Tribute to a wife

A few years ago as we traveled down Rt. 221 South near Louisville, GA, we happened to see a sign for a Revolutionary War cemetery. Curious, we pulled off the highway and followed the dirt road back to a small cemetery tucked among the pines. We wandered among the stones in the dappled light, reading the tributes to soldiers and others who lived more than a hundred years ago.

A massive monument with writing on four sides caught our eyes and we thought it must be a tribute to an important soldier.  Here are the words that so captivated us:

A Christian Woman 

is the highest, best gift of God to earth: and here lies one of its brightest exemplifications!

Christianity was with her a sentiment deeply interwoven in all her thoughts, feelings, and affections.

Kind and benevolent, unexacting and charitable, brilliant but humble--

Vigorous in intellect, sweet and lovely in person, meek and gentle in disposition--

her life and character have left their impress indelibly fixed in the heart of those whose wise counselor, and devoted partner, she was through all the vicissitudes of an eventful though brief career.

Though married when young, ardent and hopeful, in the midday splendor of youthful hopes and aspirations, she entered upon her domestic duties with an energy and devotion which could feel no decline; and by the purity and vigor of her own character she won from the most slavish passions, him whose welfare was her highest happiness, and whose character was her own handiwork.

Her exalted mission accomplished-- she laid down her Cross,

Took up her Crown,

and now sweetly rests in the bosom of her Savior.

MY WIFE

Mary H.    daughter of Mary & Dr. Wm. Savage

wife of Col. A.R. Wright

born Dec. 28, 1825    married Apr. 26, 1843

died June 23, 1851

What a tribute to a true I Peter 3 wife!  "1 ¶  Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

2  While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

3  Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

4  But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

5  For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

6  Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

Blessed are the available

Blessed are the conduits,

the tunnels, the tools. 

Deliriously joyful are the ones who believe

that if God has used sticks and rocks

to do His will, then He can use us.

Max Lucado

 Very often I feel totally inadequate for most anything! I often feel inadequate to make even the simplest decision. Has that ever happened to you?

Amid the bill paying, dishwashing, laundering, cleaning, preparing meals, visiting, talking with people, driving here and there, a small voice says-- "What are you doing great for God? You are just a cog going around and around the wheel." My life is very ordinary, and it sometimes seems that I am just going through the motions of life.  

Then  a friend sends me a card with the above words, and God shows me it is faithfulness in the small things which we think are unimportant in "LIFE" that God is most present! We may never know that our daily faithfulness in the dirtiest chores has affected the life of someone else, unless someone tells us.

If you are down in the dumps, take the time to remember when someone else's faithfulness in small things encouraged you-- send them a thank you letter. You may never know how much it cheers them, but God will!

Lord, help me to focus on you and others instead of on my own little corner of life.

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Philippians 2:4