I am full of praises to God for women everywhere who fulfill more than one role and do them wonderfully well. I dread the thought that it might be impossible for me to fit into my wife’s place. Christian women excel in their job, however small it is and in building a Christian home whatever struggles it takes. They do this with unwavering love first for Christ and then for their husbands. It is simply amazing how God uses them just as the Biblical women, Ruth and Esther were used. I am very convinced that it is their life of prayer and sacrifice that leads to blessings in the home they build (Ruth 2:12).
l am pleased to write my views about my wife’s role as a High School mathematics teacher and as a home builder. Yet I am conscious that | am writing about so many women whose lives I have had opportunities to observe.
My wife as a home maker: The beauty, grandeur and joy of a Christian home has no other parallel as far as I know. I know this from my 24 years of marriage to Beulah. The basic elements which have made our home a Christian home for me and my two children, Tommy (21) and Susan (17) are Beulah’s sacrifices, endurance of pain and struggles and praising God both in adversity and in prosperity
l am not sure if this is what happens in every home/most homes in India. It happened in my home. Beulah stepped down into my level of living from a higher level of a comfortable home. When we got married in 1969 my village home did not even have electricity. She did not the discomforts and was happy even to part with her bangles soon after our marriage to wipe off my debt. I see a relationship between these and sacrifices of Christ.
Ill health predominated our early years together as we stuck close to God. Beulah had surgeries periodically, may be 6 or 7 and she endured pain so patiently. My mother to whom I am the only child is quite loving and yet so traditional in her beliefs about a daughter-in- law’s subordinate role. She will hurt Beulah so often with words and I would get quite upset every time it happened. Beulah, however, showed such a degree of love in taking care of my mother both in health and in years of ill health that amazes me. She also lovingly looks after her ageing parents who Iive within a 3 kilometer distance from us.
Beulah rises very early and keeps quiet time. I can be certain that she does not miss this for anything. Family prayers and singing/worship with me, children and my mother pleases her most. Neglecting God’s word by children/ me displease her most.
One other thing touched me most and I must share with the readers. I was stranded in Kuwait for 29 days in August 1990 during Iraqi invasion. It happened when I was returning from London after attending the Executive Committee meeting of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES). There wasn’t a way to communicate whether I was dead or alive. My wife fasted and prayed all those days until I got out. On return I saw Beulah in ill health and yet triumphant in faith.
My conviction is this that in such a home God’s blessings will inevitably be seen and we have seen lots and lots of them over the years. Our home has been used to serve God among students (including International students) and graduates and I am thankful to God for wives like Beulah on whose life of prayer and sacrifice Chrisitan homes are built, especially in our country.
My wife as a career woman: Beulah teaches mathematics in a Corporation High School at Madras. Her salary was most useful in our struggling days. Later on, | tried to tell her to resign if she thought she would like some rest. She does her work with so much of devotion just like a missionary does and I do not ask her anymore. Her mission is seeing that every child from the slum does well. Lots of extra time, efforts and money go into this. I have learnt what is disciplined hard work from her. Every night, no matter how late it gets, she would correct test papers/assignments to carry to school in the very next morning. She would also establish a prayer cell in every school where she works.
I have also been blessed by Beulah’s sacrifices in her job to make mine better. She took loss of pay leave for 5 years to accompany me to the U.S when I went for studies. This left lasting damage to her career in terms of opportunities and salary. ln the U.S she supported me by working in a clothing store because my stipend was so poor and inadequate.
I have described situations (ups and downs) in our lives and have expressed my opinion to the readers as to what a blessing my wife has been to me and my children. Women like her are nobler (Prov. 31:29) and I have seen and observed many like her in Christian homes across this nation. I believe that they are very strategic to healthy Christian homes. It is my prayer and longing that such values will continue to increase in every home for God’s glory and praise.
-G. Sathiabalan Samuel
