Blessed With a Good Wife

By Greg Quinn

December 1st, 2010

We have just come through the Thanksgiving holiday.  Thanksgiving is a time when we reflect upon the blessings we have in life, the things we are truly thankful for.  But, do we really need a national holiday to dictate when we do this?  Shouldn’t we be people who express thankfulness on a regular basis to our God who provides for us all the blessings we enjoy in life?  As I did in the last article, I’d challenge our readers to truly be people of thanksgiving, folks who surrender their hearts to God in a spirit of thanksgiving each day, not just once per year.  We should be more aware of things to be thankful for, ways in which God has richly bestowed His blessings upon us.  Grace, unmerited favor, granted us by the Creator simply because He loves us, not because we are deserving.  For these things we should be especially grateful.

For many of us, we only need look over to the person beside us when we wake up in the morning to realize how richly God has blessed our lives.  For many of us are blessed with a good wife.

You may be thinking that I’m writing this to show my wife that I am thankful for her.  Or, that I’ve messed up in a really big way where a dozen roses no longer work.  Really, that isn’t the case.  In fact, my wife Vicki doesn’t even read Gunblast.com nor visits Greg’s Corner.  It’s not that she’s not supportive of what I do, it’s just that she’s busy and has other interests.  So, as I write this, recognize that it’s not because of something I’ve done in which I seek her favor.  She’ll never see this anyway.  I’ll not tell her, although I don’t mind her knowing.  I’m writing this because God has placed this upon my heart this morning, and as I opened my eyes in prayer in the early hours of this day, God showed me one of the greatest blessings in my life lying right beside me.  My wife.  And, I figured there were many more like me that just needed a simple reminder.  That’s the purpose of this message.

Through the Bible we see many men of God who were blessed with great wives.  Abraham, the father of our faith, had Sara, his wife.  God blessed Abraham as the “father of many nations”, but chose to bless Abraham through his wife of many years, Sara.  Abraham wouldn’t be the father of many nations without Sara being the mother of many nations.  David cheated on his wives and had a man killed to gain Bathsheba, but God blessed that union anyway due to God’s grace to David.  Through the lineage of David, the Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ, was born.  There are many instances in the Bible of great women, more than I can count here.  Proverbs tells us of the right kind of woman, and we all would be blessed indeed to have this kind of a wife.  And, many of us do.

Proverbs 31: 10-31: Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.  She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.  She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.  She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.  She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.  She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.  She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.  She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.  She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.  She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.  She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.  She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.  Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.  She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.  Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.  She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.  She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.  Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.  Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Through our history we see great men that have accomplished great things.  I would tell you, however, that every great man that I have studied, and every great man that I have known personally, has had a great woman behind (or beside) him.  In fact, knowing what I know today, I dare say that any married man could accomplish very little of significance without having the support of a great woman behind him.

George Washington was the father of our nation and our first President.  We read a lot of great things about Washington.  However, you don’t have to dig very far to see how great an influence that his wife, Martha, had upon the founding and strengthening of our nation.  He accomplished what he did partially because of the strength and support of the wife who shared his life.  And we as a nation are blessed because of this.

Abraham Lincoln was a great man.  He could not have accomplished what he did without his faith in God, his love for the Bible, and without a great woman at his side.  He led our nation through one of our darkest hours, and did so with the strength of a great lady behind him.  One of my favorite books is entitled, “Lincoln on Leadership”, and it is a great testament to Lincoln’s faith, leadership skills, and the importance of a good wife.

Billy Graham is the Apostle Paul of the modern age.  Probably no one else in our lifetime has done as much for the Kingdom of God as has Billy Graham.  I have a lot of respect for Billy Graham, as a preacher and spiritual leader.  However, to study Mr. Graham’s life, you gain a love and respect for his wife Ruth.  It was Ruth who raised the family, took care of the household, and did everything else at home where Billy could go out and follow God’s calling to share the gospel of Jesus to the world.  Without Ruth Graham, we would have no Billy Graham.

My dad pastored churches for over 40 years.  He and Mom raised 4 hard-headed boys.  Dad worked full time in secular jobs while pastoring full time.  Mom handled the household and did most of the raising of us boys.  I know first hand that my Dad couldn’t have accomplished what he did for the Kingdom of God without my Mom taking care of everything else to allow him to do so.  I consider myself blessed to have the greatest Mom in the world.  Not only did she take care of the household to allow Dad to do his work, but she took care of my Dad as well, and she took care of us boys.  Anything that any of my brothers or I accomplish in life, we can place some of the accomplishments at the feet of my mother who provided for us the opportunities to do as we choose. 

My best friend is a fellow named Tony Tennison.  Tony and I became friends back in the early 80’s.  We come from similar backgrounds; his dad is also a pastor, he was also an unruly teenager, and we share the same interests.  He was from the North, and I am a Southerner, yet we met in rural Mississippi where we both lived.  Tony and I have shared many great times together, and I dearly love him.  Today, Tony is a pastor of a church in Brandon, Mississippi where his dad once pastored.  Tony has been able to accomplish his calling in life because some 30 years ago God gave Tony a good wife named Leona.  Tony can do what God calls him to do only because Leona has his back.

Tony’s dad is like a second dad to me.  Holly Tennison is truly a great man of God.  A dynamic preacher and a compassionate pastor, Holly is the kind of guy that anyone can easily love.  He will cut you to pieces with the Word of God from the pulpit, but will love you with a genuine love so that you enjoy it.  Since the 80’s, when I had a significant problem or decision, I went to Holly Tennison for advise.  I dearly love Holly.  But as much as I love Holly, I love and appreciate his wife, Betty, even more.  Like my dad, Holly is often a hard man to deal with at home.  He can be bullheaded at times, as are many men with a mission.  He can be a little sharp around the edges at times.  But Betty Tennison tempers the hardness of Holly Tennison.  When Holly is a knife, Betty is the salve to put on the wound.  I am convinced, and so is my friend and Holly’s son Tony, that Holly Tennison is the great man that he is because of the strength of a great woman at his side, Betty.  A prayer warrior as well, and a woman of deep faith and strength, Betty Tennison is one of the greatest ladies that I have been blessed to know.

One of my best friends in the world has went on to be with the Lord some 4 years ago.  Odell Snow was a loving, compassionate, and highly intelligent man.  Brother Odell was a great pastor.  One of his greatest gifts was his love for other people and his compassion toward their plight.  When talking to Odell, it’s like you were the only guy in the world.  Brother Snow had a great faith and you always came away with the feeling that he was truly in touch with God.  I am honored that Odell was not only my pastor for a few years, and we served together to reach people for Jesus, but that Odell also was a very dear friend.  We shared many challenges and he was always there for me when I needed a mentor and friend.  There were times when the only person in the world I could go to was Odell, and he was always there for me.  I miss him greatly.  Yet, a big part of Odell still lives on earth today, and that’s his dear wife Sandra.  Odell could be the great man for God that he was only because Sandra was there beside him.  Sandra is a loving woman and a great example of a pastor’s wife.  Probably the only person that misses Odell more than I is Sandra, his wife of over 50 years.  And, Sandra remains special in the lives of me and my wife today, out of our love for Sandra herself and our respect for my good friend Odell.

Another great friend of mine is another great pastor.  It’s not an accident that God placed in my life great men who were also pastors because God knew I needed their strength and guidance.  And no one has been better at guiding me with a strong yet loving hand than one of my dearest friends, pastor Frank Bell.  Brother Frank has pastored Grace Baptist Church in Manchester, Tennessee for many years.  I know a lot of good men, a lot of good preachers, and a lot of good pastors, but I know of none that represent a better combination of the three than Brother Frank.  He has a gift of preaching; God has truly blessed him in that manner.  I know of no greater pulpit minister, and I have heard a great many, than Frank Bell.  He has a way of having you cry tears of humility and thankfulness, and laugh uncontrollably, all during the same message.  If any reader of Greg’s Corner wants to thank me for reaching them through some of my messages, you owe much of the thanks to Frank Bell.  And, if any reader of Greg’s Corner wants to hear some great preaching, contact Grace Baptist Church in Manchester, Tennessee and see if they’ll send you a tape or two.  And, as true with most any man of accomplishment in my life or in history, beside Frank Bell stands a great lady, Faye.  Faye has been Frank’s pianist, the lady who raised three great kids, and the one who was always there running the household where Frank could run the church.  Faye is a tremendous example of how God can bless a preacher with a great pastor’s wife.

This morning God spoke to me as a reminder that without exception, any man that I know that has accomplished much has done so with a great lady beside them.  I cannot say that I have accomplished much, but I truly am one of those men who are blessed with a great wife.

When I read the passage in Proverbs about the Godly woman, I can honestly state that my wife is representative of this.  Vicki has been the one who took care of the household, raised our family, handled our finances, put up with my arrogance and bullheadedness, comforted me when I was sick, worked to help us make a living, supported me in my work and ministry, and has always without exception been there for me.  As a pastor’s wife, she has been there for the flock of our church.  As a mother, she has been tremendous, making up for my failings as a father.  As a fellow youth minister, she helped me for years guide the lives of many young people.  As a nurse, Vicki was exceptional and cared for very ill people in intensive care.  She loved members of my family when they weren’t very lovable, she has prayed alongside me during tough times, she has supported me in business failures, and has been the comfort I needed at home while attempting to reach people for the Kingdom of God.  When I traveled in a Gospel music group, she was on the bus with me.  When I conducted revivals, she was in the crowd.  When I preached a good message, she’d tell me so, and when I preached a bad message, she’d support me anyway.  She has remained beautiful and works to keep herself that way, not that she couldn’t do much better than I, but because she loves me.  Vicki is a very hard worker and extremely dedicated to the task at hand.  She is intelligent yet can humble herself to deal with the problems of anyone who is fortunate enough to gain some time with her.  So, as I think about the ways in which God has blessed my life, I can only think first about my wife Vicki.

Why am I telling you all this?  I share this with you because many of you are just like me.  You are men who do what you do only because you have a great woman beside you.  Maybe you are a truck driver, and you leave a good wife at home to raise your family where you can be on the road making a living.  Maybe you are a pastor and you focus on leading the flock at church while depending upon your wife to take care of your household and family.  Maybe you are a teacher or a coach, and you put all you have into the lives of young people but entrust the lives of your own children most often in the capable hands of your wife.  You work long hours in retail or hospitality, perhaps, and yet your wife picks up your slack at home.  Maybe you are a musician or athlete, and you live your life on a stage or a field, while you must leave behind the most significant part of your life on earth, your wife.  Whether you are an electrician or an engineer, a pilot or a preacher, a carpenter or a chiropractor, a doctor or unemployed, if you are married, it’s a very good chance that the better part of the couple that shares your house is not the person in the mirror, but the wife that shares your bed. 

So, as we leave this Thanksgiving holiday, let’s not leave the spirit of thanksgiving.  We all have a lot to be thankful for, not just once per year, but all year long.  And, of all the things that God has blessed you with, please understand that He gave you a wife.  The Bible says, “He who has a wife has a good thing”.  If we can understand this today, then we can act upon this tomorrow. 

So, for today and all the tomorrows for the rest of your life, if you learn anything from this message, learn this: If you have a wife, God blessed you with her.  Love her, cherish her, and take care of her.  And, let her know how blessed you are to have her at your side.

If more people had happier households, then Earth would be a more peaceful place.  Perhaps you can start building a happier household by letting your wife know on a regular basis just how fortunate you are to have her as your wife.  I believe your life, and those around you, and the life of your wife, will be the richer.

May God bless you and your household this day.

Greg Quinn