THE
BEAUTY OF A WIFE
Man, seek thou not outward beauty in a
wife, but for beauty of soul. Outward beauty is full of conceit, and disease
may prematurely spoil the whole. Seek, then, for a wife full of
affection, modesty, gentleness; these are the precious characteristics of
true beauty. How many husbands, after living with beautiful wives,
have ended their lives pitiably. And how many husbands who have lived
with wives of no great beauty have run on to extreme old age with great
enjoyment? Let us wipe off the spot that is within; let us smooth the
wrinkles on the soul; such is the beauty God requires; and the wife will
then be fair in His sight, if not thine also.
Wife, do not love thy husband more than
God, and thou shalt not experience widowhood; or, rather, if it should ever
happen, thou shalt not have the feeling of it. Why? Because thou
hast an immortal Protector who loves thee better.
Husband, give honour to thy wife, and she
will not need honour from other. Prefer her before all on every
account, and her very name mention with terms of endearment. Teach her
the fear of the Lord, and all good things will flow in smoothly to thee as
from an exhaustless fountain, and thy house will be full of ten thousand
benedictions.
Saint John Chrysostom
(10-30-04)
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