Continued Peace Through Trusting My Husband

How sad it was when someone was rude to me today.  She was a worker at a store behind the customer service desk.  She was having a hard day.  It's sad 'cause I know this world is full of people who have pain.  I am sad from being in the world and being aware through observation of people's pain.  What is a positive challenge for me, though, is to release that I am responsible for the other person's bad day or that I have to repair it or that I cannot grow in character and use the circumstance as a "rebounding board" to find something good out of it for my life or my family.  Since I truly am not responsible for her attitude, I can let myself use the opportunity to draw closer to my husband and in Godly character.  God blesses those who mourn (over the sadness from sin in this world) and God Himself truly does comfort.  "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." Matthew 5:4

My husband and I divided up the jobs at the store, each taking a shopping buggy and each taking a child.  I headed to the customer service desk to make three returns.  The lady refused to make the transaction and get me a refund and said it all in a very dominating way.  I found my husband and told him the results of my efforts.  I told him what I thought of the lady, and he responded with a harsher description of her.  I also told my husband how she wouldn't let me return one of the items today simply because the others needed more information with them.  That did not make any sense.  She definitely was being difficult.  My dear husband explained more to me of the purchase of one of the items I was trying to return.  He told me he had purchased it online and right there with his phone brought up the email notification of purchase and told me to go back and tell the lady it was an online purchase.

So back I went with more boldness and confidence and stood in line.  God gives boldness to those who do right.  I did right when I listened to and depended on my husband.  "The wicked have fled and there is no pursuer. And the righteous as a young lion is confident." Proverbs 28:1

It was my turn, and the woman had her difficult attitude still of course.  I talked to her, told her the item was an online purchase.  She asked for the confirmation purchase number, and I read it.  She explained something about having to contact the online part of the store for a return since it was an online purchase after she tried the confirmation purchase number, and it was not letting her make the return.  That was understandable, but with the item she wasn't letting me return today simply because "I should do it all together when I'm ready to return the others," didn't make sense.  I told her about the item returning it without a receipt, "I have returned these before without a receipt, and I just had to go into the store and find the same one so the clerk could use it to find the item number."  By then, my husband surprised me and showed up next to the counter!  I am so glad he was there... the clerk lady had gotten a worker higher in authority involved who was teaching the first clerk about the situation for returning the item.

For whatever reason (it didn't matter the reason to me; I trusted my husband), my husband said to me in front of the two clerks, "Just return it another time."  I could have let the rude clerk's attitude knock me off my balanced peacefulness, but I stayed peaceful, seeing my husband's words as an opportunity to escape and let that rude lady be dealt with by the clerk higher in authority.  As we walked away, my husband, who was there to observe this time (praise God for a witness and support!), acknowledged that she was rude.  I am glad that I listened to my husband, submitting to him right in front of the two clerks, not trying to make them do what was right, and let God take vengeance.  I maintained my peace this way.

How can you be encouraged by this?  1) Be open to your husband by telling him your situations. 2) Be ready to listen to him. (Men like to help solve problems.) 3) Do just as your husband says and reap continued peace in your spirit.

Surrounded by Witnesses

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1

Being surrounded by witnesses is an encouraging thing to those who are doing right.  My most ever-present witnesses are my two blessings from God, my two daughters.

When a wife has a wish/idea/concern about anything, she needs to communicate it to her husband!  The wife can speak her wish/idea/concern, but the husband gets the final say on anything for the simple reason only because a decision has to be come to, and God selected the MAN, the husband, to be the head and decide.  It is not a power issue; it is God's way.  My husband and I discussed this quite a while ago in our earlier years of marriage, and because of wicked desires in my own heart for power, I was "blind," or had forgotten that discussion.

So I do in all actuality have a wish/concern, and I have been concerned for a while, and this quiet morning as I was thinking about it, I know today I should present the idea/concern.

This need that has to happen (communication) could cause fear.  Anything one plans could have a bit of fear.  Really, truly truly and honestly, one only truly does need fear or need to have fear if what they are doing is evil.  (A man planning to kill or rob needs to have fear while doing it, 'cause it's evil, and he fears being found out.)  Encouragement that takes fears away in wives when communicating to her spouse is the witnesses of her children. 

Knowing my children are watching and loving them and being grateful for their witness, I can in boldness do what is right without fear.  I can present my idea/concern/wish to my husband.  Being aware of witnesses, I can continue in doing what is right, and I can respond well, being aware of the witnesses and keep on with patience, waiting for him while he makes the decision.