A new attitude that...

...caught me off guard.

Jeff called the house while Emily and I were working on flash cards. A few minutes later the phone rang again...this time I listened for the message to see if I recognized the voice. I heard it was Jeff leaving a message from work. I got down off of the bunk bed and grabbed the phone but missed the connection, so I quickly called him back.

When he answered the phone, it took some prying to get him to fess up to what he was originally calling for. With hesitancy and stumbling, he proceeded to tell (ask?) me, that he had been invited to go on an extended weekend (Thur-Sun) trip to Costa Rica, coming up in mid-April. Through all of this, the tone in his voice was different from the past times he would let me know of an upcoming trip. This time he was not reluctant because of the unknown knee-jerk reaction he would have previously received from me (whether he liked it or not). He genuinely was torn between going and being home, he did not want my feelings hurt! But what surprised me especially was that my inward attitude was calm and supportive, even happy for him to have the opportunity!

Men are created to be helpers of God...There is no loss of dignity in subordination when it serves a higher purpose. God made you to be a help meet to your husband so you can bolster him, making him more productive and efficient at whatever he chooses to do...Your excellence as a help meet to him may very well be God's plan for improving his leadership role in the family. - pg. 23 Created to be His Help Meet

I must confess, this was the FIRST time in our marriage that I had feelings of genuine happiness for him to be taking a few days off and enjoying them with fellow friends (apart from me). I am so ashamed with my "old self", but at the same time, amazed with the 180 turn-around that my heart has had for Jeff over these past 6 weeks. When one finds something good, even amazing, one wants to tell everyone about it, right?

My new attitude or better stated as, my new love for Jeff is oozing out of my pores!! Some of you may be surprised at reading this. Yes, Jeff and I have always 'gotten along' very well and have also been blessed to grow and mature together with a bit of ease. Like all marriages, we have had some bumps along that way--and I am taking most of the blame for them (I am now, I would not have before). To protect the innocent, I will withhold further details of those previously said, "bumps".

OK, curious to my "change of heart"? Here is what has been going on...
The HOLY SPIRIT is doing a great work in me!

I believe with all my heart that the following has come to fruition because of the HS.
1. Started a new friendship with a gal, who I walk with every week.
2. Said friend, mentioned a name of a mentor that teaches a Titus 2 ministry up at Grace Baptist Church.
3. That next day, I "bumped into" that mentor, I asked to meet with her--we met together the following week.
5. I listened to one of her Titus 2 talks via CD, "Fruit of the Spirit" Kindness, Gentleness, Respect" Mobil Tape
6. She also recommended reading, Created to be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl, Created to be His Help Meet

[Interesting side note. I have had two copies of this book on my shelf for SEVERAL years. I have read bits of it here and there, but I now recognize that my heart was not ready to learn it's principles then.
I recommended it to several ladies through the years and even gave it to my sister-in-law a few years back!! I am so embarrassed.
I purchased them because it was recommended to me by a dear friend whom I hold in high esteem, so I was confident it had to be good/important.]

All that to say, I am thoroughly enjoying what I am learning through this mentor, the book, and last but not least, the HS and the Word. Another exciting aspect is that the desire to read this book has embraced many of my friends (and then some) so we are reading and meeting together.

How this all came about is that I do not enjoy reading and I needed some accountability to keep with it. So, I asked my walking friend to read it with me. I then had another friend in San Diego want to read along with us. That same week another gal from Emily's Grace Kid's class showed interest and also wanted to invite a mutual friend and on and on...it has spread like crazy!! There are a few gals who have read the book already and are now reviewing it and contributing their thoughts. We have gals in El Centro, Idaho, and even a missionary in Albania (sister of one of my friends) all who are contributing to the group via th blog Reading Ruminations. It is so wonderful to be surrounded by a group of friends who are like-minded in desiring to honor Christ through loving and respecting our husbands--better!

Jeff and I have been married for 13 yrs this year, and it really has been a good 13 yrs by all regards. But now, I am looking forward to having many more AMAZING decades together! Jeff said it best over dinner a few weekends ago, "I have never been happier". I soooo agree!

[To get the full scope of dialog on Reading Ruminations, I would suggest also reading the "Comments" at the end of each post.]

Ephesians 5:33b (amplified version)
“Let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband—that she notices him, honors him, prefers him, venerates and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him- exceedingly.”