Is a Gracious Wife June Cleaver? A Pinterest-Perfect woman? What IS a Gracious Wife?

What is a Gracious Wife?

Well, The Gracious Wife has been around for several months now, but I've never really talked about what a gracious wife really is.

So, are you picturing June Cleaver? Donna Reed? I mean, they're iconic housewives, with all their ducks in a row and homes fit for a magazine cover.  Is that what we should be aiming for?

I don't think so, at least I hope not.  My house is often messy (Hello, jelly hand prints!), and I'm a big fan of ponytails and sweatpants.  If I'm honest, I'm more often a mess than I am put together. So let's start with what a gracious wife is NOT.

A Gracious Wife is NOT:

• a woman garbed in fashion perfection
• a woman with a perfectly clean, spotless, and clutter-free home.
• a woman who cooks 5-course meals every day.
• a Pinterest-perfect woman.

So... What IS a Gracious Wife?

A Gracious Wife can do or be any of the things I listed above, but that's not what makes her a gracious wife.

Let's look at the definition of gracious.  If you search the definition of gracious on Google, the result is "courteous, kind, and pleasant; showing grace."

Being a Gracious Wife isn't about how you look, or how your house looks, or if you can cook or sew or DIY up a storm.  It's about your attitude.  It's about showing kindness and grace in everything that you do, from speaking to your husband and raising your kids to scrubbing toilets and doing laundry.

You don't have to be perfect.  You don't even have to feel guilty about not being perfect.  You just have to strive for a positive, kind attitude in everything you do.  To be gracious is to be polite, kind, and considerate of others. A Gracious Wife is kind to her husband and children, neighbors, and even strangers.  She is polite, even in difficult and frustrating situations.  To be gracious is to perform duties without complaining.  A Gracious Wife is happy to help her family, even if it means completing unsavory tasks.

To get you started on the right path, here are some habits to try:

1.  Speak kindly. Before responding with angry or sarcastic words, think about how your words will affect your husband (and your family).

2.  Remember that you don't have to be perfect, but your husband isn't perfect either.  Show him grace and forgiveness for his shortcomings, the same way you hope he'll look past yours.

3.  Focus on your husband's strengths, instead of his weaknesses.  Dwelling on weaknesses and shortcomings only cause harbored resentment. Instead look for the amazing things about your husband that made you fall in love in the first place.

4.  Don't hide your feelings.  Hidden feelings will cause explosive arguments.  Instead, find a way to respectfully communicate what you're feeling so that you and your husband can find a solution together.

5.  Practice forgiveness.  When your husband fails or disappoints, be quick to forgive and let go.  Don't keep track of all of the failures and disappointments.  This only creates bitterness and resentment in your own heart.

So, you don't have to look to Pinterest, or Home & Garden Magazine, or June Cleaver to be a Gracious Wife.  Just look to yourself, your own attitude, and being kind, caring, and positive when serving your husband, your children, and your home.

Did you like this? Find more on my Love & Marriage board on Pinterest!

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