May 8
Wives Were Meant to Soar 1 Peter 3:5
For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands.
There is a story about a kite that was soaring high in the sky when it saw a field of flowers some distance away. It sure would be fun to fly over there and get a closer look at all those beautiful flowers, the kite thought. But there was one problem. The string holding the kite wasn't long enough to let it fly where it wanted to. So it pulled and tugged and finally broke loose. Happily, the kite soared for a few moments toward the field of flowers. But soon it came crashing down-falling far short of its goal. What had seemed to be holding the kite down was actually enabling it to fly.
The wife is the kite in this story. The string symbolizes the scriptural principles of a man's responsibility to lead and of a woman's responsibility to submit to his headship. The string was not intended to be a hindrance. Together with the wind, it is actually what is holding up the kite.
The husband's love is the wind that enables the kite to soar into the sky. Without this wind-the secure, encouraging environment the husband creates through his leadership-the wife can feel tied down, not uplifted.
A husband can help his wife soar by reminding her verbally of his love and expressing his need of her in specific ways-notes, calls and love letters. And he can show appreciation to her for all that she does for him.
Husbands need to give the kind of servant-based leadership that uplifts their wives. God means for this leadership to be liberating, not limiting. God made wives to soar.
Prayer: As a husband, take your wife's hand and express to God how grateful you are for her.
Discuss: As a wife, share with your husband ways he could enable you to "soar." What are three things he can do to add "lift" to your life?
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