Wives, communicate what you’re going through to your husband.  We are talking about your domain here, which you’re in oversight of, and the fact that you are a stayer at home.  He needs to be brought up to speed about what is going on.  Take that time, ladies.  First, he may not have had the best day himself; amen?  We’re always mutually respecting the role of the other person.  Men, when you come home and your wife wants to express this horrific day that she just had, listen to what they’re saying.  We shared about this being your role.  Men, as you love your wife and if you’re doing this properly, you’re taking on her heart.  You begin to be touched by the infirmities that your wife goes through, just like Jesus was touched with the feelings of our infirmities.  We are not just enduring their talking.  We’re being touched.  We’re getting more understanding of our wives. 

We saw that role, men, that required you to become more knowledgeable of who your wife is and what her needs are.  So, I’m listening to this.  When that communication is finished, respond.  I’m going to address this in two different ways.  The first response is, “Can I do anything to help?”  A godly woman’s response is not supposed to be, “Well, yes!  Do these things for me!”  A godly woman will have come forth from her spirit, “No.  God’s grace is sufficient.  I am gifted for this role.”  And your response, men, is, “Well, I just want you to know you’re doing a great job.  I am so thankful for you, your care for the children, and your love of the Lord that you would do this calling so well to the glory of God.  If you need me, let me know.”  That usually ends well if we can approach things that way.  Listen, appreciate and respond. 

Now, ladies, we have a twofold problem.  I’m giving grace by just saying “two,” but I’m sure we’ll find others before we’re done.  Don’t allow the overcompensation of not wanting to be dripping.  This is one of the problems, ladies, that are self-made.  Do not overcompensate by holding things to yourself, and surely don’t fall into that thing of thinking, “Well, if they really loved me…  If they really cared, they would know.”  We are not all prophets.  You need to tell us stuff, okay?  “You should have known.  You should have seen.”  We don’t see or know anything.  You have to tell us.  “Here’s what’s bothering me.  Here’s what’s happened that you can involve yourself in.”  Amen?  Communication is everything in our relationships.  Ladies, the need to communicate the environment of the home is so important, but so is timing.  If you see your husband coming in, he spits on the grass, and it dies instantaneously, or he kicks the dog across the yard, that’s not the time.  That awareness is so vital of that environment of the home.  God will give you the grace to move in that.

Father, we thank You for Your Word.  We just ask that You would give us understanding, that You would give us strength.  We thank You for godly women, Father.  We thank You for wives here in our midst who are doing a tremendous job in light of this hour in which we live when there is the loss of natural affection, where there is the seeking of personal gratification.  But, Father, just as in the body the greatest is the servant of all, just as in this body, it’s supposed to be in the home.  The servant is the greatest of all.  Help us to serve one another, to love one another, to Your glory.  Father, we ask in that great and mighty name of Jesus.  Amen.