Chinese Water Torture...nope....just my wife.....

I am often struck by the tidbits of convicting evidence against myself and my actions as I browse Proverbs.  Some of the Proverbs I know instinctually by heart now as the Lord has been working on my heart from childhood but sometimes one will pop up and just hit me square in-between the eyes.

"A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.  House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord." Proverbs 19:13-14

Do you remember the controversy over water boarding?  It is a form of persuasive interrogation.  It makes the one being interrogated feel as if he is drowning by laying his head at a downward angle and then pouring water over his head.  Another form of water torture used in both China and Spain was Chinese or Spanish water torture.  According to Wikipedia: 

"Victims were strapped down so that they could not move, and cold or warm water was then dripped slowly on to a small area of the body; usually the forehead. The forehead was found to be the most suitable point for this form of torture because of its sensitivity: prisoners could see each drop coming, and after long durations were gradually driven frantic as a perceived hollow would form in the center of the forehead."

I don't know about you but somedays when Tommy returns home I can be a constant dripping of rain.  It goes a bit like this: 

Me: "Hi Babe!  Welcome home!  How was your day?"

Sometimes I let him answer that question and other days I start in not as a dripping but as a full gush of rain water almost as if I was a downspout!  

"Your son did this."  drip drop.....

"Then I had to fight this all day with Emma." drop drip.....

"The washer is not spinning out aaaaagain!!!" drip, drip, drip.....

"I can't figure out how to fix the chain on JT's bike."   drip, drip, drip, drip, drip.....

"I'm exhausted and after this I need to get out of here for a while and by the way I was going to fix this for dinner but I didn't get it thawed because of all the above stated issues!"  Gush, gush, gush, gush......

And before I know it my husband is literally drowning and I am not being the prudent wife from the Lord mentioned in the next verse.  Prudent means acting with or showing care and thought for the future.  How can I be more prudent?  How can I show more care and thought for my husband's future even if it is just the comfort and peace of his upcoming evening?  

Daniel used prudence and discretion when the king was angry and furious......(Daniel 2:12-14)

Hmmm......

Solomon places a high value on giving prudence to the simple and discretion to the youth as a beginning reason for his Proverbs.....(Proverbs 1:1-7)

Solomon also says for simple ones to learn prudence and fools to learn sense......(Proverbs 8:5)

Hmmm.....

Could it be that I could use more sense, in how I approach reporting on these events I rushed at Tommy.  Could I use more discretion in my timing, by maybe letting the man come in, get a drink of water or tea and change clothes before I bombard him with my overflowing needs, wants and gripes?  

Maybe I should give that I try.  Maybe that would at least be a lifesaver against the flood waters I just brought upon him.  

A Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, 
Thank you so much for your wisdom of the home and family, especially for husbands, Lord.  We praise you for your great design in the man's purpose in leading his family and guiding.  Father, I ask that as we walk daily to strive to be a helpmeet to him.  That we use discretion, and sense in how we bring things before them.  Just as we come to you humbly and with care please help us to approach our husbands with honor and prudence.  

In Your son's name, Amen.