Lessons from Pizza Night

Proverbs 31:10,23 

Who can find such a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies….

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

This proverb is a reminder that how one marriage partner behaves will more than certainly impact on the life of the other. The scenario described in Proverbs 31:23 speaks of a husband receiving respect from the elders of the land because his wife ticks all the boxes in the checklist prepared by King Lemuel’s mother.

There is one thing that sticks in my mind from personal experience. When my wife was pregnant with our fourth child (and only daughter) she met a group of younger women at maternity classes. Five of them became good friends, and an institution that has become known as ‘pizza night’ came into being. The five of them meet monthly in each other’s homes where they share a meal of pizza, salad, and dessert. When I asked one of them what they talked about on a typical pizza night she laughed and replied, “most of the time we moan about our husbands!” Then she paused before adding, “but Marilyn has never ever complained about you.” I can’t place a value on that statement.

I might not sit among the elders of the land, but I am proud of a wife who chooses to stay silent when her friends are finding fault with their husbands, whether in jest or not. And I am reminded to be careful when choosing my own words.