Traveling Mercies - Encouragement Café - August 18, 2014
Traveling Mercies
Café Menu for Monday, August 18, 2014
Today’s Special is: How to Be a Supportive Helpmate When Your Husband Is a “Traveling Man”
Carefully prepared just for you by your friend, Lara Sadowski
Main Ingredient:
The Lord God said, It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.
Genesis 2:18 NIV
Entrée:
Greetings sisters!
As I write this devotional, my husband is out of town again this week. He is a Mechanical Engineer and a Project Manager, so he has to go where his projects are… usually not in our state. This summer, he will be gone each week and will be back on weekends for this particular project.
I bet many of you can relate to this. Maybe you have a husband who is a pastor and is very busy taking care of his flock? Or maybe you have a man like mine who has a job that takes him around the country?
I understand … it’s hard.
You miss him and want to see him more. Also, you might have kids at home and dishes in the sink and feel just a wee bit tired. WHEW!
May I share a bit of wisdom that I have gleaned from my situation?
The Lord understands your frustration and weariness, but He is ready to strengthen you (and all of His daughters!). I asked Him recently to help me because I was feeling pretty overwhelmed. He gave me the verse from Genesis that reads, “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’”
A helper?
I realized that I was not being a good helper to my man. I was taking out my frustration on him, and that was weighing on his heart. The Lord gently showed me that I needed to build my husband up rather than throw verbal darts at him when he arrives at home.
Does that mean that I don’t share my ups and downs with him?
Absolutely not. He wants me to be honest with him, but I am learning how to blend my honesty with kind words of respect. A helpmate “cheerleader,” if you will.
And you know what? I began to feel better when my thoughts and words were happier. My heart felt lighter, too. I actually enjoyed sweeping my kitchen floor a little more, knowing that a clean house makes both my husband and me happy.
(Full disclosure: I can’t say that I feel that way when I clean the bathrooms! :->).
Sisters, we serve a Lord who understands our frustration and weariness. Don’t be hard on yourself. Take it to Him in prayer. He loves listening to us and guiding us through our days. He understands that we get tired and we miss our husbands when they are gone. And He promised us that He would help us be the best helpmates we can be.
Guaranteed! Be blessed!
Take Out:
Ask the Lord to refresh you and to help you. He knows you are tired and will absolutely help you be the best you can be.
Dessert:
Heavenly Father, so many of Your daughters are tired, weary and in need of rest. We know You give that freely, and we are so thankful. Help all of us to be the best helpmates for our husbands that we can be. We love You so dearly! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
©2014 by Lara Sadowski. All rights reserved.
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