Being a Submissive Wife, by Mrs. WH

By Paul Miller

May 1, 2019

Hello. Thank you for reaching out to the spiritual needs of our people. May God continue to bless your efforts. Enclosed is a small donation.

I have a suggestion for a future article. I used to think that a submissive wife would quietly go along with what her husband decided, showing little emotion, etc. I have come to realize that most men do not actually want passive, unemotional wives, but wives who can voice her concern and disagreement in a calm, kind voice—no pouting, etc. And, most importantly, have a smile and a spark (even if he is rather dull), encouraging, praising, and continually surprising him in little ways.

We Amish tend to shy away from flattery, praise, compliments, etc., but they are so upbuilding.

Encourage the men to express love. Too many of us go through life taking our loved ones for granted and harboring grudges. After they are gone, we are filled with regret. A quote I read somewhere: “The best way to get praise is to die.” —Mrs. WH, OH

[Maybe some Amish Voice readers could write an article for us about this.]

Dear Mrs. WH,

Thank you for your kind words and your gift. You are very right. Whether we are husbands, wives, parents, children, friends, employers, employees, or anyone else, we all appreciate smiles, encouragement, praise, pleasant surprises, kind words, love, and appreciation. Let us each try to do this more each day and we will see relationships change, I think.

This is especially needed among husbands and wives and parents and children. How many wives and husbands never feel appreciated, respected, loved, and special? When was the last time we helped each other without being asked? How many children never hear their parents tell them that they love them or never get a hug from them?

Let us love, forgive, compliment, and appreciate each other, loving God with all our hearts, souls, strength, and minds, and loving others as ourselves.

Give your husband or wife a special hug today, and tell your children that you love them. To all of our readers—send us your stories of how you showed your love and appreciation for others, or how they showed it to you!

— Paul Miller