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  Flight Paths

Spiritual Leaders 4 — A Husband

4/28/2014

3 Comments

 
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            No, I didn’t marry Steve.  I married Keith Ward.  If ever there was a man who understood that religion isn’t a “woman thing,” that as leader of the family, the buck stopped with him, it’s this man.  The Bible was read and discussed every day in our home.  Bible lessons were done.  Sermons were dissected and analyzed.  By the time they were twelve, our sons knew more Bible than most adults.  When they hit Florida College, freshman Bible was an easy A.

            And me?  This man is the original enabler.  He taught me how to study.  He bought me books.  He answered my questions.  He arranged his schedule so he could watch the children while I taught classes.  He proofread material, offered suggestions, and made corrections.  Ultimately he footed a huge bill so we could print Born of a Woman.

            He is the one who suggested the blog and he hands out far more blog cards than I do.  Now, with my vision slowly declining, he drives me to the classes I teach and to speaking engagements, and still offers the same services proofreading and commenting.

            He does this without complaint and without resentment, despite the fact that his full-time preaching career, the only thing he wanted to do with his life, ended many years ago.  Since then he has held a few meetings, lectured at Florida College, and filled in at a dozen different congregations, but that is not what he had in mind.  Some men couldn’t live with that.  Some men would have kept their wives out of the limelight if they couldn’t have a share, especially men with so much knowledge and ability as he. 

            I’ve taught classes where some of the women could not attend because their husbands refused to “babysit.”  Excuse me?  They are his children, not his hobby.  But he had been “working all day and shouldn’t be expected to do that too.”  So his wife’s spirituality suffered when she missed an opportunity to learn, unimpeded by wrestling with babies.

            I’ve taught classes where as soon as it became apparent that she was becoming more knowledgeable than he, suddenly she was no longer allowed to attend.  Far be it from him to actually study enough to keep up with her.

            I’ve taught classes where, even though there were no children, he expected her home with him every night.  He certainly didn’t want a quick and easy dinner so she could make a seven o’clock’ class, especially if it left the dishes for him to do (if she were lucky).

            In forty years I have seen all kinds of husbands, and I know how blessed I am.  Keith Ward understands what God expects of him.  He is the spiritual leader of this family and he knows he will be held accountable for where its members end up. 

            So will every man, especially those who take such stock in being (thumbs pulling on suspenders and chest puffed out) “Head of the house.”  Any man who wants the title had better live up to it.  I’ve shown you four men who did.  They are worthy of your admiration and imitation.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loves his own wife loves himself: for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ also the church; Ephesians 5:25-29.

Dene Ward

3 Comments
Janet Odom
4/29/2014 02:34:14 am

So wonderful to read of a husband who does his job as God commanded. Mine is one of those who didn't want me to have much to do with "church" people. If I had not kept my faith I would have long ago given in but my upbringing ttaught me to fight for what I believe and I have.

Reply
Dene
4/29/2014 05:32:06 am

Good for you Janet!

Reply
Lucas Ward
4/29/2014 02:10:11 pm

You know, I didn't know what to say. I've praised/thanked Dad for being a good Dad in other places before, as has Nathan, and your entry here just adds to that. In a way, it doesn't seem that special because all he did was what he was supposed to: be the spiritual leader for our family, teach and otherwise encourage biblical learning, be an example of what he was trying to teach, and foster an environment in our family in which a relationship with God was expected. What makes all this remarkable is not that he did it, but that so many others don't. Men: you can be the leaders God wants you to be in your families. My dad is a great guy, but he is/was far from faultless, and, in many ways is just an ordinary guy. But he decided he was going to be a spiritual leader for his family and devoted himself to that goal and thought about what it took to do that, and corrected his course when he realized he was not on the right track. These are things that any father/husband can do if he just will. That's the major issue. Will you do what God has commanded?

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    Dene Ward has taught the Bible for more than  forty years, spoken at women’s retreats and lectureships, and has written both devotional books and class materials. She lives in Lake Butler, Florida, with her husband Keith.


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