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Daughters of God
husband. At every step she should inquire “Is this the standard of true
womanhood?” and “How shall I make my influence Christlike in my
home?” The husband should let his wife know that he appreciates her
work.
The wife is to respect her husband. The husband is to love and
cherish his wife; and as their marriage vow unites them as one, so
their belief in Christ should make them one in Him. What can be
more pleasing to God than to see those who enter into the marriage
relation seek together to learn of Jesus and to become more and more
imbued with His Spirit?—
The Adventist Home, 114 (1899)
. Wife to
Be Treated Tenderly—Yours can yet be a happy family. Your wife
needs your help. She is like a clinging vine; she wants to lean upon
your strength. You can help her and lead her along. You should never
censure her. Never reprove her if her efforts are not what you think
they should be. Rather encourage her by words of tenderness and
love. You can help your wife to preserve her dignity and self-respect.
Never praise the work or acts of others before her to make her feel her
deficiencies. You have been harsh and unfeeling in this respect. You
have shown greater courtesy to your hired help than to her and have
placed th em ahead of her in the house.—
Testimonies for the Church
2:305 (1869)
.
Wife Cheerfully to Help Husband Maintain Dignity—I have
also been shown that there is often a great failure on the part of the
wife. She does not put forth strong efforts to control her own spirit
and make home happy. There is often fretfulness and unnecessary
complaining on her part. The husband comes home from his labor
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weary and perplexed, and meets a clouded brow instead of cheerful,
encouraging words. He is but human, and his affections become
weaned from his wife, he loses the love of his home, his pathway is
darkened, and his courage destroyed. He yields his self-respect and
that dignity which God requires him to maintain.—
Testimonies for the
Church 1:307 (1862)
.
Love for Christ, Love for Each Other—Neither the husband nor
the wife should merge his or her individuality in that of the other. Each
has a personal relation to God. Of Him each is to ask, “What is right”?
“What is wrong”? “How may I best fulfill life’s purpose”? Let the
wealth of your affection flow forth to Him who gave His life for you.
Make Christ first and last and best in everything. As your love for Him