As unto the Lord...

Being a wife is not for the selfish, or for the soft-hearted. It is indeed a wonderful experience. You learn a lot about men, about life, about yourself. Marriage can mature you from a naive girl to a mature woman.

But it can also make you feel like you are carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.

Being a helpmeet isn't an easy job. Caring for someone regardless to how you feel at the time is strenuous and time consuming and selfless. Most times there is little to no room for self in your marriage. At least not in my house.

6 children, 4 of whom will eat what I make, 1 baby and a son that will only eat sandwiches and a husband that expects a gourmet meal, a spotless house and orderly children upon his arrival home from work. After making plates, cleaning up, giving baths and getting all children to bed, I take a shower and get ready to spend time with my husband.... Whose fallen asleep... *sigh*

There is nothing self-centered about my life.

Sometimes you can get so wrapped up in doing things for everyone else you begin to feel neglected and taken for granted. Everyone calling for me, asking for things, needing something... No one ever gives me anything. And just when I'm ready to give up, scream and walk away for a while, this is what I hear:

"As unto the Lord..."

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
 (Colossians 3:17 NIV)

Everything we do for our families, our husbands, our lives in general should be done with to the glory of God. It's so easy to do things for your husband begrudgingly. Well, at least for me it is. I wake up every morning, get my husband up for work, my daughter up for school, the other kids dressed, fed and entertained all day, house cleaned, dinner made, homework done, kids fed, bathed and bedded, house cleaned again....
 Did I take a shower today? I think I brushed my teeth.

No matter how much I have on my plate, I'm trying hard not to do any of it with a bad attitude, because that wouldn't be as into my God. He loves a cheerful giver...
"So let each one  give  as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."
 (2 Corinthians 9:7 NKJV).
I know that you have heard this in church, but it means so much than giving liberally in your tithes and offering. Whether you give of your money, time, energy, love or however else you give of yourself, it means nothing to the Lord if you do it with an attitude. Cheerful is the word of the day.

So when your husband asks you to make him third plate and you haven't even eaten once today? Smile and say "okay". He loves your cooking.
When he asks you to find his lucky socks in the morning, say "sure". He's going to work to provide a good life for you too, not just himself.
When you finally get to lay down and he asks you to go get him a bottle of water... Well, you might not be able to actually say anything. But go do it anyway. And on your way to the kitchen and back from the kitchen, send a few phrases of praise to the Father for your husband.
Remember, God gave him to you and you to him. Be grateful for your gift.