A necessary gadget broke. I tend to try to repair things, particularly expensive things, before I replace them. Off to the hardware store I went for a small purchase. In the end, my repair did not work out, but the trip was well worth the time for a whole different reason.
As I got out of the van, I heard a couple who had parked in front of me speak to one another. Now, I don’t know for sure, but I assumed that they were married.
As she stepped out of the truck she asked him something like, “Did you get the tape measure?”
As he headed toward the back of the truck, he replied with something like, “We don’t need to. I didn’t park in a cripple space.”
I just smiled and cut my eye over their way. I had to know what her response was going to be.
With the most wonderfully pleasant expression she headed toward the back of the truck.
You know, she loved him so much that she did not make a big deal of it. Perhaps it wasn’t just the distance around the truck that created the issue with this older gentleman’s hearing. Perhaps he really was hard of hearing. Instead of yelling out louder her question, she just moved closer. And I really don’t know if she bothered asking again.
Something about her warm response to him – the look on her face, and the things she did and didn’t do – made me feel like they had been married forever, and she loved him more today than she did on their wedding day.
I love to see that kind of marriage. It’s a sharp contrast to most. It’s a rare thing, but it is not impossible.
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Titus 2:1-5
LIFE APPLICATION
Today’s challenge is to pray over which group you fall into – older or younger, and what your role is. Maybe it’s your turn to teach.
Older women who have it figured out, it’s your job to teach the younger women. You can help them be successful wives and mothers. You can teach them sound doctrine. Your wisdom is a treasure. Such can be said for the older men teaching the younger.
Younger women, do not hesitate to seek an older married woman who has a great track record in her marriage and with her children to mentor you. It’s easy to feel like you have it all figured out, but years of marriage and motherhood do give you a perspective like no other. Like the younger women, younger men do take advantage of the counsel of your older counterparts.