I am so honored to welcome today’s guest writer, Jacqui! Jacqui blogs at Reflecting His Glory, and today she is sharing with us how a woman is called to be the locomotive behind her man in marriage. Please be sure to visit her wonderful site where she encourages women through authentic sharing and life in Christ!

It wasn’t a normal Sunday morning.

My husband had been offered the privilege of presenting the sermon to the body of believers.

The Senior pastor, and all of the other teaching pastors were gone, out of the country on a mission trip. Due to the birth of a new baby, and the building of a new home, we had decided a summer in the U.S.A. was what was best for our family. So on this Sunday morning, and on the one before, it had not been normal at our house.

He needed to focus on the sharing of the scriptures, so I focused on the routines and preparations of the children. The kids and I left the house early. Sometimes it’s hard to get your “game brain” on with five blessings vying for your attention.

I had a few things I needed to pick up from WalMart. I don’t normally got to WalMart on Sunday morning, and with all five kiddos to boot!

Today I had courage, and I needed something to do to kill time.

We made our entrance in the big cart. You know the one. It had two front seats side by side, and then the normal basket. Two boys strapped in the front. I was praying they didn’t start a smacking, jabbing fight while buckled so close together. Then I put baby in her car seat down in the basket. The two older children walked beside. You’ve seen those loads coming. The ones with the too hard to steer cart, and kids everywhere. That was me!

We successfully managed through the store, checked out, children had behaved, my smile had remained, and out the door we went.

On the way out I realized how thirsty I was. I very rarely buy water or soda when we are doing errands, but today I needed a bottle of water. I sent my oldest back in for a water. I loaded the jovial children and the filmy sacks into the van. I got behind the wheel, had a cold, refreshing drink, threw the bottle in my purse, and we were off to church.

We went through the typical Sunday morning order of things:

Greeting

Shaking of hands

Announcements

Worship

Giving of the tithes and offering

It was at this point that my husband looked at me, and quietly, passively said, “I am so thirsty. I wish I had a bottle of water.” Of course I got the biggest grin on my face, reached into my purse, and pulled out exactly what he needed. He was a bit shocked because when he asked he didn’t expect me to have anything to help with his thirst. He knew I didn’t normally carry drinks into Sunday morning worship.

So are you asking,”What the big deal about a bottle of water?”

I believe that God used the Holy Spirit that morning to give me a thirst. The dryness in my mouth enabled me to help my husband be more equipped to bring forth the Word, and present the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Do you think this is silly?

Far fetched?

A coincidence?

The scripture tells us in Genesis 2:18:

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

Then we read later in the chapter in Genesis 2:21:

But for Adam no suitable helper was found.

Here’s my paraphrase of what happened next in Genesis. The animals weren’t good enough to be Adam’s helper so he put Adam into a heavy sleep, took his rib and made YOU!

Okay, I know it’s not you specifically, but he made woman which in essence is you. Go back and look at the scripture references I mentioned.

Why did He make Eve? He made her to be Adam’s helper. That’s pretty much it. That’s what the scripture tells us about God’s purpose behind creating woman.

As I reflected back on being a “helper” I wanted to be more clear on what this word really meant. I’m not a biblical scholar so I didn’t go to the the original writing, but I simply just looked it up in the dictionary.

A person or thing that helps or gives assistance, support and etc

There’s another part of the definition that I found extremely interesting. It said:

an extra locomotive attached to a train at the front, middle, or rear, especially to provide extra power for climbing a steep grade.

Sunday morning my man had a steep grade to climb. He was to share from the truth of the gospel. A sharing that he hoped would produce new converts, or that those already converted would have a desire to grow more in their relationship with Christ.

I had prayed for my husband.

I had quieted the house so he could prepare for the task before him.

I had met a physical need by giving him water for his thirst.

I was his helper…..the locomotive attached.

If your married, do you see yourself as that locomotive? Giving your man the extra steam he needs to be the person God has called Him to be? It’s one of your greatest callings and it’s the original reason you were created. What can you do today to be a helper to you husband?

Jacqui Hodges is a Follower of Christ, Wife of a cowboy, Mama to 5, Teacher at home and Lover of horses. She writes at Reflecting His Glory where she shares authentically how God uses her marriage, children,and her life as a homeshooling mama to make her more like Him.