Marriage Friday

By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you'll be happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher. ~Socrates

Well, that quote just made me laugh. I hope I didn't make a philosopher out of my husband. How does one be a good wife?

A few years ago someone sent me an email from a 1950's home ec book that told girls how to be a good wife. Some of the advice was to have the house picked up, a good meal on the table, put on lipstick and a ribbon in your hair, make sure the kids are clean and quieted down, get him a cool drink and listen to him tell you about his day. The lady who sent me this thought it was the funniest joke...I thought it was pretty good advice and would probably save a lot of marriages...It also became clear that I don't have a lot in common with the women that I know. I just know that it would be so unpleasant to walk in the house after a long day to complaints and more work. I think it would be nice to sit down, have a cool drink, and transition into the family for the evening. That doesn't seem like too much for me to sacrifice for the blessing of staying home with my kids.

I have this list in my journal and I read it now and then to remind myself that sometimes I have to die to myself and invest myself wholly in us.