The Wise Spouse

The wise spouse doesn’t take anything for granted. The spouse is thankful to be loved and seeks ways to make him/her self more loving.

The wise spouse doesn’t permit him/herself to be a liability but strives to be an asset to the marriage. The spouse looks for ways to make, save, and use money wisely. The spouse’s beloved knows that her/she is richer by the marriage.

The wise spouse seeks to be part of the beloved’s life. One’s interest becomes the other’s interest. The wise spouse looks for ways to help the beloved in every endeavor. When the beloved needs a helping hand, the first one should be the hand of the wise spouse.

The wise spouse knows that he/she can give or withhold peace of mind for the beloved through conversation and observations concerning circumstances or people. The wise spouse limits conversation to the positive.

A wise spouse does not fill his/her mind with pornography or romance novels. Excitement and passion is reserved for the beloved.

The wise spouse sets a joyful mood in the home. Using laughter, music, and happy times the wise spouse stirs the beloved and the children to joy. The wise spouse knows that lightheartedness and grace reduces stress.

The wise spouse gauges the beloved’s needs, fulfilling desires before he/she is even aware of them. The wise spouse meets every desire.

The wise spouse does not ever abuse the beloved, physically, emotionally, or sexually.

The wise spouse understands that the beloved needs to be honored and respected not based on the beloved’s performance, but instead on the beloved’s position. The wise spouse embraces with enthusiasm the beloved’s ideas and plans.

The wise spouse is not whiny, complaining, pitiful, or entitled. Instead, the wise spouse seeks to be confident, capable, graceful, and thankful.

The wise spouse does not fantasize about the "roads not taken." The wise spouse realizes that he/she is not God’s gift to the opposite sex. The wise spouse realizes that he/she is blessed by the marriage and learns to be content.

The wise spouse does not use mood-altering substances, become addicted, alcoholic or a user of illegal drugs. A wise spouse keeps his/her body fit.

The wise spouse never expects to be served, thus is never disappointed. The wise spouse is a giver, a helper; and is an example to the children of cheerful and energetic service to others.

The wise spouse doesn’t attempt to instruct the beloved through feigned questions. Questions should be sincere inquiries, not traps.

The wise spouse is eager to learn, is open to change, and ready to listen. A wise spouse does not cloud his/her mind with foolish folly of common entertainment. The wise spouse uses his/her time wisely for the beloved and the family.

The wise spouse realizes that the best gift he/she could give to the children is to love the beloved wholeheartedly.

Adapted By Dear Mrs Web www.dearmrsweb.com from Debi Pearl’s A Wise Woman Builds Her House, No Greater Joy www.nogreaterjoy.org

The Male Rules

We always hear "the rules" from the female side. Now here are the rules
from the male side. These are their rules!

Please note... these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE!

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put
it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us
complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Birthdays, Valentines, and Anniversaries are not quests to see if
we can find the perfect present yet again!

1. Sometimes we are not thinking about you. Live with it.

1. Sunday = sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the
tides. Let it be.

1.Don't cut your hair. Ever. Long hair is always more attractive than
short hair. One of the big reasons guys fear getting married is that
married women always cut their hair, and by then you're stuck with
her.

1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it
that way.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints
do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work!
Just say it!

1. We don't remember dates. Mark birthdays and anniversaries on the
calendar. Remind us frequently beforehand.

1. Most guys own three pairs of shoes - tops. What makes you think
we'd be any good at choosing which pair, out of thirty, would look
good with your dress?

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's
what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. A headache that last for 17 months is a problem. See a doctor.

1. Check your oil! Please.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In
fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days.

1. If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't expect
us to act like soap opera guys.

1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us. We refuse
to answer.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways, and one of the
ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.

1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it
done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it
yourself.

1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during
commercials.

1. Christopher Columbus did not need directions, and neither do we.

1. The relationship is never going to be like it was the first two
months we were going out. Get over it. And quit whining to your
girlfriends.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings.
Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a
fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.

1. We are not mind readers and we never will be. Our lack of mind-
reading ability is not proof of how little we > care about you.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer
you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine.
Really.

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to
discuss such topics as navel lint, the shotgun formation, or
monster trucks.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. It is neither in your best interest or ours to take the quiz
together. No, it doesn't matter which quiz.

1. BEER is as exciting for us as handbags are for you.

1. Thank you for reading this; Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the
couch tonight, but did you know we really don't mind that, it's like
camping.

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