A girlfriend asked, “When we get married, would you let me work?” Boyfriend answered, “Of course not! I am the guy, I should be the the one who will provide for our family. I just want you to take care of our kids.”

That’s a really sweet statement coming from the boyfriend.

But if I would be the boyfriend, I will definitely make her work. Whether she likes it or not!! [And this is the part where I should do the evil laugh.. ]

…Anyway, here are some of my reasons why I would encourage her to work rather than just staying at home and be a plain housewife:

LET HER EARN HER OWN MONEY

With today’s lifestyle, or cost of living for that matter, it would be just practical if the wife at least works for her own personal budget were in she could buy her own stuffs like bags, shoes, clothes, or whatever. It would already be a great help for me and the family.

Sharing with the household expenses would be entirely up to her. I, as the husband, would not pressure her to do so, but if she is willing to share I will greatly appreciate it.

By letting your wife earn her own money, you are giving her the opportunity to:

• Experience how it is like to work for the family, and appreciate every centavo you put in.
• Learn to manage her own hard earned money.
• Feel that she is part of the game. – not just a benchwarmer or part of the cheering squad who just hopes and pray that the team would win the game.
• Reward herself.

Husbands, DO NOT be discouraged if your wife earns a little more than you do. Just take it and be happy for her. Run your own race.

LET HER STAY SHARP

Your wife might have studied for almost 20 years of her life, and you just want her to stay home and get dull? That’s a BIG NO for me. Let her mind work. Let her think. Let her use her talent, her skills. It’s unique and you wouldn’t want to put that asset to waste.

I don’t think taking care of the kids, doing laundry, washing the dishes, or cleaning the house day after day would make her stay sharp. Hire a helper to do those things instead.

Encourage her to pursue the career of her dream, and support her all the way.

LET HER ACHIEVE

Since the husband is working, at some point in his career, he may be named: Employee of the month, top salesman of the year, listed in top 10 entrepreneurs, and so on… The husband may have plenty of achievements, but that is something that can’t be totally shared with the wife. At the end of the day..it’s the husband who achieved it. Not the wife.

If the husband took up master’s degree and eventually graduated from it, it is the husband who got the degree. No matter what he does, there’s no way for him to transfer that degree to his wife.

There will come a time when people will see that the husband has achieved so much and the wife hasn’t.

Husbands, do not let this thing happen to your wife. You should treat your wife as your better half. Literally.

Let her achieve. Again, as I mentioned earlier, DO NOT be discouraged if she has achieved more than you. Do not compete with each other. I will say it again, run your own race.

If your wife achieves something because of you, consider it as one of your greatest achievement.

LET HER BE PART OF THE TEAM

Life has its ups and downs. And when crisis strikes, it will boil down to how good the couple’s teamwork is.

But I think you cannot consider it as real “teamwork” if the wife is only there to cheer the husband up. She can cook him delicious food, give him a nice massage, tell him some jokes or whatever. It will be very much appreciated, but at the end of the day, there are still no solution to the problem.

In sports, cheer leaders are not considered part of the team.

Let your wife be part of the solution. Let her contribute. Let her do her part. Device a plan, and include her to the plan. Explain your role and her role in the plan. Pray together. And trust that she can do it.

LET HER BE CAPABLE STANDING ALONE

Just in case anything happened to the husband, the provider of the family. How ready is the wife to step up?

I have friends and relatives who lost their husbands, whether passed away or went on with another woman, and left them powerless. No knowledge how to run the business, No steady stream of income.

So husbands if you are planning to leave your wife, be sure to train them to run the business first. *Kidding*

Kidding aside… One very wealthy family we knew, faced their biggest challenge when the husband had a stroke and went on comatose for more than a decade..then eventually passed away. The wife, their kids, no one knows how to run the business. Now that the wife is on her 70′s and the “kids” are now on their 50′s, still no one handles the business. They are still using their reserves up until now. Or perhaps from the reimbursement they got from the Life Insurance, or other insurances. Who knows? Insurances quotes a lot these days..

It will give you peace of mind knowing that whatever may happen to you, your wife is capable of running the business – or at least provide for the children.

THE WIFE OF NOBLE CHARACTER

You may open up your Bibles and turn it to Proverbs 31, verses 10 to 31 to read verses about the Wife of Noble Character.

I will highlight some verses in which I think the Bible encourages us that a wife should work: New International Version (NIV) 2011

Verse 13:

She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.

Verse 14:

She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.

Verse 16:

She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

Verse 17:

She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.

Verse 18:

She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.

Verse 19:

In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

Verse 24:

She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.

Verse 27:

She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Verse 29:

“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”

Verse 31:

Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.