peace be on your household.

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