---Encouraging Words ~~

--'The wife must see to it that she respects her husband."
---[Ephesians 5:33/ NASB]

---MY husband Rick and I have been married for thirty years. I've spent entirely too much time thinking about his irritating behavior.
I kept a mental list of what bothered me.

**We don't have inside doorknobs in the log cabin he built us.

**He stopped going to the barber and began cutting his hair in the bathroom sink.
**He jumps to new projects without finishing the ones he's already started.

My list grew. Seems there was no end to Rick's annoying habits--or to my nagging. Then I had lunch with a friend who raved about her husband. He brings her flowers and loves antique shopping.

"Yeah, but doesn't he ever aggravate you? I asked.
"Sure, but the good outweighs the bad."

All afternoon her words moved in my heart. I began to remember the excellent things about Rick.

**He's generous. He gave a used car to a single mom.

**He attends our children's baseball and softball games.
**He teaches the Bible to high school boys.
**Every day the man makes me laugh..
I went through the alphabet and thought up positive descriptions:

**He's available.
**He's bold.
**He cares about down-and-out.
**He's determined.

Now when I wipe his hair out of the sink or push open the knobless bedroom doors, I say: "Wow! You built this home just for us." You have the gift of giving. Thanks, Rick~~
Keep up the service for our Lord. ~~

--Guideposts/ JG