In Titus 2, Paul tells Titus some specific things that he needs to teach Christians pertaining to “sound doctrine” (verse 1). Included in that list is that older women should be told to teach younger women “to love their husbands” and “to love their children” (verse 4). On the surface, it may seem strange to say that women need to be taught to love their husbands and children. However, there is a lot involved in these phrases that needs to be taught.

As with other things that are listed in this chapter, the implication is that Christians are not just to be taught to do these things, but they are to be taught how to do these things. Paul tells Titus in verse 1 to speak things “which become sound doctrine” and the results should be “that the aged men be sober,” and so forth. The good qualities should develop from the things that Titus would teach, so Titus had to be instructing them in a way that would help them learn these traits. Older women, then, can spend time teaching younger women what it truly means to love their husbands and children, and help them learn how to love in a way that is pleasing to God.

Hopefully women in general love their husbands when they marry them. So why exactly must one be taught to love her husband when she already does? The love that is commanded in Titus 2:4 is not the romantic, make your heart flutter kind of love that most young women feel when they fall in love and get married. There is nothing wrong with that kind of love; it is wonderful and important to a relationship. But that romantic love does not carry a marriage.

Loving your husband involves sacrificing for him, serving him, and being fully devoted to him. It means that you put his needs first, and that you lose all signs of selfishness. Loving your husband also means that you love him unconditionally, all the time. When he is angry, you love him. When he is sad, you love him. When he is sick, you love him. And when he makes mistakes, you still love him. You make your share of mistakes, too, right? You show that love to him by doing what you can to help him in every situation. There are a lot of good times throughout a marriage during which it is easy to love your husband. A godly woman cherishes and enjoys those good times. The more challenging part is showing that love, and even growing that love, during difficult times. Wives should realize that those difficult times when your husband seems a little less lovable may be the times that he needs you the most.

Older women can help younger women understand that challenges will come in every marriage. They can encourage them during those difficult times, give advice when needed, and study scriptures with them that lay out principles to help solve problems. They can teach the values of selflessness, humility, and service that will help young wives demonstrate the love they feel in their hearts.

Similar ideas are included in loving your children. Some mothers simply do not have the natural affection for their children that they should have (Romans 1:31). However, there is even more than that natural affection involved in truly loving our children. Any experienced mother realizes that many sacrifices are made while raising children. A new mother may feel a deep love for her children, but be a little shocked at the changes that are involved in motherhood. If being a wife has not removed the selfishness from your heart, being a mother should. Mothers miss countless hours of sleep to care for children. They give up privacy, and “me” time is nearly nonexistent. When money is tight, mothers continue to wear the same clothes and shoes so that they can buy new ones when their children need them. They make sure that their children’s needs are met before their own in every situation. They also show love for their children by devoting their time and energy to filling their hearts with God’s word and training them to be obedient. Mothers spend time with their children, discovering their personalities, shaping their minds, and leading them to God. They do not view them as bothersome, burdensome, or inconvenient, but they cherish and enjoy them.

Older women can teach younger women how to take care of children. They can help them to understand the immense sacrifice and selflessness that is involved. They can encourage them during stressful, difficult times. They can give advice about teaching and disciplining children. Older women can be a tremendous help to young mothers as they gain their own experience and confidence in raising and loving their children.

In John 13:34, Jesus said: “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” What was new about the commandment to love one another? It was how they were told to love—as Christ loved us. Jesus loved us enough to sacrifice Himself for us before we even loved Him. He sacrificed while we were sinners. He continues to love us no matter what we do. This is how we should love one another, and this is how women should be taught to love their husbands and children. A complete love that is sacrificial, void of selfishness, and full of service—no matter what.

I have blogged about Pizza Hut’s BOOK IT! program before, and Jacob is really enjoying participating this year! Skylar will be in Kindergarten next year, and she is already looking forward to getting her pizzas. We are really glad that Pizza Hut includes homeschoolers in this fun reading program!

I was just reading over at 5 Minutes for Giveaways about “America’s Biggest Bedtime Story.” BOOK IT! is sponsoring the event on February 18, 2010. You can log on to www.bookitprogram.com to hear John Lithgow, a Golden Globe winning actor and author, reading “Carnival of the Animals”! You can listen in beginning at 9AM CST (10AM EST), and it will be available all day.

BOOK IT! wants to break the 2009 attendance record, and they are hoping to support a good cause. If the record of 197,972 is broken, BOOK IT! will donate 50,000 meals to Haiti through the World Food Program. So, gather your kids, listen to a great author, and help those in need at the same time!

5MFGiveaways also has a prize pack from BOOK IT! to give away to one lucky reader, so go on over, check out their post, and enter to win!

Join in on Feb. 18!

Soon after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the comments started. I read local news stories about volunteers who were leaving their families and businesses here for a few days to help the desperate earthquake victims, and I saw the comments there. I read news stories about the death and pain, and about how people could donate and help, and I saw the comments there. I was shocked at first, then realized that there were a lot of people with the same sentiment: “Why should we help people in Haiti? We have people here who are homeless and hungry and don’t have medical care, so we should spend our money and time helping them! Keep our money here at home.”

I have been going back and forth between just ignoring the comments and going on a full blown rant. So let’s just have a happy medium here.

First of all, if I follow the logic I’ve seen some people use, I could have said this a few years ago: “Why should I try to help the people hurt by Hurricane Katrina when we have people right here in West Virginia who are homeless and hungry and don’t have medical care.” Since when do we only help people from our own country, or from our own state?

Secondly, have you seen the pictures and video footage from Haiti? Have you read about people who are having limbs amputated because there is more infection than there is medicine? Did you see the woman giving birth on the ground–not because it happened so fast, but because there was nowhere else to go? Have you seen the rubble piles? Where in this country do the conditions of poverty and squalor and pain and devastation equal those in Haiti?

In our area, the only people who are hungry are those who are too drunk or too lazy to walk to the local mission. People in Haiti would be grateful to be living at what the United States calls the “poverty level.”

Finally, helping people in another country does not negate helping people here. In fact, that is why there is shelter and food available to people who need it. There are doctors who volunteer time at free clinics. There are charities that give away food and clothing, and even pay for medical care. Our government gives out food, clothes, housing, medical care, and even firewood! People do help people here, and they help people in Haiti, and they help whoever needs help. Just because those who help in the USA aren’t making the news for doing it doesn’t mean it isn’t getting done.

I would suggest that if you are not happy with the care of the homeless in your city, get up and go help them.

Americans are a generous people. We come to the aid of our family, neighbors, fellow citizens, and fellow human beings whether we know them or not.

If you choose to help, great. If you choose not to help, that’s fine. It’s called freedom. But ranting about how Americans should only help Americans is ignorant and naive at best, and hateful and prejudiced at worst.

Yes, this is the short version. I could say more.

May God bless the earthquake victims and the kind people who are helping them. And may God help the cynical and selfish who need to understand that Americans are not the chosen ones, but all humans are equal in His eyes.