*From The Excellent Woman of Proverbs 31 written in 1847 by Anne Pratt (1806-1893)
It is much in the power of all who dwell in the same household to benefit each other. Hourly opportunities occur of showing kindness, practicing forbearance,... But this is most especially the case with husbands and wives. If we except the strongest of all earthly influences-that of the mother on her child, there is none which can equal that of the conjugal relation. And as no marriage should
be contracted without mutual love, so the principle of love should guide a woman in all her married life, and lead her always to do good to her husband.
A wife can do much good to her husband, by promoting his domestic comfort. This is, indeed, placed almost wholly in her hands; it rests with her to see that the fireside is the place of attraction, that home is the brightest spot on earth.
If she wish to enjoy her husband's society, she must be a keeper at home; and so arrange her family, as that he, when he returns from the care, and noise, and contention of the world, shall find a retreat, in which sweet converse shall beguile him of his cares, and peace, and love, and order, and gentle welcome, and soothing sympathy, shall form a striking contrast to the scenes he has just quitted.
Never should the wandering eye betray that she listens with indifference to the details which interest him. She should value his pursuits, if for no other reason than because they are his; In the intimacy of domestic life, the first tendency to evil is sometimes evident to the wife, and it is her duty to rebuke with all gentleness,...Abigail's reproof and counsel of David, is a beautiful instance of womanly tact and delicacy thus employed. When Nabal, in return for David's kindness and protection, had contemptuously refused refreshments to the warrior shepherd, how does Abigail propitiate David's wrath, and dissuade him from revenge!
The wife of the text did her husband no evil.
She
*neither wasted his wealth,
*nor neglected his comfort,
*nor was careless of his reputation,
*nor provoked him to anger.
SHE WILL DO HIM GOOD, AND NOT EVIL,
ALL THE DAYS OF HER LIFE.
ALL THE DAYS OF HER LIFE.
Proverbs 31:12
It is much in the power of all who dwell in the same household to benefit each other. Hourly opportunities occur of showing kindness, practicing forbearance,... But this is most especially the case with husbands and wives. If we except the strongest of all earthly influences-that of the mother on her child, there is none which can equal that of the conjugal relation. And as no marriage should
A wife can do much good to her husband, by promoting his domestic comfort. This is, indeed, placed almost wholly in her hands; it rests with her to see that the fireside is the place of attraction, that home is the brightest spot on earth.
If she wish to enjoy her husband's society, she must be a keeper at home; and so arrange her family, as that he, when he returns from the care, and noise, and contention of the world, shall find a retreat, in which sweet converse shall beguile him of his cares, and peace, and love, and order, and gentle welcome, and soothing sympathy, shall form a striking contrast to the scenes he has just quitted.
Never should the wandering eye betray that she listens with indifference to the details which interest him. She should value his pursuits, if for no other reason than because they are his; In the intimacy of domestic life, the first tendency to evil is sometimes evident to the wife, and it is her duty to rebuke with all gentleness,...Abigail's reproof and counsel of David, is a beautiful instance of womanly tact and delicacy thus employed. When Nabal, in return for David's kindness and protection, had contemptuously refused refreshments to the warrior shepherd, how does Abigail propitiate David's wrath, and dissuade him from revenge!
The wife of the text did her husband no evil.
She
*neither wasted his wealth,
*nor neglected his comfort,
*nor was careless of his reputation,
*nor provoked him to anger.