Tuesday, February 26, 2013

What If He Dies?


This is an excuse many women use for pursuing a career; their husband may die and who would take care of them then?  The Proverbs 31 woman didn't have a career yet she smiled at the future. Why?  Simple, she trusted God and His provision for her.

God calls most women to be wives and mothers but few women are listening to that call anymore.  We have listened to the lies of society that we need to take care of ourselves and get an education and career.  We cannot depend upon a man to take care of us.

God's design is for men to take care of their wives and children.  If this is His design, as we obey Him, He will take care of us.  I am presently reading a book given to me by one of the women I mentor.  It is titled On The Other Side Of The Garden.  It is very good.  Here is a quote from the late actress Ava Gardner pictured above ~

"I act for money, no other reason. Since I made my first picture in 1941, I have not done a thing that is worthwhile.  I have never enjoyed making films and I do not like being a so called film star.  I have not the emotional make-up for it, nor the love of exhibitionism.  I am much too shy."  Gardner once said she grew up hoping to find "one good man I could love and marry and cook for and make a home for, who would stick around for the rest of my life.  I never found him.  If I had, I would have traded my career in a minute."

Mrs. Fugate, the author, goes on to write ~

A woman who devotes her life to living Biblical womanhood chooses the most important career that any woman can possibly pursue.  The Biblical woman is the only one who can support her husband and so encourage him to be everything God intends for him to be.  A Biblical wife, by her submission, can be a testimony of Christ's selfless sacrifice in His submission to the plan of God the Father.  Her success as a Biblical wife is a confirmation of God's provision and her submission in marriage is a picture of the church's relationship to Christ.  Her dedication to her family, guided by her knowledge of the principles of Biblical womanhood, will provide the stability her children need as preparation for meeting the challenges of adulthood.  A woman can search to the ends of the earth for a way to serve God, but she will never find a higher calling or a more fulfilling one than that of helpmate to her own husband.

If God has called most {not all but most} women to be wives and mothers,
we can trust that He will provide for them.  Now remember, I am not opposed to women going to college and having careers, just make sure you count the cost and consider carefully the reasons for doing so.

Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
Proverbs 31:25

Comments (43)

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I don't think I can agree with this post. I do not believe it is an excuse when women have the foresight to prepare for the unknown. That doesn't mean a person doesn't trust God, it means they are using the common sense, and direction God gave them. I feel with this reasoning we also shouldn't have health or car insurance.
4 replies · active 626 weeks ago
I don't think married woman, especially mothers, should think they have to have a career in case their husband dies. However, it is a good idea for a woman to have some kind of skill so that if her husband were to die (and it does happen), she and her children will not starve. That can be any number of things. If a woman has a chance to get an education, without going into debt, before she gets married (as I did), then that is a wise choice. If my husband were to die, I could immediately get work teaching college biology and still have time to spend with my children (i.e. I wouldn't have to work long hours at minimum wage to feed them). For some women, college isn't the best option and they would be better off learning a different skill such as sewing, playing piano, or having a home business of some sort. For instance, my mom has a small home business selling homemade soaps and she also babysits in her home. The advantage in the meantime is that they may be able to supplement the family's income from home, and if there was a need they could do it full-time and survive on it. It's worth thinking about.
1 reply · active 630 weeks ago
Thank you.
Thank you for your post. I can't help but notice that Ava had been married before. If she strived to be a Proverbs 31 wife as you have learned to do, maybe she could have had her dreams fulfilled. That being said, your posts are very high on my list of things that have encouraged me to be a Proverbs 31 wife at home. In an earlier post your husband wrote that his favorite day in your marriage was the day you shook his hand and said you were not going to argue with him anymore. He said he knew it wouldn't happen indefinitely, but that your eagerness to work at this goal won over his heart that very instant. I want you to know I shook my husband's hand that night and told him I wasn't going to yell at him anymore. I had made him and my daughter fish tacos and I usually do buffet style, and he asked if he could fix his or if I was going to fix it (I do both sometimes with dinner). I said, "I don't care, whatever you want." And I saw him flinch, and he said, "ok, I just didn't want you to yell at me for fixing my own." Your posts make such a difference. I heard what he was saying. I stopped right there, walked over, and shook his hand and said I was going to do my best to not yell and not be angry and to do what he asks of me because I want to strive to be a Proverbs 31 wife. He had tears in his eyes (my husband does NOT cry). I could tell I had really struck a cord. My husband wasn't Christian when we met or even married. He is now (after much prayer from many people) but doesn't quite know what it means to be a Proverbs 31 wife. He just mentioned, "Is that the one where you submit to your husband?" And I continued with some of the things you (Lori) have taught me. I explained that because God loves me I want to serve God and God wants me to submit to my husband and since my husband doesn't want me to argue or yell, then I won't. He said he would try to be a very good boss, then. We have not argued or even spoken harshly or even raised our voices in a long time. God has worked amazing miracles in our marriage, but none have become so lasting as the miracles He's worked through your blog. My marriage started out abusive. So to those who say abuse can't be quieted by God, I beg you to reconsider. Only once was it physical (at the end of our first year of marriage), and we separated for 5 months. I was convicted to stay (background: I was a Christian who knowingly married a non-believer). We got back together, he never hit me again (he didn't hit me hard the first time, it was more of a tap, but once was all I needed...it was when we were both arguing). We have yelled, fought, hurt with words, abused with words and abused by not using words (the silent treatment). My daughter has cried because we screamed at each other. I never understood why my husband JUST WOULDN'T LISTEN to me. Why was he so un-empathetic? Why couldn't he be more like that friend's husband or my dad who was so loving? It didn't matter why. And I need not worry, God's yoke is easy and His burden is light. My focus was to be on God, not my husband's sins. My focus was to obey God, which meant obey my husband. He doesn't deserve it. He doesn't listen to me. Once I submitted, my husband listened to me. My husband came home and hugged me. My husband kissed me in public and held my hand. My husband picked up around the house for me. My husband complimented me. My husband brags about me to his friends. My husband doesn't raise his voice at me anymore. My husband respects me. My husband empathizes with me. My husband *gasp* loves me. He adores me. I don't think we'll ever argue the way we once did. And I am NOT someone who says "never" lightly, because I'm a firm believer in Karma. haha. And I've learned that usually means it will happen again. But with God on my side today, I am saying, we are different, I am different. God is with me. And I choose God over Satan's ways. Lori, you are amazing. And may God bless you and your ministry to us who need to hear how to make a marriage work!!! I utilize your ministry along with a few other online sites, and yours is the good part. It is the icing on my cake, the part that I see where all the other disciplines come into view. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
5 replies · active 630 weeks ago
Well, I have my college degree, but even if my husband were to pass away I don't think I would work (at least not til my kids were all in school). My husband has life insurance through his job (he is a cop) that would take care of us for quite a long time. Our finances are in order and we are not in debt. Our families would help and our church has an AMAZING welfare system for the truly needy and helps people get on their feet. So, I don't worry! And I also know that my husband would never be taken until it was his time to go. So I know if it did happen, it was God's will and we would be taken care of.
1 reply · active 630 weeks ago
She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
Proverb 31:24; NIV
I agree that being a wife, mom, and home keeper is a woman's primary calling. I have always tried to live by God's standards and have been blessed to be a stay-at-home mom to four children. However, I do not think that precludes a woman using the talents and abilities God has given her in a career as long as her main focus is on her family. Apparently the Proverb 31 woman ran a home based business.
1 reply · active 630 weeks ago
Great thoughts, Lori! I love my "career" as a wife and mother. My husband's dad was killed in a car accident when he was 7 and his sister was 3. His mother was a stay-at-home mom. With the help of her family and her husband's family, she was just fine. If you ask her, she will tell you that she would not change a thing. Her husband wanted her to raise their children. And even with all his heartache and seeing first hand that a husband and father can die suddenly, my husband is adamant that I stay home. God does not give us a spirit of fear. He will bless us for our faithfulness to His Word. I don't think that fear is a good reason to do anything, much less delay the blessing of children or allowing someone else the privilege of caring for your children.
1 reply · active 630 weeks ago
I could not agree more. This thinking was ingrained into my head growing up, so to please my mother I went to an expensive private Christian school to spend 90k (40k in loans) to get a "back-up" plan. It's a little absurd, and I'm upset that I didn't have the strength to stand up back when I knew I shouldn't be doing what I was.

What a sad way to live life... to always think of THE WORSE outcome. Not to mention I had to devote 3 years of my life to get my bachelor degree. Also, my opinion of how good a degree can actually help you is very low. My husband is very educated and can't seem to get a job because he is "over qualified." He is tempted to make a new resume without his education on there and see if he can get something.
1 reply · active 630 weeks ago
cont..

Even though I have a degree, if something were to happen to my husband I would not go back to work. We have a large life insurance policy on him for this reason, also I know both of our mother's would take the kids and I in their home so I could raise them and homeschool them as we have planned.

I am not against a girl getting a degree as long as they don't go into debt for it, but we will not be raising our girls so that they feel this is their only option and expected of them. This is hard for us, though, because I know our family will still pressure our girls to get bachelor degrees.
3 replies · active 630 weeks ago
I don't think using the thinking, "What if my husband dies?" is an excuse -- it's planning for unfortunate events. I know life insurance helps out, but sometimes life insurance won't cover all of the expenses a family will incur throughout their lifetimes. Plus, what happens if the husband gets sick (such as cancer) and can't work any more? Who will carry the health insurance so that the husband can get the treatment he needs? These are reasons why women should be prepared to enter the workforce if the need should arise.

Yes, I believe and trust that God will provide. One of the ways that God provides for His people is by giving them the tools they need to survive. Sometimes, these tools will be for a woman to use her gifts, talents and education to provide for her family by working outside of the home.
3 replies · active 630 weeks ago
Lori, thank you so much for sharing this. From the time I was a little girl, my mom told me I HAD to have an education and a career so I wouldn't have to depend on my husband. It has only been within the last year (of an 11 year marriage so far) that I have started to learn how destructive this thought pattern can be. I've missed so much of my kids' small childhoods because I was proud that I was the "main wage earner" in our household. And pride kept me in my job for a very long time, taking me away from my kids, causing me to dislike my husband for not earning more, and alienating so many people from my life due to bitterness. I will never get that time back, but I know that now I can really devote myself to my husband and kids in such better ways, by spending time with them, putting them first, and making our house a home. I have definitely learned that I would rather live in a shack with my family than in a mansion living the way we used to. I loved being a nurse/charge nurse/ manager at the time, but I honestly can't even imagine going back to that. Maybe after the kids grow up. These days, I'm focusing more on being the best wife I can be so that my boys can grow up and know the type of wife they should look for. My husband and I get along SO much better, even though we have far fewer possessions and "extras". It's so much more important to me now to have a peaceful home in which to model correct behavior to my kids. Thank you for your insightful posts that are always so on point!
1 reply · active 630 weeks ago
I don’t belong to a Church therefore who would “look” after me if something happened to my husband. I assume you would expect others to pay my mortgage etc.. In fact is, no church will pay my bills or mortgage and as a result my husband and I need to plan for our retirement and be responsible. We are asked to be wise and that is what my husband and I are doing and whilst it may be different to you, it is not any less “unchristian”.

I don’t work for selfish reasons, I work because I need to (just as Sonya Carson worked to bring up her two sons, one being Ben Carson). I have been blessed with an excellent job that provides a very good income and I praise the Lord for that. As I was driving into work this morning I was listening to the hymn “what a friend we have in Jesus” and the line . . . “We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer” and that is what I do. I can never say never, I don’t know what tomorrow will bring . . . I will wait for the Lords instructions. But please remember, what He plans for me, may be very different to His plans for you.
1 reply · active 630 weeks ago
Are there churches in the U.S. who are living tbe Biblical directive to support widows? This information, if shared, could be such a comfort to so many women. Does Tithing contribute to that cause or is that individual to each Congregation? Thank you!
6 replies · active 630 weeks ago
Thanks for sharing this post. I am a work at home mom and I have uttered this very same thing -- I have to do this because what if he dies, yet I miss just being a wife and mother.
Lori, Thanks for this post. I agree that being a slave to a career can be detrimental to a woman and her family. I do not think an education is a waste of time or money as long you do not go into debt for it. An education can be very valuable if you use it to serve your family or community. It can also be very valuable in your years of single service. It's not always in God's plan for a woman to marry young! A woman trained as a nurse, an electrician, a plumber, an accountant, a seamstress/tailor, a vet, etc. can do wonderful things for her community! However, I think the real harm to the family is caused by the debt education can bring, the loss of focus a career can bring, and the lack of preparation for a career as a homemaker. So many modern women receive no preparation for their career as homemaker!

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