Vivid Word Pictures

Proverbs 12:4 

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: 

but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

I love word pictures.

I am a visual learner.

Today's proverb creates an instructive picture.

Can you see it?

Picture the fit athlete with his laurel wreath crown.

Picture the young royal in his princely or kingly regalia.

Contrast that with the picture of the feeble old man,

or the man being consumed with disease.

Which would you like for a husband?

You actually help create the image.

A virtuous woman is known for her strength.

She has the power to produce a desired effect.

She is morally excellent.

She sets her heart to do right and then has the fortitude to do it.

She is a testimony to her husband.

She brings him honor through her diligence and strength.

This woman is:

an ornament, 

a mark of honor, 

a reward 

to her husband.

The other woman "maketh ashamed."

She disappoints her husband,

does not meet his expectations,

shames him,

disgraces him,

causes him to feel inferior or unworthy.

In doing this, she may morally corrupt her husband.

She encourages his inferior actions.

She tears him down.

It seems easy to see which is the proper choice.

But how to achieve it?

Get busy.

Do right.

Keep an orderly home.

Support hubby when he wants to do right.

Ask him of his goals for the home and family and strive to meet those goals.

Be strong - deal with the "little" things and do not weigh him down with trivium.

Earn his trust that you will do what he asks in a timely, competent manner.

Trust his judgment in all matters.

Praise his strength and right choices.

Build him up with praise - both privately and publicly.

Work as a team.

Know your husband.

I have been meditating on it all week.

It is a tall order - 

but I want the first picture, not the second.