Page 111 - Sarah's Children

foundational changes in our marriage, and my wife began to dress in a manner that
I had long desired. She began to practice headcovering and she began wearing long
dresses. I have never considered my wife to be so attractive as she is now. Her
physical appearance is very pleasing to me.

It was no coincidence that our daughter began to wear a headcovering shortly after
my wife, and not long after this she also began wearing dresses. My daughter is the
very picture of a godly young woman, and this is very pleasing to me. She came to the
conviction to wear dresses and a headcovering on her own, but the way was prepared
by her mother's example of obedience in this area.

A woman has an incredible power in her home and among others in influencing
them toward godliness. Her husband needs her support and active participation in
bringing forth those things he feels are in keeping with godliness.

Another area that I will give as an example of how a wife can help make her husband
more successful in life is the area of preparing food for one’s family. I have long been
a junk food eater. My flesh likes all the wrong kinds of food and I have suffered from
the effects of being overweight most of my life.

The effects of being overweight can make one feel tired and lacking in energy. This
tiredness can make one more susceptible to melancholy and depressive thoughts. As
a minister who often has dealt with great opposition, discouragement can be a
constant battle. Being overweight and feeling tired can also make one less productive
in work, and less likely to want to spend time in physical activity with the family.

In my own family there is also a history of heart problems which are largely due to
an improper diet. I have known that eating the wrong kind of foods has been a
problem for some time, and I have expressed my concern to my wife, communicating
a desire for us to eat healthier foods.

I do some of the cooking around the house, and I have only myself to blame for being
overweight. I could spend the time researching what would constitute a healthy diet
and learning how to prepare foods that would promote good health, but I have many
other duties that the Father has given to me. If I were to spend much time in this
area, studying healthy eating, then I would have to put aside something else that is
also very important. This is an ideal situation in which my wife could help me out
tremendously.

Changing our eating habits has been a challenge for my wife for she has been raised
on a traditional Southern diet that is high in fat and which accentuates meat dishes,
with less emphasis placed on fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes and whole grains.