March 9 – 1 Timothy 5:14
I Timothy 5:14 NIV
So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes…
Reading this was a revelation to me. At the time, I thought
that, as a properly submitted wife, I basically needed to ask
Daddy about everything. Here I saw that I’M to MANAGE
my home! I have duties and responsibilities; I’m to make good decisions, allotting the right amount of time and money and effort to each thing. And my husband, then, has a haven when he comes home. Aaaaah — things are going well here. My wife is taking care of my home.
To catch up on previous days, click here. For the story behind Three By Fives, click here.
Mom, would it be safe to say that this will look different for each household? I’ve had a few people raise an eyebrow because we keep separate checking accounts (although both our names are on both of them). Conventional wisdom is that we should share an account and talk about every purchase. For us, though, when we made the decision years ago for me to manage my own monthly budget, it ended almost all arguments about money in our household. Other areas of management may not be so happy… but at least with money, the separate responsibilities have created a lot of peace over the years.
Sure, it will look different. You and your husband decide together what is your part to “manage.” And then, whatever that is, you do that part well, whether it’s time or money or chores or whatever else. Your daddy gives me a certain amount of cash each payday(it could have been a checking account just as easily), and I’m to use that to take care of the things that we decided it was for. What he gives me is ample for the job, but, even then, at sometimes I do better than at others. Like yesterday when I went to get tea at Chelmsford Tea. Next time I’ll LOOK at the prices of tea before I just say, ” Yeah, I’ll take a half a pound of that one and that one and that one.” Fortunately, he’s gentle with my mistakes! Even at this ancient age, I’m still learning.
Thanks, Mom! This issue requires so much more space than a 3×5 allows…
Private session?!! ANY time!
PS We can do it over tea. I have lots!!
I would love to have tea with you, Mom! And I love peeking over Annie’s shoulder at her cards. My heart goes out to all the possible marriage situations of others also reading over her shoulder. I agree with you – I think this is very much a one-on-one “over tea” issue.
Yes, this is a Christian mom with a caring husband writing to a daughter with the same beliefs and a caring husband. All situations are certainly not going to be the same. And, even amongst our own families, there will be tweaking. The principles hold true, but how to work them out, how to gut them out, how to find our way in the specifics will take work and prayer and communication. Jesus cares about each situation and is so ready to help.